Page 80 of Where We Stay

Blair smiles. “How are you, Dean?”

“Can’t complain. You out for a run?”

“Yeah. I’m trying to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.”

“Do you want to get ice cream with us, Miss Morgan?” Aspen asks.

I look down at my daughter.

What the fuck?

“That’s sweet of you, but I should get home,” Blair replies, crouching to Aspen’s level. “I’m clearing a space for a vegetable garden and deciding what flowers I want to plant in the spring.”

“You should choose sunflowers,” Aspen says seriously. “They’re Daddy’s favorite.”

“That’s funny.” Blair looks up at me. “They’re mine too.”

Our eyes hold, and for a moment, the rest of Hartwell disappears.

Those fucking eyes.

“Are you going to the Fall Festival?” Aspen asks. “It’s next Saturday. Daddy says the number day is twenty-four.”

“The date, Penny,” I correct her with a laugh. “It’s October twenty-fourth.”

“I didn’t know anything about it,” Blair says. “But I guess I’ll have to go. It’s my birthday.”

Aspen gasps. “Now you definitely have to come!”

“I suppose I do.” Blair smiles at her. “Just for you, sunflower.”

The nickname makes Aspen beam.

“You can come with us,” I say.

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

So much for keeping things uncomplicated.

Blair stands and looks between us. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on family time.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to face every nosy person in Hartwell alone.” I smile. “I’ll pick you up around four.”

“Okay.” Her smile widens. “I guess I’ll see you next Saturday.”

She says goodbye to Aspen before heading down the sidewalk and breaking into a jog.

Aspen looks up at me with a smug little grin.

“What?”

“You thought about it.”

I watch Blair disappear around the corner.

Apparently, I’m taking her to the Fall Festival.

With my daughter.