"You've got to watch you don't spill your cookies everywhere." She laughed to herself. "I know that sounds like a euphemism for something naughty, but it isn't." "What's a euphemism?"
"Um, like when you say one thing, but it really means something else."
"Like when Mommy says she's happy you're here."
Alexis gently squeezed his hand. "No, that's just a lie."
"Don't you like Nana and Grandpop?" he asked innocently. "Grandpop can be a little grumpy, but he's okay most of the time."
Alexis sighed. Owen had more insight than was necessary for a four-year-old.
"Nana and Grandpop are my parents and I love them," she insisted.
"I asked you if you like them," he said pointedly.
Alexis bristled. Now I see why I may have been somewhat of a thorn in my family's side, she mused.
"They're decent, hard-working people," she replied diplomatically.
"So you don't like them," he said. "That's okay. I don't always like them either, but I do love them."
He sang a little song to himself as he sat on the swing watching for birds, completely at peace with his feelings on the subject. Alexis wished she could simplify her feelings like that. She'd managed to create such layers of emotional complexity that she could scarcely function.
Alexis ruffled his hair affectionately. "I like you, that's for sure."
He grinned up at her and she noticed pieces of chocolate stuck to his small teeth.
"You could be my best friend," he said. "I don't have one yet."
Alexis was touched. "I do have a vacancy in the best friend department."
"What about Tyler?" Owen asked.
Her eyes widened. "Where did you hear that name?"
"Mommy and Nana. And when Mommy mentioned him earlier, she said he was always coming to see you."
"He's definitely a friend," Alexis admitted, "but I'll reserve best friend status for you." She stole another cookie from his bag and he clutched the bag to his chest in mock outrage.
"Hey, no more sharing," he declared.
She lifted Owen out of the swing in a tickly hug. He giggled and wriggled until she was afraid he'd be sick.
"You should have kids," Owen told her. "Then I'd have someone fun like you to
play with."
Alexis set him down and pressed her lips together.
"I'm generally not the kind of person other people describe as fun, Owen, but I'm glad you think so." She cleared her throat and forced a smile. "Now finish those cookies before I get you home so I don't get in trouble."
After returning Owen to Betsy's, Alexis made her escape. She couldn't stop thinking about Tyler and was determined to apologize for running off. She took a golf cart to The Blue Heron in the hope that he'd be working. Unfortunately, he wasn't behind the bar when she arrived.