I glanced out the kitchen to the living room where Ava and Mia were coloring. “We’ll all have to go. I don’t have anyone else to watch the girls.”

“I’ll keep an eye on them when we get out there, make sure they don’t get into trouble.”

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, picturing Mia swinging from some sort of machinery. “Girls.” They looked up from their drawing. “Can you be on your best behavior when I drop off the food at Mr. Griffin’s?”

Ava nodded, and Mia beamed. “We’re going to visit the giant?”

Will choked on a laugh, but I fought the curse that wanted to surface. “Please don’t call him a giant.”

Her little brows pulled together. “Why not?”

“It might hurt his feelings.”

“I don’t want to hurt his feelings.” She looked down at her paper. “I’m gonna bring him this drawing. He’ll like that.”

I gave her a wobbly smile. “I’m sure he will.” Though I had no idea what Griffin would do with a drawing of a rainbow and a unicorn that looked more like a colorful blob.

I turned the wheel of my SUV to round the curve of the island road that led to Griffin’s house. I hadn’t realized it, but he must drive past my home every time he went into town. I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew that the little, sunny yellow house was mine.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Ava looked out at the rolling landscape around us, but Mia stared intently at her drawing as if searching for imperfections. I swallowed down my chuckle and returned my eyes to the road. Everyone knew where the farmhouse was. There had been countless parties there when I was in high school, but I’d never been to one. More of the hard-partying crowd had frequented them. I had been more of a bonfire-at-the-beach kind of girl.

I pulled to a stop at the electronic gate. There was a keypad and what looked like an intercom with a small camera mounted above it.

“He’s not messing around,” Will remarked.

“A lot of people invaded his home while he was away. It makes sense.” I could only imagine what a betrayal that must have been.

“That sucks.”

“Big time.” I searched for the right button, finding it under what looked like a speaker. I pressed it, and a buzzer sounded.

Griffin’s rough voice came across the line. “Hey, Caelyn. Just follow the main road up to the house.”

“Okay.” My palms dampened as the gates swung open. I felt like I was about to go on a first date. Ridiculous. This was a job. A kindness Griffin had given. Nothing else.

“Coooooool. How’d Mr. Griffin know it was you, Cae Cae? Is he magic?” Mia asked.

Will snorted. “There’s a camera.”