For a few beats, Cade doesn’t say anything. I check my phone to make sure the call didn’t drop. “Cade?”

“I was just thinking. I have to work tomorrow and Sunday. But I guess we could start on it tonight. What time?” I hear resignation and disappointment in his voice.

“No. We’re going out. I promised you amazing and tonight is going to be amazing.” I bite down on my tongue. I have no idea what we’re going to do.

“You made plans?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.” I pick up a throw pillow from the couch and bang my head with it, then gaze out at the twins. They’re back to building their fort. Its walls are nearly as tall as them, at least four feet.

“So, when are we doing this research?” Cade asks.

“I’ll come over with my laptop early Saturday and Sunday morning or after work. Maybe both.” Whatever it takes. However long it takes. I expect it will take every free minute we have this weekend, but Cade doesn’t need to know that. “I’ll need coffee, and if you save me two of Nana’s cinnamon rolls, I’ll type the whole thing.”

“Only two?”

“I didn’t want to be greedy.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll also save a couple pierogies for you.”

I’m one of Pavlov’s dogs. I even sit. “Potato and cheese?”

“Yup.”

“I might have to kiss you.” I slap a hand over my mouth, then grab the throw pillow and whap my head with it. Die, just die.

“Well then, I just might let you.”

“You might—?”

He’s laughing. Oh. The heat that spread from my head to my toes dissipates. My smile turns into a grin, and I’m laughing, too, until it floats away. “So,” I say, drawing it out.

“So, what are we doing tonight?”

“Nice try, buddy.” Silence pours out the phone. I pull it away from my ear, checking to make sure I didn’t accidentally hang up. Nope. Cade lets out a long sigh.

Ugh. Buddy. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with myself or Cade.

I flip around, kneel on the couch, and watch the twins smooth snow over their fort’s walls. It gives me an idea. If I can pull it off, I can give Cade that adventure. I get up, open the front hall closet door, and grab my coat. “I’ll pick you up at seven,” I tell Cade. “Dress warm.”

Chapter 13: Cade

“We’re here,” Logan finally announces, pulling into an empty snow-covered parking lot.

A sign reads: “Welcome to Fort Ontario. Closed for the season.”