Chapter 371

Madison

I grabbed my purse and headed inside, bracing myself for the inevitable attack hug.

“Mommy!” Ethan launched himself off the couch the second I opened the door, his small body colliding with my legs. “Aunt Hazel’s here! We’re playing crash derby!”

“I can see that.” I ruffled his hair, shooting Hazel a look over his head. “And I specifically remember someone promising not to get him all wound up.”

Hazel stood up, brushing off her jeans. “In my defense, he’s the one who suggested a crash derby. I was perfectly content with quiet coloring.”

“Liar.”

“Fine.” She grinned. “But look how happy he is.”

She wasn’t wrong. Ethan was practically vibrating with excitement, already tugging me toward his elaborate truck setup.

“Mommy, you have to be the police. Aunt Hazel was the police, but she keeps letting the bad guys escape.”

“That’s because the bad guys deserve freedom,” Hazel declared dramatically.

“No, they don’t! Bad