Page 109 of When We Were Us
“Yeah.” She wraps her arms around my waist, and I hug her back.
I never want to let her go. But I do and help her into the truck. I can see her grinning when I round the hood.
The ride to town is short and Wren raves the entire time about the truck and how close it looks to the original. I’m so relieved she likes it. I’d debated bringing her truck the day she asked about it, but I’d been a stubborn jackass.
Turns out, waiting was the right call because I think she needed to see it when she did. Something to take her mind off all the shit she’s dealing with. Something to prove to her just how serious I am about a life together.
We find a parking spot in the dirt and gravel lot that is designated as overflow parking for the Huckleberry Festival. Since it’s nearing dinnertime, we decide to grab a bite to eat first.
We walk along Main and make our way to the central hub for the festival, which is the town square, while checking out our dinner options. We decide on steak and chicken street tacos from a beat-up cart that looks like it's been through a literal tornado. The place isn’t local, but the food smells amazing.
Wren picks up a handful of napkins and the two bottles of water I purchased with the tacos, then leads me to a picnic table while I carry the food. Just as we’re sitting down to eat, Hudson, Finnley and Paige come walking up.
Finn leans in and hugs Wren, and Hudson gives her shoulder a playful little shove.
“Uncle Hank! We just saw the cutest piglets! They are way cuter than the calves this year. Sorry, but I just love their itty-bitty pink noses!” She pulls back from hugging me with a giggle and glances across the table. “Oh! Hi, Wrenley. Do you like piglets?” She takes a breath. “Did you know that a full-grown pig has forty-four teeth?”
“I did know that,” Wren replies instantly. She folds her arms on the table in front of her and leans down, smiling at Paige. “Didyouknow that pigs can squeal three times louder than a jet plane, but they are also very skittish and don’t like loud noises?”
My niece screws up her face and looks up at Hudson. “Is that true, Daddy?”
“Wren would know; she’s a vet. I bet she’s seen plenty of pigs.”
Paige’s eyes go wide, and she hops up on the bench next to Wren. “How many pigs have you seen?”
Wrenley laughs and twists her lips up theatrically, like she might be counting. “Um, maybe not as many as you would think. I mostly work with horses.”
“Like Apollo! Uncle Hank said you fixed his belly. Thank you!” She crushes herself against Wren and wraps her arms around her waist. Wren smiles down at her and wraps an arm around her shoulder, giving her a squeeze.
“I did help Apollo, yes. And it was my pleasure.” She cuts a glance in my direction. “Your Uncle Hank says you’ve been reading to Apollo almost every day. I bet he likes that very much.”
Paige nods, looking up at Wren. “Can you tell me how you fixed Apollo’s belly? I like to know how things work. My dad says?—”
“Ok, Pipsqueak, I think we should let Uncle Hank and Wrenley finish their dinner. Maybe she can give you a discourse on veterinary surgery later, ok?” he says with a laugh.
Finn holds out her hand and smiles down at Paige. “Let’s go ride the Ferris wheel. Maybe get some cotton candy in a bit?”
“Ok!” She jumps up and grabs Finn’s hand, pulling her away from us. “Come on, Finn! Let's go ride the Ferris wheel. I want pink cotton candy. What color do you want?” Finn throws us a wink and lets Paige pull her away.
“We’ll catch up with you guys later,” Hudson says and jogs off after them.
“Wow.” Wren turns wide eyes to me as we watch them go. “She’s full of energy. Makes me miss Ginger’s boys.”
“You’re not kidding. She doesn’t stop,” I say, taking a bite of a taco and Wren digs in, too.
“What’s the story with Hudson and her mom?”
I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “She’s a dancer for some big ballet company in France. She left him last year.”
Wren’s face falls. “That’s awful.” I know that Wren understands all too well what it feels like to be without a mom. “Does she see Paige much?”
I shake my head. “Not so far. Hudson’s done great with her, though. It's been just the two of them her whole life for the most part, with all the traveling Tristen does.”
Wren nods. “He seems like a great dad.”
“He is. Even if he is an idiot sometimes.” I laugh, wiping my hands on a napkin.
We finish our tacos and I throw our trash away while Wren uses the ladies’ room. When she comes out, she has a smile on her face like I haven’t seen in years.
