Lace snorted. “I’m not sure about that. Butyouhaven’t changed one bit since I saw you last,” she offered up exuberantly.
“Oh, child. You flatter.” Ellen fluffed it off, but by the color in her cheeks, Lace could tell she was pleased.
“And who do we have here?” Vince asked, joining the woman but facing the door where two people stood watching with twin smiles on their faces.
“Oh,” Ellen cried. “I almost forgot to make introductions in my joy at seeing Lace again. Vince, Lace, this is Obadiah and Zita Engle.”
“Call me Obi-Wan,” the man said. “And,” his face twisted up in amusement, “are you a clown?”
“Oops.” Vince grinned. “Forgot about the outfit.”
He did a little two step, clearly unabashed. “I was entertaining at the hospital this morning, and haven’t had a chance to change.” He pulled a wad of balloons from his pocket. “I don’t suppose you want a toucan or anything?” he asked, honking the button on his caftan that was a horn.
“How about a turtle,” Zita’s face split into a huge smile.
“Easy-peasy,” Vince responded, and immediately began creating.
While he was busy, Lace scrutinized the pair.
She put the handsome and very buff Obi-Wan at five-nine or so, and the auburn-haired Zita at four or five inches shorter. But height clearly didn’t matter. They both commanded the space around them like they were much larger figures.
No one would want to mess with either of them.
Vince approached the couple, proffered the green turtle he’d concocted. Then with his palm outstretched, he set about greeting them.
“I’m excited to meet you,” he gushed sincerely, shaking Zita’s hand first before turning to her husband. “And you…” He whistled appreciably as he shook. “I have to say, I’m a big Night Stalker fan. My team and I had our asses rescued more than once by you guys…and gals,” he added.
Obi-Wan assessed him with a practiced eye. “Don’t tell me. Navy. SEAL.” he stated more than asked.
Vince nodded and grinned. “Separated now, but yeah. It was a wild ride. More boats than whirlybirds, but I do love a good helicopter.”
“I don’t suppose you’d like to see mine, would you?” Obi-Wan questioned with a smile, clearly knowing the answer even before Vince replied.
“Hell, yes,” Vince enthused, then turned to his mother. “Do you mind, Mom?” he appealed.
“No. You boys go ahead.”
It had always been on Lace’s bucket list to sit in a helicopter, and she didn’t want to miss this opportunity, but she also didn’t want to disappoint Ellen.
Ellen must have noticed the look in Lace’s eyes.
“It seems like the ladies want to join you,” Ellen finished diplomatically. “How about I go make us some lemonade while you’re busy, then I’ll take care of a few things I need to do for camp tomorrow before you get back. I can see you won’t sit still until you’ve examined Obi-Wan’s baby.”
Lace knew that Ellen worked at Hilly Duncan-Andera’s camp for marginalized children, bringing her cheerful grand-motherliness and stellar cooking to the table. It was clearly a great fit.
“You know me too well,” Vince gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek, and she waved them away.
She scoffed at her son, tapping her chin sarcastically. “Hmm. Sitting around chatting with your old mother, or getting to sit in the cockpit of a helicopter? That’s kind of a no-brainer.”
They all laughed, and they didn’t wait for any further permission, but took to the stairs. Vincent simply leaped, as if he were an excited boy of nine.
Ellen laughed. “Take your time,” she called after them.
Lace knew they would.
The group walked companionably toward the field and the landing strip behind one of the mill buildings, while small talk was made during the short jaunt.
Lace instantly liked both people.