“I can put you down any time and make you walk.”

“Aunt Hayden, Uncle Kevin is scolding me.”

Jeremy complained to Hayden.

She smiled. “Okay. Let’s tell your great-nana about this later and have her scold him, okay?”

After thinking about it, Jeremy said, “Don’t tell Great-Nana. If she gets angry, she’ll hit Uncle Kevin with her walking stick. I don’t want her to hit Uncle Kevin. I still like him a lot.”

Kevin pinched his nephew’s cheek. “You’re really good with your words, just as your aunt said. Your dad wasn’t even at your level when he was young.”

While they were headed toward the main house, Zachary had already brought Callia to meet up with the rest.

Upon seeing her great-grandmother, Callia demanded that Zachary put her down and ran toward the old lady like a bird released from its cage.

“Great-Nana.”

Her soft, childish voice instantly melted Grandma May’s heart.

“Callia. My baby Callia’s back.”

Grandma May lifted Callia in her arms in delight.

She and Callia were the