Page 102 of Quinton's Quest

“Yes. I’ll take them to Mama. We’ll make a day of it. I’ll text you the address. Come home when you can.”

Come home. “You can take them to my house—”

“Go, Leo. I can handle a couple of well-behaved children.”

I flashed to Trevor’s meltdown last week when I didn’t have the right kind of cheese. Still— “My keys.” I held Quinton’s gaze. “They’re my everything.”

“I know. Go.”

I stood for a moment, holding the mug of coffee.

Isaac was there to grab it. “All good.”

After one last moment of staring at Quinton, I ran.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Quinton

Melodie gazed up at me. “Papa’s going to save a life?”

“That’s the plan.” I tried to balance my coffee mug as well as Lucky’s leash while keeping a close eye on the kids. “So I was thinking you might want to come to my house. We can bake cookies.”

“Yay!” Trevor hopped up and down on the spot.

Jameson arrived, Bibi on a leash.

Ben was just behind him.

“Would you like a hand?” Jameson reached for my mug.

“Oh, that would be great. I don’t know how parents manage.” I eyed the three creatures I was now responsible for.

“You know how to do car seats?” Ben chuckled.

“Sure. I mean, how hard can it be?”

He and Isaac exchanged a look I didn’t dare try to interpret.

“Why don’t we join you?” He gestured toward the parking lot.

“Yay, cookies!” Melodie waved her hands and appeared just as excited as Trevor.

Should they not be worried about the fact their father left them with a virtual stranger? Should I not be panicked that I’m in charge?I’d certainly never donethisbefore.

Still, Jameson took charge of getting Lucky into his crate while Ben helped me buckle each child into their car seat. I watched carefully in case I needed to replicate the actions. Of course, Mama would know how to do this as well. Although, frankly, I doubted things were this complicated when I’d been young.

I hopped into the driver’s seat and moved the seat way up.Damn Leo with his damn long legs.Isaac handed me both mugs. “Do you need to call your mother?”

“Oh, dear.” Another thing that hadn’t occurred to me.

Ben rolled his eyes. “Quinton’s mom will roll with it.”

“True.” Jameson met my gaze. “Save me an egg roll.”

“You all should come to my St. Patrick’s Day party. On the eighteenth. Eight o’clock. Wear green.” I gazed into the rearview mirror and met the stares of two clearly curious children. “And thanks.” I gazed at my friends. I pretty much considered everyone a friend. A stranger was just someone who hadn’t become a friend yet.

“Good luck.” Isaac pushed my door shut. All three men stood back and waved as I drove away.