Page 33 of Patio Lanterns

“What are you talking about? You used to babysit.”

“Yeah, for kids that were already potty trained, with full sets of teeth, and a grasp of vocabulary. I never had to deal with…” she waved her hand in Nova’s direction, “this situation.”

Rick barked out laughing. “Oh, you are too much.”

Dove smirked. “But Nova is your niece.”

“Nice try, but she’s your niece too,” Robin said. “So, how ‘bout you clean her up while I stay and keep our company entertained.”

“Fine. But believe me, Bobbin, the first diaper blowout, and she’s all yours.”

13

Rick

With Dove and Nova headed upstairs, and Aidan and Lark in the kitchen, Rick and Robin finally had a moment alone.

“Bobbin,” he repeated with a smile. “That’s very cute. It suits you, you know.”

She laughed softly. Suddenly, he felt her toes grazing his pant leg beneath the table. Perhaps it meant she’d forgiven him for having darkened her cottage door.

“Thank you for saying those nice things about me,” she said, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him. “I appreciate it more than you know, but you really don’t have to defend me. I can handle it.”

“I couldn’t sit here listening to Lark run you down. After all, you don’t become the Merch Queen without having some mean skills.”

“It’s her twisted form of encouragement. She thinks she has to fix me.”

“Take it from someone who’s been coached: humiliation isn’t an effective means of motivation or encouragement.”

She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”

“You’re doing great, Robin,” he told her reassuringly, smoothing his foot over hers. “Forget what Lark or anyone else says, and you do you.”

She smiled warmly, her eyes brighter and her cheeks pinking up. “You know, I’m really happy to see you.”

Now it was Rick’s turn to smile. “Even though my true identity has now been revealed?”

Robin bit the corner of her lip. “Well, I’ve always kinda had a thing for Bruce Wayne.”

He was chuffed that she’d peg him as Batman. “I’m happy to see you too.”

“Even though my true age has now been revealed?” she questioned. “I saw the look on your face as you did the math.”

He’d guessed she was under thirty, but learning the actual number made it more of a bitter pill to swallow. “I’m almost twice your age, you know.”

“And like I told you, it doesn’t matter,” she said, her bare toes now stroking his shin. “I’m attracted to who I’m attracted to. If it doesn’t bother me, then—”

Aidan and Lark returned with coffee and a plate of iced chocolate brownies. “Wonderful news,” Lark announced. “Aidan will finish the kitchen cabinets and put on a new pantry door.”

“Oh?” Robin looked surprised. “I didn’t know we were planning to do that.”

“We can’t sell, or rent out the cottage in the half-finished state that hodge-podge kitchen is in. We might as well get it done while we have access to a talented carpenter.”

Rick was also surprised that Aidan would’ve made an offer like that. “You have time to do that with your busy schedule, son?”

“I do if I have the right crew to lend me a hand,” he said. “Whaddya say, Dad? We could probably get it done for the girls this week. I mean, you got anything better going on?”

While he didn’t want to turn down an opportunity to work closely with Aidan, being under the same roof as Robin meant they’d now have to hide their secret for days, not hours. He’d have to feign total disinterest in her like he wasn’t a sucker for her feminine wiles. A moment ago, he couldn’t even keep his feet to himself under the table.

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