Page 90 of Unexpected Danger
A few minutes later, they embarked on a bug hunt in the front yard where Deputy Huang was stationed.
“Look! I found my favorite bug—a pill bug. Uncle Brodie calls them roly-polies.” He allowed the crustacean to inch its way across his palm. “I’m going to see what he looks like under the microscope.”
The bug sat still for less than a second before wandering to the edge of the slide and onto the picnic table.
“I think we should probably stick to finding dead bugs,” suggested Londyn.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. How did you become so smart about bugs?”
“I’ve studied them some.”
Xander eyed her suspiciously. “I’m really surprised because you’re a girl.”
“Some girls like bugs, and since I grew up with your daddy, Uncle Brodie, and Uncle Grayson, I was around bugs quite a bit.” She wouldn’t mention how she’d been terrorized with a grasshopper a time or two and how she wasn’t fond of worms.
“I miss Uncle Grayson. I haven’t seen him in a lot of years.” Xander’s brow furrowed. “I was just a little boy last time he was here.”
“I know, I miss him too.” Londyn knew it had been difficult for the Brenneman family after Mr. Brenneman had died and Grayson had subsequently left for a job out of state. While therest of the family leaned on each other, Grayson retreated. In Londyn’s opinion, he hadn’t handled it correctly. Not that she was one to talk.
“When I have a baby sister, I’m gonna teach her all about bugs.” Xander positioned the dead bug on the slide. “God did a really good job on this one.” He moved to the side, and Londyn peered through the microscope as well. It was amazing, all the detail on one tiny insect.
The sound of crunching gravel averted Londyn’s attention to the driveway. For a split second, fear funneled through her until she noticed it was Brodie’s truck, and her pulse quickened. Would Brodie believe her promise that she loved him, not as a brother, but as something more?
“Oh, look, it’s Uncle Brodie!” Xander jumped from the picnic table. “Uncle Brodie, we’ve been ’specting things underneath the microscope. Wanna come see?”
Brodie lifted Xander and swung him around before depositing him on his shoulders. “I sure would like to come see, and guess what I brought?”
“What?
“How about some burgers from Jody’s Restaurant?”
“Oh, yes, I like burgers, ’specially from that place.” Xander held on with one hand and rubbed his tummy with the other. Brodie carefully opened the passenger side of his truck and claimed two white food bags. He greeted Londyn with a handsome grin as he walked toward her.
“I hear you and Xander are spending some time together today.”
“We are.”
“Sounds like the perfect day.” His gaze connected with hers, and her heart did a little flip-flop. Then, in an unexpected—but not unwelcome move, he leaned over and brushed her lips with a kiss.
“That kind of stuff is gross,” Xander announced.
Londyn and Brodie laughed, and Brodie whispered to Londyn, “Wait until he gets older.”
She gestured for both of them to join her at the picnic table, where she pushed aside the microscope. “Let’s wash our hands before we eat.”
Brodie lifted Xander off his shoulders. “I already washed my hands, Aunt Londyn.”
“When was this?” asked Brodie.
“Yesterday,” he said, completely serious.
Londyn attempted to hide her amusement and planted her hands on her hips. “I think you need to wash them again.”
Minutes later, Brodie led the prayer before they ate the hamburgers and fries. Deputy Huang joined them, and the deputy recounted tales of the days when he would get paid a nickel for every grasshopper he caught.
Xander took an oversized bite of his hamburger. “I’m going to ask Daddy if I can do that.”
“What would you buy with all those nickels?” asked Londyn.
