Page 69 of One Big Little Secret

Ugh.

“I wanna go again!” Arlo announces, bouncing up. “And we gotta get your hat.”

Retrieving my hat isn’t as easy as it seems.

Somehow, it wound up stuck in a very big tree on one of its lower branches.

I stand on my tiptoes, but that doesn’t do much good. Next, I try to pile up some snow and pack it down so I can reach for the tree’s flimsy branches.

“Lemme! I’ll get it,” Arlo says, jumping excitedly.

“You stay, big guy. This one’s a mommy job.” One firm glance silences him.

I’m dead set on us having one nice day that doesn’t end in tears or a broken arm.

Eventually, I snatch it off the branch and toss it at Arlo, who catches it and runs around in a circle like it’s the big prize.

“It’s got snow inside,” he informs me when I make my way back down. “Watch out or it’ll be wet.”

I put it on my head anyway and shudder as his warning comes true.

“Well, it’s back where it belongs now.” I take his gloved hand and we walk back up to the top of the hill together.

For a second, it’s like the world keeps shrinking.

Here, there’s just Arlo and me, laughing and having fun with no worries beyond the winter chill. Like everything just clicked in place for one brief happy moment.

Then I glance up and see him.

Patton damn Rory.

He’s left the car now and he’s standing in his thick navy-blue trench coat, his arms folded, watching us like the real-life Grinch he is.

Talk about killing the vibes.

But as we get closer, I wave at him anyway, beckoning him over to join us.

Seriously, whathappenedto the carefree guy I hooked up with years ago? Did he ever exist?

Or was I so drunk I completely misread him that night at the casino?

I’m still wondering when Arlo flings himself at Patton the second he sees him approaching.

“Mr. Rory!” He remembers his manners today.

Good.

It’s progress that he doesn’t instantly go withGrumpybutt.

“Come sledding with us. Have fun.”

“Sledding?” Patton’s gaze flicks to me and I prepare myself for the inevitable dismissal. He’s too busy, too important, tooboringto relinquish his dignity for playing around in the snow.

“Yes.” Arlo takes Patton’s hand and tugs. “You goso fastand you get to do it over and over. Right, Mommy?”

“We’ve had a lot of fun, yes.” Melted snow drips down the back of my neck from my hat and I shiver. “But don’t bother him, honey.”

“It’s fine,” Patton says, grabbing the sled from Arlo and positioning it at the top of the run. He puts one foot on it.

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