“But what if he doesn’t make it down?”

“He stayed high enough for the sat phone to work to give me a call and has probably already landed. He had a spot picked out.” As if he could feel her heart speeding up, he added, “Relax. Hawk’s careful, especially when he has passengers.”

The reassurance was what she needed. And really, he’d probably be even more careful with having Kit along. Frankie had seen how his hard face softened when he talked with her bestie. And when she’d asked Kit about him, her friend turned red and flustered…and her face softened too.

Frankie’d decided she’d be hands-off, although, okay, she was totally cheering them on. “What about camping? I mean, it’s going to be cold and everything.”

“He carries everything he’ll need for both of them.”

Of course he did. The man had been raised by a survivalist, right? “If they call again, you can let them know Aric’s safe with me.”

“Thanks, Frankie.”

Shaking her head, she returned to the others in her living room.

On the sectional, Audrey and Lillian were discussing the newly purchased portable school buildings.

At the dining room table, JJ sat between the two children, drawing pictures for Aric. He loved when he could get someone to freehand designs for him.

“What color should our bird be?” JJ asked.

He held up a crayon.

She just raised her eyebrows. “What’s color is that?”

Grinning, he shouted out, “Pink!”

“You’re right.” She took the crayon. “It will stand out nicely in this snow.” Grinning, JJ started working on a…a penguin?

In pink? The poor bird would hide in shame. Smothering a laugh, Frankie winked at Regan, who was giggling.

Now…how in the world was she going to tell Aric about his mom?

“Oh, there’s a worried expression,” JJ said. “Was it a bad call, Frankie? Is there a problem at the roadhouse?”

Audrey looked over the back of the couch. “You law enforcement types are such pessimists. That’s exactly what Gabe would ask.”

“Not the roadhouse.” Trying to be discreet, Frankie waved toward the wall of windows that faced the courtyard. “See how pretty the lake is?”

JJ gave her a puzzled look. “I can’t even see the lake for the fog.”

“Exactly. Gabe heard from someone who’s spending the night elsewhere. Because of that white stuff.”

Catching on, Lillian, Audrey, and JJ glanced at Aric. Since their rescue, the boy hadn’t spent a night without either Kit or Hawk to put him to bed.

Frankie bent and kissed his silky-soft hair. He smelled like a child who’d had a wonderful day. Of grass and mud. Chocolate smeared his chin from when he’d helped her make chocolate chip cookies.

He tipped his head back to look up at her with his endearing crooked smile.