LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Sure we can.” Ross started that way with Jared and Olivia on either side of him. He glanced over his shoulder. “Sally, you coming?”

      “Sure.” She hurried after them. If he didn’t mind, it would be nicer than just standing around waiting on Kody and his daughter to show up.

      As Jared and Olivia played in the inflatable game with the net sides, she and Ross stood outside watching them dive and roll through the small multicolored balls.

      After a few minutes of uncertain silence, she said, “Jared and Olivia are really sweet.”

      “Yeah, I think they’re pretty great. Their mom and dad are raising them right.”

      “Is your sister older or younger than you?” She was more curious than she should be about Ross.

      “I’m older, but sometimes she treats me like I’m the younger one. She worries about me being a fireman, or not being married. I know she cares but it does get old.”

      “I know the feeling. Kody likes to worry over me. My father encourages it as well. I don’t know what I’d do without Kody though. He’s the one who encouraged me to move out here. Best thing I’ve ever done.”

      Kody had told her that she needed to get away from the memories. More than once he had talked about how much he and Lucy liked living here. He’d even tried to get their parents to move out west as well.

      “That’s right, y’all aren’t from around here. You moved out here from North Carolina, isn’t that right?”

      “Yeah, after my divorce Kody told me there was plenty of work for a paramedic out here. So I decided to come.”

      “Kody said something about you having been in a bad marriage. I’m sorry.”

      Sally was too. She didn’t take marriage lightly.

      “Hey, Aunt Sally.”

      She turned to see Lucy running toward her with Kody not far behind. Lucy reached her and wrapped her arms around her for a hug. Sally loved her niece. On Sally’s days off she often helped Kody with Lucy. Occasionally he needed Lucy to stay over at Sally’s while he worked his shift. Sally didn’t mind. She enjoyed spending time with her niece. “Hey there. I was starting to wonder where you were.”

      Kody joined them. “Sorry, the birthday party Lucy was at went longer than I expected.” He reached out a hand and spoke to Ross. “Hey, man.”

      Ross gave Kody’s hand a hardy shake. “Glad you made it. Have you tried the ribs yet? They’re great.”

      “Yeah, we just ate, then saw y’all down here. Thanks for taking care of my sister.”

      Heat went through Sally. She didn’t need taking care of. She gave her brother a quelling look. “Kody!”

      He acted as if she hadn’t said anything as Ross said, “We saw each other and I invited her to eat with us. No big deal.” Ross made it sound as if he was trying to explain keeping her out too late to her father.

      “Daddy, can I jump?” Lucy pulled on Kody’s hand.

      “Sure, honey.”

      Lucy kicked off her shoes and entered the box. Soon she was busy having fun with Jared and Olivia and the other children.

      A few minutes later the man monitoring the game told the children inside that it was time to give others a chance. The kids climbed out, put their shoes on and joined them.

      Sally put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “Lucy, I’d like for you to meet Jared and Olivia. Jared and Olivia, this is Lucy. She’s my niece.”

      “Like Uncle Ross is our uncle,” Olivia chirped.

      Sally smiled at her. “That’s right.”

      A man announcing over a microphone the relay games were about to begin interrupted their conversation.

      “Can we go watch, Uncle Ross?” Jared asked.

      “Sure. You guys going?” He looked from her to Kody.

      “Why not?” Kody responded for them both.

      They walked toward the field that had been set up as a relay course. A crowd was already lining up along each side of the area marked with lanes.

      “The first race is the egg carry. Children only. Get your spoon and egg and line up.”

      All three of the kids wanted to participate.

      Jared and Olivia were in lanes next to each other. Ross stood behind them. Lucy, with Kody doing the same, was in the lane next to them. Sally stood on the sidelines to cheer them on. The children put the handle of a plastic spoon in their mouth and sat the boiled egg in the other end.

      The man said, “You have to go down and around the barrel with the egg in the spoon. First one back wins. Go on three. One, two, three.”

      The children took off. Olivia only made it a short distance before her egg fell out. She hurried to pick it up and place it in the spoon again. Lucy and Jared were already at the barrel. Not getting far, Olivia lost hers again. She looked at Ross, her face twisted as if she was about to sob.

      With what looked like no hesitation, Ross hurried to her. He went down on one knee and said something to Olivia. He offered her the spoon. She looked unsure but placed it in her mouth. Ross added the egg, then wrapped his arms around Olivia’s waist and lifted her. He walked with a slow steady pace toward the barrel. Sally’s heart expanded. Ross Lawson was a good uncle. They were way behind the others but the crowd cheered as Ross and Olivia rounded the barrel and headed for the finish line.

      They were the last to cross the line but the people acted as if she was the first. Ross placed Olivia’s feet on the ground and went down on a knee. The little girl dropped her spoon and egg, and turned around, beaming at Ross. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. What could have been a horrible memory for his niece, Ross had turned into one of joy.

      Ross and Olivia joined their little group once more and they watched more of the races, cheering on people they knew.

      A little while later the man with the microphone said, “Okay, it’s time for the three-legged race. We’re going to do something a little different this year to start out with. We need a male and female to represent each fire station. We’re going to have a little friendly house-to-house competition. Pick your partner, and come to the line.”

      “Uncle Ross, you and Sally need to go,” Jared said.

      “Yeah, you need to,” the girls agreed.

      “I don’t think so.” Sally looked around for an excuse not to participate. She received no help from Kody, who just grinned at her.

      “Someone does need to represent our station.” Ross studied her.

      “Go, Aunt Sally.” Lucy gave her a little push.

      She returned Ross’s assessing look. Surely he wouldn’t want to do it.

      He said with far more enthusiasm than she felt, “Come on. Let’s win this thing.”

      It figured Ross was competitive.

      They hurried to a lane. Ross quickly tied the strip of cloth lying on the ground around their ankles. The entire time she tried not to touch him any more than necessary. She wasn’t very successful. They met all the way up the length of their legs. Her nerves went into a frenzy when Ross’s arm came around her waist. He felt so solid and secure. What was going on with her?

      “Put your arm around me,” Ross commanded.

      With heart thumping harder than normal, Sally did as he requested. Her fingers clutched his shirt.

      “Not my shirt, me.” His words were teasing almost, but demanding, drawing her gaze to his face, which was fierce with concentration and determination. She bit back a laugh as her fingers gripped

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