Page 24 of His Best Friend's Widow
Hailey ran a hand through her hair as she looked up at Landon. “I’m so glad. Were your friends there?”
“Yes, Kim and Sarah and Lily and Annie were all there.”
“That’s great, I’m so glad. I want to hear all about it tomorrow. But it’s late, so go get pajamas on and brush your teeth. Tell Landon thank you.”
“She has,” Landon said.
Charlotte stepped close to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you for taking me.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have missed it. I had a wonderful time. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Charlotte said. “Mama, will you come tuck me in?”
“Yes, I will. Go on, I’ll be in there in a few minutes.”
Charlotte’s dress swished and swayed as she moved down the hallway. Landon watched her go, and then sat down next to Hailey on the couch.
“Sorry, I fell asleep,” she said.
“No need to apologize. Everyone is taken care of. I’m sure you’ve had a long week.”
“You’re probably the one who’s tired. Did you sit down at all tonight?”
Landon chuckled. “Not a bit. It was fun, though. She seems to have a good group of friends.”
Hailey nodded. “They’re sweet girls. I’m so glad she has friends. I’ve been worried about bullies in school. I’m sure it will be different when she gets to middle school, but right now I feel like she’s in a good place with a good group.”
“That can make a big difference.” He looked at her and realized how close she was to him. “What did you and the other kids do tonight?”
“Oh, it was a big event.”
“Really?”
“Mmhmm. I put them in pajamas early and let them have popcorn while we watched a movie. I started it early, and they went to bed when it was over.”
“Well, that sounds just perfect.”
Hailey covered a yawn. “It was nice to just be with them and relax.”
“Maybe we could do it again next week?”
Hailey turned and looked him in the eyes. “Is that really what you want to do?”
“What? Movie night? Sure.”
“Not just movie night,” she said. “All of this.” She gestured around the room. “You’ve done laundry, taken Carter to practice and Charlotte to the dance, and had water spilled on your lap at a restaurant. Are you sure this is what you signed up for?”
“Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?” Landon shifted in his seat to face her directly.
She sighed. “No, I’m not. I like having you here. It’s just that I don’t want to be a burden, and I don’t want you doing this just because you think you have to.”
His heart soared to hear her say she wanted him there. “Hailey, I do want to be here. I haven’t thought of you as a burden for one second. I’ve only been afraid I’m stepping across a boundary somewhere. I don’t know where the line is.”
“The line for what exactly?” She bit her lip as their eyes met.
He cleared his throat, sure she could hear his heart pounding. He thought about his words carefully, and then decided he couldn’t say what he really wanted. “Like tonight, I had a good time with Charlotte, and she seemed to have fun. But what do I say when someone mistakes me for her dad? I don’t want to make it worse by saying I’m not and reminding her of Kyle, but I don’t want her to think I’m trying to take his place either.”
“So what did you say?”
