“I know. Thank you.” He puts me at arms length and looks between my mom and me. “I’m serious about Derek. As much as it bothers me that he’s alone, I really wouldn’t throw anyone at him.”
“We won’t,” Mom reassures. “Go find your godson. I have a feeling your approval is important to him.”
“She’s right,” I add. “You’ve helped him over the years more than I think you realize.”
Garrett swallows hard, and glances at his wife. “You’ll stay in that chair, right?”
“She’ll stay.” Mom shoves him out of the kitchen. “I have Elias, so go.”
“Have I said how much I love that man?” Sirena sighs, and Mom rolls her eyes.
“Every day, honey.”
Elias chooses that moment to fill his diaper, loudly. He silences the room before we start laughing. “Let me make this little one comfortable, and then we’ll start on the dinne
r.” She grabs the diaper bag. “Charlotte, come and help me.”
“I’d rather not.”
Sirena chuckles. “Take a peg for your nose and leave Mom to the diaper. Unless, of course, you want practice?” she raises a brow and I feel myself blush.
“Not yet, I don’t.” I quickly follow Mom before my sister can question me further. She’ll have Tanner’s life story out of me otherwise.
I stand at the door of Sirena’s old room and smile as my eyes land on the dresser that still holds Sirena’s trophies for the horse shows she took part in. A noticeboard above the white desk holds a collection of pictures, pins, and ticket stubs. The large built in bookcase holds Sirena’s collection of books that Mom has kept in top condition for Sirena’s children.
My gaze settles on Mom standing at the changing station that has been set up in front of the large window while wrestling with her grandson who prefers to wiggle than have a clean bottom. The crib to the side is covered in a pale blue comforter that looks fluffy and warm, with a duplicate of his favorite Paddington bear.
Elias is soon clean and giggling away as Mom places him in the crib to keep him safe while she cleans up the smelly mess. Her nose wrinkles as she ties the throwaway diaper bag.
“I don’t know what they feed him, but I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that every day,” she comments.
I shake my head. “You’d love to be doing that every day.”
She sighs and leans a hip against the changing unit. “Actually, I really wouldn’t.”
I look surprised as she moves to sit on the end of the large bed. She pats the space next to her.
“I love my grandchild, and I’ll love any others I’m lucky enough to meet, but I’m not as young as I was. I find that it’s nice to be able to give him back to his parents.” She takes my hand. “It’s a beautiful ring,” she comments playing with my ring. “It makes my heart lighter seeing you with him. It’s been him since Sirena’s wedding, huh?”
“It has. I’ve been so miserable without him.”
“I knew there was something wrong, but your brother wouldn’t tell me anything. I had no clue that Sirena had details.” Mom huffs.
Chuckling, I add, “I don’t want to wait to get married, Mom. I know Michael and Brooke haven’t been married long, but I just want to be Tanner’s wife.”
“You tell me the date and we’ll work around it.”
“Thanks Mom.”
“Can I ask you something without you getting upset?”
I frown and tilting my head to the side, wonder what she’s thinking as I nod.
“Tanner was engaged when you both met?”
I should have expected this question, but I hadn’t. “He wasn’t engaged when we met, but he was before and after, which I’m not getting into. His ex actually tried to cause trouble and told Tanner one thing and the people in town another. He sorted it all out the day after Christmas. Emma has finally shut up with her lies, and the father of her child has come forward. Turns out she’d been having an affair with the new deputy in town. Well, he was new when they met a few months before. Hopefully we won’t hear anything else from her from now on.”
“Sounds like it hasn’t been easy.”