Hayden smiled. “I say we do it.”
“I vote no.” Evie frowned at Hayden over her shoulder. “This is supposed to be a family day, not a test of testosterone between you two.”
Although Hayden agreed, he wasn’t going to back down.
“I, for one, would like to show my baby girl that I’m a winner.” Steven was like a dog with a bone. “You and Hayden don’t stand a chance, Eve. And I think your man knows it.”
Hayden scoffed, his competitive spirit wide awake and itching for action. But first, a put-down was in order. “When does a trial lawyer have time to become proficient at something like a piggyback egg carry or a pedal car race?” He’d passed the sign for the obstacle course on the way to find Evie. There was also a three-legged segment, and something called an inner tube race, none of which sounded like they were in Steven’s city boy wheelhouse.
“Shush, they’re about to start.” Evie faced forward.
The preschool kids were now all on stage, waving what looked like green stems with paper bumblebees attached.
Hayden lifted his black cowboy hat and waved to capture Katie’s attention. The unicorn-loving sprite waved back with her paper bumblebee, smile widening.
“Hey.” Gran sat up taller and pointed at the stage. “I think I know that girl.”
“That’s your great-granddaughter, Katie.” Evie beamed at Gran. “You recognized her. That’s great.”
“Sure is,” Hayden added, his competitive streak distracted as he realized Gran had just remembered someone new in her life. Her progress was slow, but at least she was making some. Hayden rocked Evie from side to side. His progress on his perception of that shocking argument he’d had with Grandpa was slow to move forward, too.
“I don’t know why you two are making such a fuss,” Gran grumbled, making both Hayden and Evie chuckle.
The kids began to sing about pollination and bumblebees.
Hayden didn’t pay much attention to the words. He was making plans to show Steven why he was the better man for Evie.
*
“Good luck,” Mom told Eve and Vi. “Irene and I will keep an eye on Katie.”
Irene and Katie buzzed by, pretending to be bees.
“Good luck?” Eve muttered, easing the tension cramp in her neck with one hand. She was going to need it. All because Vi had given Steven an opening by offering to compete with him. If that wasn’t annoying…
Vi’s laughter filled the air.
Eve drew her sister from her circle of friends, moving far enough away that they had a small measure of privacy. “Why are you doing this? To get back at Hayden for something? I can’t imagine what.”
Katie buzzed around Vi before flitting away.
Vi stared at Katie lovingly. “Do you know how much I love Katie?”
“I know.” Some of Eve’s frustration drained.
Gaze still on Katie, Vi looped her arm around Eve’s shoulders. “I never want to see Katie suffer because of a jerk of a father figure. Whether that be Steven or Hayden.”
“Hayden adores her,” Eve was quick to say. “He treats her like she’s the rarest of gems.”
“And you?” Vi continued to follow Katie’s progress around them. “How does Hayden treat you?”
“I have no complaints.”
“Yet,” Vi said softly, knowingly. “You haven’t encountered any difficulties yet.”
Oh, yes, we have.
Not that Eve could share what they were. Guilt over lying to her sister returned in a heated rush. The need to tell Vi the truth pressed against her tongue. She waved at some residents she knew from Oak Hill instead of spilling her guts.