Page 2 of The Hermit on the Hill

Aidy laughed like it was the funniest thing that had ever happened to her. She shifted in my lap and rubbed the ice cream and sprinkles around on my face, even rubbing her hands in my hair, like she was deep conditioning it with ice cream. She giggled so cheerfully I didn't have the heart to ask her to stop.

Well, I didn't until she tried to stick her ice cream covered fingers up my nose. At that point, I gently steered her attention toward the bowl in front of her.

"Here," May said, handing me a handful of paper towels. "Want me to hold her while you get cleaned up?"

"Thanks, but nothing short of a full shower is going to solve this problem. If I hand her off to you, you'll be covered in ice cream, too."

She narrowed her eyes.

I gave her my most cheerful smile. "Really. I'm fine to stick it out until you get the shots you need."

"Thank you so much, Jenna." Her shoulders sagged and the stress of the day showed in her frown. "I owe you big time."

"You don't owe me anything. Except maybe a bowl of ice cream."

"That I can do."

She fixed me an enormous bowl of ice cream covered in sprinkles. I only got a few bites of it before the kids started in on the glitter and paint to make their fairy wings and elf hats. I wouldn't leave May, Mom, and the harried camp counselor alone for that project. It required one-on-one guidance.

An hour later, May had gotten several adorable shots of the kids. They looked so sweet and innocent while they sat for their pictures that no one would ever guess they'd been a chaotic mess an hour earlier.

"Thank you again," May said, after the kids and their counselor had left. "I know I need to hire someone, but I only need extra help when I have big groups like this."

"Seriously, it's no problem. I have the summer off." More than the summer off, possibly. My stomach dropped at the thought and I smiled wider. "I had fun today."

May laughed. "Nothing ever gets to you, does it?"

"It's been an adventure of the sweet and frozen kind that I'll never forget."

"Well, thanks again. I will pay you."

And I could use the money, but I couldn't tell May that without telling her I didn't have a job, which would require explaining why I'd moved to Catalpa Creek with no job prospects, which would require telling May about the baby. I wasn't ready for any of that.

"You don't pay family," I said. "Isn't that why Mom always said she had so many kids? Free labor."

"I heard that," Mom called from where she sat at the picnic table recovering from the chaotic crafting with toddlers. "And she's right. We don't pay family."

"Okay." May winked like she had no intention of not paying me. "Want to come over to my place for dinner? George's making black bean burgers."

"Sure." My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out, surprised to see Carrie's name on the screen. I liked my brother Cody's wife, but I didn't know her well and, though we'd exchanged numbers, this was the first time she'd called me.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Jenna?" In the background, a child wailed. "Hold on. Sorry."

A moment later, there was the sound of a door closing. "Jenna, you still there?"

"I'm here."

"Sorry. The kids started fighting as soon as I put the phone to my ear."

"Do you want to call me back?"

"No. Simon will mediate, and this won't take a minute. I just thought you should know that Cody, Noah, and George are gathering supplies for some mission to avenge your honor. I think they're going to Sam Oakley's place."

My blood froze, and I glared at May. "Do you have any idea how much time I have to beat them there?"

"Um, I'm not sure you want to get between this crew and Sam. They mentioned glitter and chicken feathers and maple syrup."

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