Page 34 of A Brambleberry Summer

“Looks like somebody is out for the count,” Joe said, gesturing to their outdoor sofa, where Logan had curled up a little while ago.

Wyatt followed his gaze and found his son sound asleep under the blanket Carrie had brought out for him earlier, after the sun had gone down and the evening had turned chilly.

He wasn’t completely surprised. Their day had been filled with activity and fun.

Love for his son washed over him. Logan was the greatest gift.

“Good thing he can sleep anywhere.”

“He is very lucky,” Rosa said. “Some nights, I cannot even sleep in my comfortable bed with cool sheets and soft music playing.”

What was keeping her up at night? Did she also ache for something she didn’t have?

“We’re watching Logan for you tomorrow and you said you’re going into work early, right?” Carrie asked.

He made a face. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”

“You know it’s no problem at all. But I’ve got a great idea. Why don’t you just let Logan stay over here for the night? He can sleep in and so can we, since tomorrow is the official holiday and we don’t have a single thing planned.”

That did make sense, though Wyatt didn’t like spending even a night away from his son.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. If you want the truth, I would rather sleep in tomorrow, since I imagine we will be up late worrying until Bella gets home safely.”

Rosa looked concerned. “I am sure she will be fine. Bella is a smart girl and she is with her friend Jaycee and Jaycee’s parents. They will make sure she does not get into any trouble.”

“Parents always worry. It’s what we do.” Carrie shrugged. “Intellectually, I know Bella will be fine. I’ll still probably stay up, which means I’ll be doubly glad not to have to get up at six a.m., when you come to drop off Logan.”

“I didn’t bring any clothes for him.”

“He has as many clothes here as he probably does at Brambleberry House. We have everything he should need. Swimsuits, shorts and sweatshirts. Even extra socks. It will be great.”

Seriously, what would he have done without his sister and her family over the last three years, when they had stepped in after Tori died to help him raise his son?

“That does seem like a good solution, then. I’ll carry him into the guest room.”

“Afraid we’re going to leave him out here on the patio to sleep?” Joe teased.

Wyatt smiled. “He probably wouldn’t care. The thing is, Logan would never even notice if it started raining.”

Only after he and Rosa had helped clean up and he had carried a still-sleeping Logan and tucked him into the sewing room daybed did Wyatt realize one significant issue he had overlooked.

If his son stayed here, that meant he and Rosa would be walking home alone together.

He frowned, suddenly suspicious. Carrie had been awfully quick to suggest that Logan stay the night, hadn’t she? Were her reasons really about convenience and sleeping in the next day, or was she trying to do some behind-the-scenes matchmaking again?

He gave his sister a swift look, remembering that conversation in the kitchen.

Her reasons didn’t matter. The deed was done. He and Rosa were walking back to Brambleberry House together and he could do nothing about it.

A short time later, they left the house, with Rosa carrying the bag with the bowl she had brought, now empty and washed.

Why had he thought it was a good idea to walk here earlier? If he had driven, they could have been home in two minutes.

The walk wasn’t far, only a few blocks, but there was an intimacy to walking alone with Rosa that left him uncomfortable.

He hadn’t noticed it at all on the walk to Carrie’s house, probably because Logan had kept up a constant chatter. His son had provided a much-needed buffer.

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