Annie’s eyes get wide as she starts to head back to her bedroom.

“It’s okay,” I reassure her. “I’ll check on you in a few minutes.”

Sheriff Gleason puts his cap back on. “Well, I see my job here is done. Pan delivered so the wife will be happy, and Annie back to sleep so the babysitter can get some peace and quiet. Not a bad day’s work.”

“Thanks.” If I get the essay done before the Dorns arrive, I’ll have just enough time to watch a so-bad-it’s-good ninety-minute movie with Dad before he turns in early due to his seven a.m. start at the site.

“I’ll leave you to it. Good luck with those essays.” He turns to go down the porch stairs, but pauses. “Or not. Looks like you have another visitor.”

I look out to the sidewalk and see Neil approaching the house. “Hey, Uncle Brian,” Neil replies with a sheepish grin.

“Don’t stay out too late,” Sheriff Gleason orders his nephew. He tousles Neil’s hair as if Neil were a toddler instead of a nearly six-foot-tall eighteen-year-old.

“I’m just bringing Ally something,” Neil replies as he gives me a shy look.

“Come on in,” I say to Neil as we both wave goodbye to the sheriff. I lower my voice. “But we need to be quiet. Annie has already come out here once.”

“Okay,” Neil whispers as he wipes his green-and-white Vans on the doormat. “Marian told me you were here. My mom made brownies tonight, and I thought I’d drop off a couple for you. I remember how much you like them.” He hands me a plastic bag, which contains two giant chocolate brownies.

I open the bag. “Thanks and yum.”

“Yeah, I think we all lost count of how many you had at Thanksgiving.” He looks down at the kitchen floor.

“Hey!” I say a little too loudly, and cover my mouth.

“The children,” Neil whispers as he shakes his head. “Think of the poor sleeping children.”

“Yeah, because I’m so not sharing with anybody.”

“Hey, be nice. I stopped playing a video game to walk the entire block and a half here to give you that.”

“Okay, you can have half a bite,” I relent as I break off the smallest piece for him.

Neil tugs at the sleeve of his navy blue down jacket before taking a step toward me so we’re only inches apart. I mean, we have to keep our voices down and everything, but I’m rarely so close that I can count the freckles on his nose.

I look away.

“So, ah, what are you working on?” Neil gestures at my outdated laptop on the kitchen table.

I sit down and look at the one whole sentence I’ve written. “Another scholarship.”

“Need any help?” He pulls a chair over to sit next to me.