Next time

Jeff really wasn't all that sure what could be that exciting about helping Eric in the barn, but he doesn't ask. "You weren't a bear... well... maybe just a little one." He shows her an ity-bity size with his fingers. "But that's okay. Next time I'm a bear we'll just call it even. And..." He pauses with a new little smile. "Next time I have a bright idea that involves you, I'll be sure to ask you myself and not just go through your mom, okay?"

Seeing movement at the restaurant door, he sees Stacy coming. Straightening up, he heads around to the driver's side door of the pickup. "All aboard!" he calls. "If we make it back in good time, I bet Eric will still be hanging around the barn, and he can at least tell all about what happened there while we were gone."

Before getting in, he tosses Ashlee a wink. He'd get his brother out of bed if he had to, just to end this evening well.