Page 69 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

“Any word on a piano?” Hannah asked Calvin as they walked across the almost empty baggage corridor toward the doors.

“Hannah, I’m tired.”

“I know. It’s just that it’s basically already Christmas Eve, and for the concert I—”

“It’s Christmas. How will I get a piano?”

“I just thought maybe you’d had a line on something even though you were away.”

“I texted you about it last week.”

“I was just checking. In case… Did they make you a job offer?” She awkwardly shifted Thomas’s weight. Her arms already felt exhausted and she didn’t want to drop him.

“Mom, we’re out this way,” Calvin said tersely, directing her to the south as they caught up with her.

“Actually, I parked this way,” Hannah said, nodding to the north. “Thomas? Can you walk? We have to take stairs down to the car and I don’t want to fall.”

He shook his head in the crook of her neck.

“Please.” She lowered her arms, but he clung to her like a baby sloth.

If this was what it was going to be like after each trip to France, the situation would be torture for all of them.

“Come on, Thomas. You have to walk.”

The weight in her arms was suddenly gone as Thomas was lifted from her.

“Here, I’ve got your little starfighter.”

* * *

“Hi, Louis,” Thomas gave him a shy, sleepy smile before dropping his head against his shoulder.

Louis caught Hannah’s eyes over the boy’s head. She looked tired, relieved and…not mad. He hadn’t had time to question himself before honing in—meddling? He’d done what he told his players to do: when they saw a teammate in need, don’t think, react.

And to him, even though Hannah was likely still mad and blaming him for all the scary potential changes in her life, she was a teammate.

“You don’t have to carry him,” she said quietly.

“I’ve got your back, Hannah.” He held her eyes. “Always.”

She nodded, her expression somber.

“What are you doing at the airport?” he asked Thomas. “Were you out on a special mission to fight drones?”

“You’re silly.”

“That’s true.”

“Were you at a hockey game?” Wade asked, falling into step beside him. He was eyeing Louis’s suit and looking confused.

“You have dragons on your tie.” Thomas giggled, his small fingers toying with it.

“Of course I do! That’s my team.” Louis glanced down at Wade. “I was coaching the guys. We wear suits to and from the arena. It’s a thing.” He leaned closer and confided, “I think they just like getting dressed up and showing off a little.”

“Can I come to a game?” The note of yearning in the boy’s polite request made Louis want to offer him a season’s pass.

“If it’s okay with your parents I can arrange a ticket for you. A good one close to the action.”

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