The back door opened and Lucah came in.
“Oh, hey. Where’s April?” He went to the sink and got a glass of water and then filled up two of the girls’ plastic cups with straws.
“Upstairs. She crashed in the rocking chair, so I thought I’d give her at least a few minutes of uninterrupted napping.” He nodded.
“Want to come outside with us?”
“I would, but it’s too cold.” I pointed to Lola.
“You could bundle her up and put her in her carrier,” he said, as if it was as easy as that. I must not have been able to hide the look on my face because he set the cups down and came into the living room.
“She’s not going to break, you know,” he said and I wanted to snap at him, but I didn’t want to wake her up.
“Look, not all of us have as much kid experience as you do, okay?” I said in a low voice.
“I know, I’m sorry. Here,” he said, getting Lola’s carrier, a little jacket and a blanket. Taking her from me, he set her down on the couch and then wrapped her up, pulling up the hood on the jacket until all you could see was her face. She slept through the whole thing.
“Baby burrito,” he said and then put her in the carrier. “Done.” He gave me the carrier and nodded his head toward the back door.
“Come on. You’ll get to see me do my best impression of a pony.” Now that I had to see.
Eight
April found us a half hour later, looking like she was still half-asleep. Lola started fussing as soon as her mom came out the door, as if she’d sensed her presence.
“What are you all doing out here?” she asked, taking Lola out and cuddling her.
“Well, it’s the Kentucky Derby,” I said. “We’ve got Secretariat vs. Seabiscuit.” I’d suggested more fun names, but I’d been overruled.
April laughed and sat down next to me in one of the chairs as our guys got down on their hands and knees and the girls climbed on their backs. They started by the swing set and raced to the barbecue grill.
“Who’s winning?” April asked.
“I’m not really sure. I don’t think they care,” I said as Lucah bucked like a bronco while holding onto Fiona as she screamed in glee.
“As long as they’re entertained and worn out later. Naptimes have been a struggle lately.” The horses apparently got tired, so they switched to pushing the girls on the swings as they yelled “higher, higher!”
“This is nice,” April said, closing her eyes and leaning her head back. Lola was gurgling happily.
“Yeah,” I said, agreeing with her.
~*~*~
Lucah and I grabbed Five Guys on our way home because I had no self-control.
“I know I’m supposed to be worrying about fitting into my dress, but look at all the fucks I give,” I said as I shoved my burger in my mouth.
“I also share in not giving those fucks,” he said, shoving some fries into his mouth and smiling at me around them.
“Should I be more worried? I feel like society has taught me that if you don’t end up in the hospital at least once with a breakdown, you’re not a bride.”
“I’d rather you not end up in the hospital if it’s all the same to you. I’ve dealt enough with that the past year.” Shit, I’d forgotten about that.
“Sorry,” I said and he waved me off with a handful of fries.
“It’s not your fault. It happened, but it’s over. Ryder’s doing good and he’s on the right path. And we’re getting married.” He grinned like a little boy on Christmas morning.
“We are totally getting married,” I said. It sent a thrill of excitement through me when I pictured it. Sloane hadn’t let me see Lucah’s tux, so that was just as much a mystery to me as my dress was to him. I just knew that he’d have a red tie. The bridesmaids’ dresses were in different styles, but all the same shade of baby blue with red sashes. Sloane assured me the whole thing was going to be beautiful, but it was hard to judge. I remembered what April had said. Honestly, it really didn’t matter. If Lucah had wanted, I would have called my family and friends and gotten married at the courthouse in my work attire. It wasn’t about the details. It was just about the two of us.