The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

“Aunt Wose!”

Our cloud disbursed quickly as an excited Grant came barreling toward us as fast as his little legs would move him, his father close behind.

“Hey, baby blue,” I said as I met him halfway and scooped him up in my arms. He quickly started wiggling in protest so I let him down with a sigh.

“Can we pway de goft tart?”

I looked at Jack in apology and noticed him eying Grant with fondness in his eyes. Grant had a way of doing that. Jack looked over at me and gave me a wink.

“Jack,” Dean greeted him with a short but friendly handshake.

“Dean,” Jack replied as they both looked at me expectantly.

“Oh, yes,” I said, looking down at Grant, who was growing impatient for an answer.

“I’ll go with you,” Jack said, looking at Dean. “You in? I must warn you, she’s a bit reckless on the cart. We might want to look for protective gear.”

“Shut up and get on,” I barked as I pulled my keys out of my pocket.

“And militant,” Jack muttered to Dean under his breath as I cut my eyes at him.

“You should have seen her at ten years old,” Dean said with a laugh as we all piled on the cart. I gave Dean a warning look, which he ignored.

“Brightest red hair in the state of Texas, and dear lord her mouth, a mile a minute and so full of shit.”

I caught little Grant’s gasp and eventual “Daddy say shit.”

“Good job, Martin,” I piped as Dean made a hissing sound through his teeth followed by an “Oops. Don’t tell Mommy.”

I belly laughed as we took off. Grant giggled gleefully with each speed bump. After a solid half hour of ‘pway’, we stopped again at the main building to see a waiting Dallas walking Annabelle around in the grass. Her little fingers were fisted around her mother’s.

“Hey, Daddy,” Dallas called to Dean. “Watch this!”

She loosened Annabelle’s death grip and the baby took two bold and purposeful steps forward before falling back into her mother. Dean shot out of the back seat, ran to Annabelle, and picked her up, giving her encouraging words as he showered her with kisses.

“Did we just see her first steps?” Jack asked with a hopeful hint in his voice.

I tried to hide my glazing eyes as I whispered a hoarse, “Yep.”

“Wow.” I looked over at Jack, who was looking on at my family with admiration. There was something unquestionably good about Jack, and I saw it in that moment.

“Daddy say shit!” Grant called out as he exited the cart. Dallas lifted her head skyward and shook it as if to ask ‘why’ while Jack and I laughed at the spectacle before us. Dean hung his head and then nuzzled Annabelle as Dallas informed Grant no one liked a tattle. I knew that firsthand, especially since I was the one who did most of it in our youth, Dallas being the victim.

“See you tonight?” Dallas called out to me.

“Yes,” Jack and I both said in unison.

“Wait,” I said, looking back at Jack. “You’re coming to my parents?”

“Rose, I’ve been to dinner every few months for the last ten years.”

“How old are you?” I asked, no longer sure of our age difference.

“I’m thirty-seven,” he answered, matter of fact.

He was quite a bit older than I’d originally thought, although he didn’t look a day over thirty. He was blessed with good genes, and the ones he filled out were even better.

“So I guess I’ll see you there?”