No One Else (The Ladies Who Brunch 2)

Chapter15

Amelia

“Amelia, I’m so glad you’re here.” Ethan’s mom, Lisa, greets me when she answers the door.

“Thank you for having me.”

“Nonsense. I had to threaten Ethan with bodily harm just so he would invite you over.”

“That’s not true!” Ethan calls from behind her, walking up to the door, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Don’t listen to her. She’d never harm me. I’m her pride and joy.”

“No, Oliver is now,” Lisa teases as she takes the bottle of wine from my hands. “Thank you for bringing this.”

“Well, Ethan said you’re a big wine drinker, and I happen to love a good glass of white wine myself, so I thought I’d bring you one of my favorites.”

“That was very thoughtful. Come in. Let’s crack this open.”

“Perfect. Where’s Oliver?”

“Amelia!” Oliver screams as he runs into the house from outside, slamming into my legs as he reaches me. “You’re here!”

“I am, buddy. I just saw you earlier though. Did you miss me?”

He peers up at me. “I did,” he answers softly and then grabs my hand. “Did the gnomes move at your house?”

“They did. Look!” I crouch down and open up my phone to the newest picture I snapped of them.

“The raccoon must be back.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Wanna come see my playground?” he asks, pulling on my hand again as I stand back up.

“Absolutely.”

“You can come swing with me. I know you love the swings.” Last night after the three of us went to dinner, we took Oliver to the park to run off some energy, and Oliver and I competed to see who could swing the highest. I let him win, of course, but laughing with him and watching him pump his little legs with determination was the highlight of my week, besides him and his dad telling me that they love me.

“I do. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Ethan reaches for my hand, preventing me from moving further away from him. He cups my face and leans down to kiss me. “Hey, babe.”

“Hey.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“I’m happy to be here. I missed you.”

“It’s only been a few hours.”

“I know, but it felt like longer.”

“I’ll be out there in a few, okay? I’m just going to help my mom finish up a few things in the kitchen.”

“No worries. Take your time.”

“Come on, Amelia,” Oliver whines as Ethan places one more kiss on my lips.

“Oliver, you can wait a few minutes for me to say hello to my girlfriend.”

“Amelia is my friend too, Daddy.”

I ruffle his hair. “Yes I am. Now let me see your playground, Oliver.”

The little boy who has stolen my heart leads me out to his swing set, the wooden structure centered in the rather sizable yard. “Did your grandma buy this for you?”

“Yes. She said I needed somewhere to play, and now my friends come over, and we play together.” Oliver runs to the swings and situates himself in one as I take a seat next to him.

“Well, she’s right, and that was very nice of her.”

“My grandma is the best.”

“I have a pretty great grandma too.”

We spend a good fifteen minutes swinging as Oliver tells me about school, and we recall details from his soccer game earlier.

“I told my teacher about what kind of doctor you are,” he says, referencing his play.

“You did?”

“Yup. And she said that I could talk about it during my part if I wanted to.”

Pride soars through me. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“What’s going on, you two?” Ethan stalks toward us, looking calm and collected. His hair wafts in the wind a bit, but his smile spreads from ear to ear as he approaches me.

“We were just talking about school and soccer. He played a great game today.”

“Yeah, you did, Oliver.”

“I should practice some more right now,” he declares, jumping from the swing and running over to his soccer ball on the small patch of grass.

“Does he ever stop moving?” I jokingly ask as Ethan comes up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders, massaging me.

“Nope.”

“Do you and your mom need any help in the kitchen?”