“To see grandpa?” Tanner asked.
“Yes.” Carter looked at me. “Are you okay with that?”
I nodded. “Yes.” But when we pulled into the drive awa
y and I saw several cars there, I got nervous. “Is it a party?”
Carter shook his head. “We usually meet up on weekends if we can. I think everyone is town.” He turned to me once I turned the car off. “I want them all to meet Tanner. I want them all to know you not as dad’s physical therapist, but the woman I love.”
I bit my lip but smiled. “Okay.”
We walked in, and the minute Tanner saw all the people out on the terrace, he said, “Carry me, daddy.”
Like he’d been doing it for years, Carter deftly picked up Tanner and carried him out to the terrace. He took my hand as all eyes turned to us.
“Oh my God, he’s like a mini-Carter,” Kellie said, pressing her hand over her belly.
“Tanner, this is the rest of your family,” Carter said, his eyes on Tanner as if he was gauging his feelings. “This is my older brother, Ryan and his wife Kellie. They’re the ones that are going to have a baby soon.”
“Hi Tanner,” Ryan said, holding out his hand.
Tanner buried his head in Carter's shoulder. Carter rubbed his back.
“He’s beautiful, Carter,” Ryan said.
“You’ve scared the kid,” Noah said. “And I have to say, I’m broken-hearted, Jess. I thought you and I had something going.”
Carter gave him the evil eye. “This is my brother Noah. I think he’s a stray my parents took in.”
Tanner lifted his head. “What’s a stray, daddy?”
“God that’s weird,” Noah said.
“What is?” I asked.
“Having a kid call Carter daddy.”
Tanner wrapped his arms around Carter. “This is my daddy.”
The group laughed.
“This is my other brother, Hunter and his wife Natalie.”
As if they knew Tanner was nervous, they stayed back but said their hellos.
“There’s my sandcastle boy,” Alex said. “I’ve got all the equipment out ready for you to build.”
Tanner looked at me and Carter. “Can I?”
“Yes. We’ll all go to the beach in a minute.”
“Let’s all go,” Carter’s grandmother said.
I was shocked. She always seemed too immaculate to get sand on her.
It took a little time, but soon we were all on the beach. Carter was taking Tanner out to put his feed in the water.
“I can’t wait to teach him to surf,” Alex said sitting next to me.