“So you’re friends with Auntie Hannah?” Nikki asked.

“I am. Could I be your friend too?”

She didn’t say anything at first. “Do you like goats?”

“Goats?” When she nodded, he said, “Yes, I do.”

She smiled at his answer. “We can be friends.” Then Nikki turned back to Hannah. “Can we have a sleepover?”

“I, uh, sure.” It wasn’t like she was capable of denying her niece anything.

“Soon?” Nikki’s blue eyes implored her.

“Yes.”

“Next week?”

Oh boy, her niece wasn’t going to let this go without some firm plans. Between the bakery grand opening and planning Spring Fling, she didn’t know how she was supposed to fit everything in.

“Nikki”—Sam stepped up to his daughter—“your aunt is busy. She doesn’t have time for sleepovers right now.”

Nikki’s smile drooped. Is that how her brother saw her these days? She used to be the aunt who was always available for babysitting and fun days out. And now she was known for disappointing her niece. She had to do something to change things.

“We’re going to have a sleepover,” Hannah declared.

“Tonight?” Nikki’s face looked hopeful.

“Not tonight.” She watched as disappointment came over her niece’s face. “Maybe in a couple of weeks when you have spring break.”

“That’s so far away,” Nikki whined.

Oh, the difference between a child’s perspective and an adult’s. “It won’t be that long and then we can have fun together.”

Nikki looked at her hesitantly. “You promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Great. Let’s go see the goats.” Nikki took her hand and then she reached for Ethan’s hand. “Come on!”

Ethan sent Hannah a surprised look over Nikki’s head. She sent him a reassuring smile. They had to run-walk to keep up with Nikki. She was a bundle of excited energy.

Behind the house was a large fenced-in area that was surrounded by a split rail fence lined with chicken wire to keep the goats in. Inside the area was a field of lush green grass, trees for shade from the hot summer sun, and a couple of wood houses with ramps to the doorway for the goats.

There were a dozen or so goats inside the fencing. Hannah always loved visiting with them. They each had so much character. And if she didn’t live in town, she’d have a goat or two of her own.

“There he is!” Nikki let go of their hands and rushed over to the fence. “Dash is the little black goat with the white spot on his forehead.”

“He’s so cute,” Hannah said. “Can I hold him?”

Nikki smiled. “You can if you can catch him. He’s fast.”

“He earned his name,” Sam said.

“He can’t be that fast,” Hannah challenged.

“Come on,” Ethan said. “I’ll help you get him.”

“Okay, you’re on,” Hannah said because she wanted to hold that little baby.

“This should be interesting,” Sam quipped.

Hannah led Ethan inside the fence while her niece and her brother leaned up against the fence, watching them.