Page 60 of Last Call

Owen pointed a few feet away at a rock by the water. “Frog!” He handed Fallon his ice cream cone, hopped to his feet, and sprinted toward the rock.

Evan looked at Fallon and shook his head. “Aunt Riley is definitely going to make you do the laundry,” he said, heading to join Owen.

Fallon looked down at herself, finding that chocolate ice cream had flowed like a tiny river down her white shirt.Just great.

Fallon swung open the door to reveal three pairs of blinking, curious eyes. Riley’s brows shot up. Fallon was drenched—her jeans caked in mud, and a twig appeared to be stuck to her sneaker. Owen stood beside her, equally soaked, his blond curls flat against his forehead and a rogue lily pad stuck to his bright red t-shirt.

“I think someone might be headed to a time-out,” Evan whispered to Fallon.

Fallon forced on her best innocent smile and directed her attention to Pete. “I didn’t think you’d be here this early.”

“That means she thought she had more time for pond-side ice cream,” Riley teased. “Or maybe you ate itinthe pond?”

“Owen spotted a frog,” Evan explained.

Riley raised an eyebrow again.

“Aunt Fallon tried to catch it before it hopped away,” Evan added.

“Momma slipped,” Owen announced, giggling.

“More like she baptized herself,” Riley declared.

Fallon groaned. “It was slippery.”

“Uh, usually is down by the pond,” Pete chuckled.

Fallon glared at him. “I should probably shower,” Fallon said.

“Bring your little frog-chaser along,” Riley suggested.

“Come on, buddy,” Fallon said to Owen. “Let’s go get clean.”

Riley rolled her eyes. “I’m sure they’ll find some new way to make a mess.” She turned to Evan. “At least one of you escaped the pond unscathed.”

Evan shrugged. “Owen really wanted to eat ice cream and chase frogs,” he said.

“Oh, I bet that wasallOwen’s idea,” Riley smirked.

Evan cleared his throat. “How’s Marge?” he asked Pete.

“She’s good,” Pete answered. “I think she’d love to hold the baby if Dale would let go of her for a minute.”

“Dale’s a little enthralled,” Beth offered.

“But Marge is okay?” Evan asked.

“She got up and walked around before I left,” Pete reassured him.

Evan nodded.

“Evan,” Riley said. “Grab a soda, and you two,” she pointed at Pete, “Can head outside. I’m sure Fallon and Owen will be ready to get dirty again in a few minutes.”

“What about you?” Pete asked.

“Beth and I are on wine duty in the kitchen. You and Fallon have grill duty. We’ll meet you out there shortly—just promise me one thing,” Riley added with a playful wag of her finger.

“Sure,” Pete said, raising an eyebrow.

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