Page 10 of Trick or Truce

Warmth pools in my chest. “Been a while since I’ve heard the pretty sound of your laughter.”

“Dad, stop.” She fidgets with the hem of her shirt and glances around the room at nothing in particular.

Compliments make her feel awkward, so I’m not allowed to give them to her.

But I sneak one in every now and again because she deserves it.

“I want you to know that I hear you. You said you want to leave her a note, then you can leave her a note. What I would do in this situation is irrelevant.” I grip her shoulder and give her a squeeze. “I think it was kind of you to save her bowl and try to fix it—even if the initial deed was unkind. I’m proud of you for that.”

“Do you think she’ll be mad about her bowl being broken?”

Lord only knows what the crazy woman across the street will think of this.

“I’m sure she’ll be disappointed. But the bowl seems important to her, so she’ll probably just be happy to have it back.”

Noah lowers herself beside me. “Was that her on the Ring video you were watching this morning?”

I slip my phone out of my back pocket and tap on the app to pull up last night’s footage. Romeo lifts his head as if he wants to watch too.

Noah leans in and her eyes narrow. “What was she doing?”

I grunt. “She stole the gnome off our lawn.”

Her chin jerks back. “What?”

“Mr. Bubbles is officially in a hostage situation.”

“Why would she…” Her eyes pop open wide. “It’s because I stole her bowl. An eye for an eye.”

“Looks that way.”

She clamps her hand over her mouth as her shoulders shake. “That’s pretty funny.”

Funny? She is insufferable.“What grown adult steals someone’s lawn ornament? It’s immature behavior.”

“She does look younger than you.”

“Watch it, kid.”

“I’m just saying. How old do you think she is?”

“Late twenties, maybe?” I rub my temples in small circles. “We should give back the bowl. Then she’ll give back Mr. Bubbles.”

Noah chews on her bottom lip.“We should. It’s the right thing to do.”

I shoot her a dubious look. “Sounds like there’s abutcoming.”

“But…if Mr. Bubbles is being held hostage, then we need to fire back. W.W.B.D.”

What Would Bruce Do.

My eyebrows hit my hairline. “I can’t believe you still remember that.”

“Of course I remember. We’ve seen every Bruce Willis movie known to man. He practically raised me.”

I should tell her no. I shouldn’t entertain whatever hair-brained plan she’s going to concoct. But for the first time in a long time, we’re having a conversation. She’s talking. To me. And not in a shrill tone accusing me of notunderstandingher.

Plus, she brought Bruce into this.

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