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squirt.”
    â€œI’m not a squirt. I’m one of the tallest in my class.” Hunter giggled as Brant tickled his ribs, then set him down.
    Raquel hurried to hug Tori and coo over her baby niece. “Oh, Lorraine, you get prettier and prettier, just like your mama.”
    â€œNope. She’s prettier than I ever thought about being.” Tori grinned.
    â€œObviously, you haven’t looked in the mirror lately, ’cause you’re one smoking-hot mama.” Brant winked at his wife.
    â€œLittle ears,” Tori whispered.
    Brant covered his mouth in mock dismay and focused on Hunter again. “So, were you surprised?”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œThat I’m here. That I’m home from my tour.”
    Hunter shook his head. “Mama told me you were coming to dinner tonight.”
    â€œRock.” Brant shot her a stern scowl. “Will you never learn to keep a secret?”
    â€œI tried.” She winced. “It slipped out in something like ‘We’ll save this roast for Saturday when Uncle Brant comes home.’”
    â€œNo secrets around my little sis.” Brant shook his head and scooped a pie out of his truck. “I’m starving.”
    â€œYou were born starving.” Raquel linked arms with her brother. “Tori, you weren’t supposed to bring anything. You just got home.”
    â€œWe stopped for lunch at Aunt Loretta’s.” Tori rolled her eyes. “She did her best to sabotage my postpregnancy diet and insisted we bring you her blueberry pie.”
    â€œPfft, you don’t need a diet.” Raquel got a whiff of the pie. “Yum. Tell her thank you. How was the tour?”
    â€œIt was the most awesome thing I’ve ever been part of.” Brant’s eyes shone.
    â€œI’m so glad.” She squeezed his arm. Brant had achieved his lifelong dream and she couldn’t be happier for him, but goodness, she missed him when he was gone. “I’m so glad you’re home for three months, though.”
    â€œMe too.”
    â€œI got a new baseball bat to show you.” Hunter grabbed Tori’s hand and tugged her toward the house.
    â€œCareful, Hunter. Don’t pull Aunt Tori. You might make her drop Lorraine.”
    Hunter eased up and followed his aunt inside.
    â€œSo, after we eat, could you and Tori entertain Hunter for a bit while I talk with our new neighbor? You’ll never guess who lives next door.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œSlade Walker.”
    â€œSlade Walker?” Brant scowled.
    Scowled? In disbelief? Brant had watched Slade play baseball right along with her and Dylan.
    â€œAs in former Texas Rangers pitcher. How cool is that? Just when Hunter needs a new coach. That’s what I want to talk to him about.”
    â€œWait a minute. I thought Hunter had a coach.”
    â€œHe’s getting deployed, so I’m hoping Slade will agree to coach his team.”
    â€œThat’s not a good idea.” Brant’s tone held bridled anger.
    â€œWhy?” Raquel frowned as she perched on the porch swing. It creaked when Brant settled beside her. “How awesome would it be to have a former Texas Rangers pitcher coaching Hunter’s team? He helped Hunter with his batting and Hunter hit the ball in his first practice the other night. You should have seen his face.”
    â€œYou can’t just go asking some guy you barely know to get involved with your son.”
    â€œSo I barely know him.” Raquel shrugged. Brant had been a fan during Slade’s Rangers days. What was his deal? “But Dylan knew him well. They were best friends in Garland until the fifth grade, when Slade moved away. After that they saw each other a few times over the years and Slade led Dylan to the Lord. They talked on the phone often. He’s a nice guy.”
    â€œA lot can change in a guy between the fifth grade and late twenties, little sister.”
    â€œYou act like