Page 36 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

“Daddy?” Kenna said, tugging on Alistair’s pant leg. Princess jumped up to paw at his knee. “Can I go look around with Aisling?”

“We’re looking for some jewelry,” he said, leaning down to talk to her. “Remember? To replace the pieces Madison took apart for your crafts.”

Kenna pouted, her bottom lip pooching out. I had to turn away to hide my smile. The kid really knew how to work it. “But Aisling is going for hot chocolate. Princess and I want to get hot chocolate too.” She wrapped her arms around herself, pretending to shiver. “We’re cold.”

Lena stifled a laugh with her hand.

“Cold, huh?” Alistair said. “Well, Princess isn’t allowed to have chocolate. It’s not good for dogs. Maybe we should go back to the car.”

“I’m not cold,” Kenna declared at once.

“Ah, let her and Princess come,” Weston said, nudging Alistair playfully. “We can take them around with us.” Kenna and Aisling started dancing around in celebration.

Alistair snorted. “I would not wish this dog on my worst enemy.”

“She’s not that bad,” I said. “She’s just easily excitable.”

Weston nodded to the girls. “Then she’ll fit right in with this lot.”

“We can look after her,” Aisling insisted. “I take care of Milo all the time.”

“You certainly do,” Lena said, holding her hand out for Princess’s leash. I passed it over as Weston checked his watch. “Meet you two back here in about…thirty minutes?”

“Fine,” Alistair relented, and somehow the girls shrieked even louder. “You and Princess be extra good for Uncle Weston and Auntie Lena, okay?” He nudged Kenna, giving her a wicked grin. “No throwing slushy snowballs at Uncle Weston.” A lot of the snow from the massive Christmas storm had melted away, but there were still softening piles hanging around, topped by the latest flurries.

Kenna’s little face broke into a conspiratorial smile.

“What are you two whispering about?” Weston asked.

“Nothing!” Kenna said. She kissed Alistair on the cheek before racing off with Aisling and Princess. “Bye, Daddy.”

“She’s got that pout down to a science, huh?” I said as the two of us continued down the street. The community was out in droves today. It was the most people I’d seen in weeks, and I was surprised to see a couple of the locals smile in Alistair’s direction or wave when they recognized him. I wasn’t sure how he knew them, since other than going over to Weston and Lena’s, he didn’t seem to ever leave the house.

“I fear it’s only going to become more powerful,” he said. A dusting of snow settled on a pop-up tent selling chunky tartan-patterned wool socks. Next to it was a vendor selling gorgeous leather wallets and journal covers. Another tent was filled with all-natural soaps and skin care, while further down there were art prints, homemade beeswax candles, and, of course, jewelry.

“Hold that pose, you two!”

Alistair froze for a beat, his shoulders hunched up by his ears as a camera shutter clicked. Before I could check to see if he was okay, he realized the photographer was Isla, and he relaxed. She waddled over, her coat stretched over her pregnant belly. Locke came up behind her, eating something that steamed from a foil wrapper.

“What’ve you got there?” Alistair asked him.

“Hot haggis, neeps, and tatties. Isla keeps ordering stuff and deciding not to eat it.”

She wrinkled her nose. “The baby decided he didn’t want it. Is it my fault your son is picky?” Locke wisely chose not to answer.

I chuckled, nodding to Isla’s camera. “Are you on picture duty?”

“I usually do photography for the festivals,” she said brightly, showing me the photo she’d just taken of me and Alistair. It was two of us grinning at each other in a way that made my heart race for some silly reason.

“Where’s Kenna?” Locke asked, giving me time to fight the blush in my cheeks.

“With Weston, Lena, and Aisling,” Alistair said. “The girls wanted hot chocolate.”

“Ooh,” Isla said, perking up. “Me too, actually.” She latched onto Locke’s hand, dragging him away.

“Catch you guys later!” he called over his shoulder.

I laughed. “What do you want to bet the baby has changed his mind by the time they get there?”