“Me either,” he said. “She’s all I think about.”
Uncle Jack grabbed his shoulder. “Then you two better make sure she falls madly in love with you. Now, who’s going to take her on a date first?”
He and Grant both said in unison, “I w
ill.”
All three of their uncles laughed.
“Yep,” Uncle Jack said. “You’re in love. No doubt about that.”
“But we have a problem,” Uncle Will added. “How to determine who gets to take sweet Maude on a date first?”
“Arm wrestling won’t work,” Uncle Tom said. “We’d be here all day.”
“We could have them draw straws,” Uncle Jack said. “Or we could use the old and trusted standby—‘Rock, paper, scissors.’ We three will be the witnesses.”
“I’m game,” Greg said, narrowing his eyes and staring into his brother’s. “What about you?”
Grant leaned forward. “You know I’m the champ when it comes to that game.”
Uncle Jack raised his hands. “Ready. Set. Go.”
It took six times for them to choose differently.
Grant won, pulling out a rock to his scissors. “I hope she says yes.”
“Hope?” Uncle Jack laughed. “Bring out that Strong charm of yours and she won’t be able to refuse.”
He and Grant asked more questions about how things worked sharing one woman. The advice that their uncles gave them put them at ease and took away all their concerns.
“Good luck, boys,” Uncle Will said. “We know you won’t fail that girl. You three belong together, that’s for sure.”
As they headed back to the house, Greg thought about Uncle Jack’s words. “You two better make sure she falls madly in love with you.”
That’s exactly what we will do. Whatever it takes.
Chapter Eleven
Getting ready for her date with Grant, Maude looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Grant planned on taking her swimming, which was one of her favorite things to do.
Her green bikini still fit perfectly. Thankfully, all of Carol’s desserts she’d been enjoying hadn’t impacted her figure.
She still couldn’t believe that she’d agreed to go out with Grant, knowing she would still be obligated to go out with Greg tomorrow. What if it doesn’t work out with Grant? Then what do I do?
They’d each called her, making it clear that these two more traditional dates, one-on-one, were meant for them to get to know each other better. But it wasn’t that Grant and Greg had any change of heart about her. They still wanted to share her, to bring her into their family, and to eventually marry her.
Her head hadn’t stopped spinning since meeting them.
What am I doing? I still don’t know if I’m going to stay.
Satisfied with her bikini, she pulled on her shorts and top over the suit.
She heard a knock on her bedroom door.
“Maude, it’s Mary. May I come in?”
“Of course, sis. It’s unlocked.”