Page 92 of With a Grain of Salt

I have one more man to speak with. Although my plans to do just that will have to wait until after my clinic hours on Saturday, I realize when I pull up in front of my duplex that my hand has been forced because the man in question is sitting in a rocking chair that wasn't there this morning on my front porch.

Chapter 39

Walker

Claire doesn't exactly look like an angry raging bull as she climbs out of the car. I stay seated on the front porch, wondering if Corbin's grandma will be mad when she realizes I borrowed her rocking chair. Probably not. That woman loves me. Most older people do, with the exception of Nora Kennedy, of course.

She pulls Larkin from the car seat and the little girl runs in my direction while Claire works on getting the rest of her things from the car.

"Walkey!" she says, running in my direction.

Her smile is wide, her cheeks pink as her blonde curls fly in the breeze.

"Saw Ganny and PopPop!"

"Did you?" I ask, looking up at Claire as she approaches.

I stand when Larkin grabs my hand and grunts as she tries to pull me out of the chair.

"Come in," the little girl says. "It's cold."

As if to prove it, she shivers.

"Car warm now."

"I know it is," I tell her, once again looking at her mother when she remains silent.

Claire smiles down at Larkin before plugging her house key into the lock. She steps aside as Larkin tugs me into the house, but I know better than to think that her silence and not demanding that I leave is her being glad that I'm here. She does her best not to get upset in front of Larkin, and this could easily be one of those times.

"Lights!" Larkin demands as she works on pulling some wild-haired dolls from a bin in the television stand.

"Bossy," Claire says as she steps inside, and closes the door.

"Lights, pwease?"

"Better," Claire says as she walks closer to the tree.

I should be a better man and not stare at her ass when she crouches low and reaches far behind the tree to plug in the lights.

"There's a clicker thing," I tell her once the tree is lit.

I swear the way she glances over her shoulder while on all fours makes me think some seriously dirty thoughts. Things I should be arrested for in mixed company.

"There," I tell her once she stands. "Leave the tree plugged in and click it off and on with your foot."

She tests it out, gaining a groan from Larkin every time the tree goes dark.

"I worry about a fire," she says.

"You've been plugging in and unplugging a very good surge protector," I explain. "It'll be fine. Promise."

Instead of stepping further into her space, I take a step back, looking down at Larkin who is content to brush the dolls' hair and look at the lights. I doubt all kids are as calm as she is though.

The best kind of fire shoots up my arm when Clarie wraps her hand around two of my fingers and pulls me to where we're standing more behind Larkin than in between her and the tree.

I smile down at her, unsure of how to react. She could easily be pulling me away so she can tell me to leave and never come back, but instead, she continues to tug me toward the tiny kitchen. Lifting up on the tips of her toes, she brushes a soft kiss on my lips before taking a step back.

She releases my hand as she opens cabinets, pulling things out and placing them on the counter.

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