Valentina stuck her tongue out at Lois and they chuckled.
“Listen, I’m new at this parent thing. You’ve had six years of being a mom. I’d say we’re both doing fairly well this first day of school.”
Lois looked around them. “I think it’s a common thing for a bunch of moms to get together to meet for lunch on the first day of school. Look at all the women in here,” Lois said.
“It seems that way. Maybe this will be our first tradition as moms, except baby Grace will come to lunch, too,” Valentina said and Lois chuckled.
“Then you’ll ask the guys to come along and that defeats the purpose,” Lois teased.
“Well, we could do that, and then Evan, Ford, and Laverty could come along and maybe we’ll get to know Ghost better. He’s hardly ever around.”
Valentina saw her sister’s expression change. She had a feeling that Lois was attracted to the Brazos brothers, but she was still scared. Every time Evan stepped close or touched her, she pulled away. She wanted her sister to feel loved and protected. But even she was worried if Jace’s cousins were right for Lois. They were very determined, serious men. She couldn’t quite get a good read on them. Maybe she should ask her men more questions about their cousins.
“I don’t think so. I can watch Grace while you and the guys spend time together.”
“You don’t like their cousins?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it was really nice of Evan, Laverty, and Ford to come see Kenny and the kids off to school. Kenny really likes Evan and Laverty.”
“It was nice of them but not necessary,” Lois said and then licked her lips before she looked out the window. Valentina’s heart ached for her sister and the fears she had. She reached over and touched her hand. Lois stirred a moment and her eyes landed on Valentina.
“They’re good men. Don’t you like them at all?”
Valentina saw the tears fill Lois’s eyes.
“What are you asking me?”
“The truth. You can tell me. I think you like them. That you’re attracted to them, but it scares you. There’s nothing wrong with being scared.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t want to talk about this. There’s no reason to, Valentina. I have to do what’s right for Kenny, and for me. I won’t expose him to violence ever again. I won’t let anyone hurt him in any way.”
“What are you talking about? They would never hurt Kenny, or you.”
“You don’t know that. Just because they’re related to your men doesn’t make them the same.”
“I’ve seen them in action. I’ve watched them and have always been a good judge of character. They’re good men, just a little untrusting from serving in the military and being Green Berets.”
Lois took a sip from her glass and then looked away from Valentina. “Caden was in the military. He was a good guy at first. Then one day, it all just changed.” Her sister looked so damn scared that it pissed Valentina off.
“Maybe you could be friends with them first. Learn more about them.”
She shook her head and leaned closer to Valentina so no one could possibly hear her.
“I can’t do that, Val. It scares me way too much,” she said, her voice cracking. Valentina wanted to cry. She wished there was a way to make her sister forget and to try and let her guard down just a lit
tle. The waitress came over and asked if they needed anything else.
“No, thank you, just the check,” Val said and then held her sister’s gaze.
“I love you. I’m always here for you, and I’m not pushing you on this. I just want you to feel safe and happy, and to know what true love really is.”
“I love you, too, but I’m not ready to let a man—any man, never mind four—get that close to me. I can’t. I’m just not capable of that.”
* * * *