Page 34 of The Locksmith's Promise

In my peripheral vision, I saw Baxter catch my reaction. Felt him shrink into himself once more.

Much to my astounded ears, I replied. “That sounds good.”

Baxter darted a look in my direction. “Are you sure, Mags?”

Corwin’s happy grin stiffened my resolve.

I nodded firmly. “As my dad said, we’re family.”

Baxter blew out a shaky breath.

But we weren’t out of the woods yet.

On our way to our table, Eric whistled sharply and waved Baxter over.

With a grin, Baxter herded us toward him like unwilling sheep. Well, one of us was unwilling. Corwin bounced along beside his dad like a helium-filled, rubber ball.

“Well, if it isn’t the locksmith!” John exclaimed. “Good to have you back. You are back, aren’t you?”

Holding his hands out to his sides, Baxter smiled wryly, “Do you see me here?”

“Asswipe,” Eric muttered with a smirk. “You back to stay?”

Baxter nodded then jerked his chin toward Corwin. With a proud smile, he proclaimed, “This is my son, Corwin.”

John’s eyebrows rose theatrically as if he hadn’t already heard the news through the grapevine.

I rolled my eyes. “You should probably stick to fire fighting and rescuing kittens, John. You’d never make it in Hollywood.”

Ignoring me, he turned to Corwin. “Great to meet you, Cor,” he boomed and held his massive fist up for a bump.

“Boom!” Corwin exploded his fist off John’s, eliciting a chuckle from all three men.

Eyes softening, John turned back to me. “It’s good to see you, Maggie.”

“It’s good to see you, too, John,” I murmured.

“I can’t believe they let you two mother—” Baxter caught himself. “truckers play with fire.”

I barked out a laugh at Corwin’s delighted grin at his father’s near curse.

“I only play with it part-time,” Eric joked. “I took over the family farm.”

“Cattle?” Baxter asked.

Eric nodded. “And we’ve expanded to include sheep, hay, and a Christmas tree farm.”

My eyebrows rose. “A Christmas tree farm?”

Eric flushed and grumbled, “Did that for the wife. She thought it was romantic.”

I grinned and teased, “You big softy.”

Standing, Eric circled round the table and opened his arms, his Moose Lake Fire t-shirt stretched tight across his enormous chest.

Without a second thought, I stepped inside his embrace. Eric had always been a big teddy bear.

Rocking me back and forth, he murmured, “It’s good to have you back. Both of you. All of you,” he corrected.

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