Page 118 of Last Call

"You's not scared?'

"Of a toad?" Parker asked.

Owen nodded.

"Nope. But your mom is right. He's probably missing his family."

"Yes. I'm sure hislumpyfamily is missing him," Riley said.

"Near. Far," Ida sang as Owen took Parker's hand and led her away.

Fallon leaned over and bumped Barb's shoulder gently. “You, okay?”

Barb nodded.

"Sit down," Fallon said.

"Parker seems great," Marge commented.

"She's as good a mechanic as you could find," Pete said.

Carol looked at Barb and grinned. "Which means she's good with her hands."

Barb coughed.

Fallon shot Carol a warning glance.

"What? What did I say? You were all thinking it. Hell,Iwas thinking it!"

Fallon cleared her throat. "I'll get you a drink," she told Barb.

Riley claimed the chair next to Barb. "Parker is new in town, too," she said.

"She told me she just moved back," Barb said.

"So? Maybe a new friend," Riley said, putting her hand over Barb's.

"Maybe."

Fallon tucked another toy into Owen’s toy box and let the lid drop with a soft thud. “It’s a good thing we’re building a bigger house. Where are we supposed to fit toys fortwokids?”

Riley smiled. “How do you feel about that?”

“Toys?”

“Fallon.”

Fallon exhaled slowly, lowering herself to the floor beside Riley.

Sometimes, when you’d been waiting forever for something—thething—and it finally felt close enough to touch, it wasn’t excitement that came first. It was terror.

“In two weeks,” Fallon said quietly, “we’re going to try. And I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

“But your hopes are up,” Riley said gently.

“I can’t seem to help it. Do you remember Owen’s birthday last year?”

“Do I remember it?" Riley asked. "I’mstillfinding silly string around the house.”

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