He watched the car drive away. “What do you think, Frank? Am I an idiot for even thinking about accepting any kind of invite from those two? Or an idiot because Ican’tstop thinking about them?” He and the dog sighed, turned, and went back in the house.
***
Maggie spent the rest of her day doing chores. Everything took longer with one hand. Fortunately, her broken arm no longer ached so much, and if it did start to twinge, taking Tylenol helped.
Emily did her part by cleaning her room. She dusted then vacuumed with a play vacuum Stephen had bought her last Christmas. It didn’t do anything but make noise, but Emily loved it.
Benny and Doug popped over for dinner, and the four of them enjoyed Emily’s recap of brunch. When Emily left to go play, her friends turned to her, doing their best not to laugh.
She groaned. “There’s nothing more to add. Emily told you everything.” Right down to asking Reggie to plant baby seeds.
The guys shared matching, shit-eating grins.
“Laugh it up until she starts asking when you two are having babies.”
Doug snorted. “She can ask all she wants. While Benny and I have been known to have the occasional argument, we’ve never fought about that. We both love being honorary uncles. We don’t need a child. We have Emily.”
“What you’re really saying is that my daughter has put you both off from ever having children,” she deadpanned.
“Yes,” they said as one.
She laughed, knowing they didn’t mean it. They didn’t want children because both had experienced issues with their parents when growing up. And while they loved other people’s kids—Doug and Benny both taught after all—they were content to have only each other and close family to care for.Me and Emily included, she thought with warmth.
“You two look good. Everything settled now?” she asked them, looking pointedly at Benny.
He sighed. “Yes. I groveled.”
“And bought me flowers.” Doug beamed. “And we’re going to dinner and a show on Wednesday.”
“Oh, nice. What are you going to see?”
“A funny play about a lesbian librarian who falls in love with a gay janitor then kills her boss for having an affair with her wife. And yes, it’s a comedy.”
“Er, sounds like fun.” She had no urge to see that show.
“You mean it sounds so horrible, it should be funny,” Benny said drily.
“Yes, that.”
“Want to go?” Doug asked.
“And ruin your date night? No way. I want you two to get lucky. You don’t need me there to ruin it.”
“Good point.” Benny winked.
Doug blushed.
“And speaking of getting lucky…” Benny raised a brow. “How goes it with studly?”
She frowned.
“You know, Reggie?”
“Shh.” She looked for Emily and, not seeing her, shook her finger at him. “What did I tell you about being quiet?”
“Which is why I called him studly. Duh.”
“Real mature, Benny.” Doug smacked him in the back of the head.
