Page 65 of Seen Knot Heard

As Chloe snickers, Quinn scrunches her nose at me. “What are they talking about?”

I tug one of her pigtails. “Their parents wouldn’t buy them crayons when they were your age.”

With a horrified gasp, she offers Chloe her box. “Here, you can share mine.”

Chloe bows her head, accepting them with the honor they’re due. “Thank you very much.”

Quinn turns back to me. “Uncle Blake, what should we draw?”

“Hmm.” I scratch my beard and turn to Nathaniel. “What do you think?”

“How about you draw your dream bedrooms?” he suggests.

“Oooh, yes!” Quinn reaches for a purple crayon. “I want a treehouse with fairy lights!”

Nathaniel settles at the table across from Dominic. “What about you, Chloe? What would your dream bedroom look like?”

It’s an obvious fishing tactic, but Chloe doesn’t notice.

She bites her lip, a slight flush rising to her cheeks. “Oh, um… I’m not sure…”

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Quinn pats the drawing pad in front of Chloe. “You can put anything you want!”

Shyly, Chloe selects a light blue crayon and begins sketching. “Well… I’ve always wanted a big, cozy bed with a canopy. Soft curtains, and a place where I can curl up to read.”

As she continues describing her dream space, her voice steadies, and I can’t help but picture Chloe bathed in soft sunlight, wrapped in a fluffy blanket, a book in her hands and at peace.

Quinn’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts. “Oh, I want a reading nook, too! Uncle Blake, make our rooms just like this!”

I laugh, meeting Chloe’s startled gaze. “I’ll do my best. Uncle Dom and Uncle Nat will help me, right, guys?”

They both agree with matching indulgent expressions.

Chloe and Quinn bend over their drawings, their heads close together, the soft scratch of crayons on paper and the crackle of the fireplace filling the room.

I walk over to join the others, stealing Dominic’s mug to take a sip of coffee as my mind works. We have light blue paint from Cabin Three, and it wouldn’t be hard to convert the bed upstairsinto a poster bed. I could have the pieces built by tonight and painted tomorrow.

Nathaniel leans across the table, his voice quiet. “If Domonic gets an order in at the supply store, Kyle can pick it up before he comes back.”

Dominic pulls out his phone to take notes.

Holden brings out a pot of coffee and a mug for me, so I return Dominic’s nearly empty cup. He also brings a basket of scones, which he must have whipped up the second breakfast was cleared. Dominic snatches two from the top before Holden delivers the treats to Chloe and Quinn.

“Thank you.” Chloe stifles a yawn behind her hand. “Sorry.”

“Getting sleepy, Chloe?” I call out.

She startles, surprised to find us all still at the table. “No, I’m okay.”

By the way she blinks slowly, she won’t be okay for much longer. Her body needs all the rest it can get to heal, but I don’t push.

Holden returns to the kitchen, and they color for a bit more. But then Quinn lets out a yawn of her own, a tiny fist rubbing at her eyes. Last night hadn’t been solid sleep for anyone, and it’s taking its toll on the most susceptible of us.

I set down my mug. “It appears you’re both in need of a nap.”

“No, I don’t wanna,” Quinn whines, bottom lip jutting out. “M’not tired.”

Chloe stifles another yawn. “Even great artists need rest. It helps them be more creative later.”

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