RILEY
“I’m not kidding, Cassandra,” I yelled from the living room of our home. “I will walk you down to the ocean and throw you in.”
She came out of our bedroom, well, in reality, she stormed out like a woman ready to tear my head off.
“First off, stop yelling. The baby is sleeping,” she whispered pretty darn loudly considering she was holding said sleeping toddler. “Also, it’s January, Riley. You can’t throw me into the ocean.”
“I’m just trying to point out if you don’t walk faster, we won’t get to Ridge’s house on time to make Aunt Mary watch Sean.”
She shook her head. “Your aunt is not our built-in babysitter.”
That’s where Cassandra was wrong. Aunt Mary felt so bad about her misunderstood comment before that high school dance that she fell over herself to suck up every time we were around. Every holiday for two years, we’d gotten the best gifts and she spent the entire time watching Sean and telling us how wonderful he was. I already knew, of course, but it was nice to hear someone confirm. I planned to milk her efforts until he hit college.
“And for your information,” Cass continued as she met me in the kitchen and passed over the sleeping toddler. “I was trying to finish packing so we can leave as soon as we finish at Ridge’s house.”
“Good, so you’re done?” The Kensington twins offered us use of their condo again for a quick vacation at the end of January. We promptly agreed. Everyone knew it was better to visit Florida in January than in July.
“No,” she said with a bit of attitude. “I didn’t get to finish because somebody started yelling and I thought he’d wake Sean.”
“I don’t know who would do that. He sounds like a real jerk.”
Cassandra chuckled. “Only when he threatens to dunk his wife in the ocean. Otherwise, he’s a pretty cool guy.”
“Make sure and stay away from him because I don’t need the competition,” I said, handing her a jacket from the hook by the door.
She shook her head that time and opened the door for us to walk out. “Come on, let’s go, funny guy.”
I strapped our son into his car seat while Cassandra waited in the passenger seat. I’m not sure at what point we decided I would always drive, but driving arraignments were settled early in our relationship.
“I don’t understand why we have to go to this thing anyway,” I said, turning the car on and backing out of our driveway. Sometimes it felt like the people in this town came up with any reason to throw a party. From how quickly Cassandra always agreed we’d attend, she didn’t have the same hesitations.
“We’re celebrating National Penguin Awareness Day.”
“That’s not a federally recognized holiday. We could be in Florida now if we didn’t have to go to this thing.”
She reached across the car and tapped me on the shoulder. “Be nice. It’s for the kids.”
“Sean agrees.” She was crazy not to remember this event or the five thousand she had to look forward to in life. Between all the holiday celebrations in town, the bakery girls, Ridge’s crew, my family, her mom, and her dad in December, I was partied out.
Cass’s parents officially divorced and she and her brother were working on repairing their relationship with them. It was a lot for one month.
“Watch yourself, Riley Jefferson, or I’ll be the one throwing you into the ocean.”
I parked the car in Ridge’s driveway and leaned over, giving her quick kiss on the cheek. “I hate sharing my time with you.”
Cassandra was mine, and I wanted to spend our free time together. After she moved to Pelican Bay, she took a job in Clearwater, but sometimes it felt like we spent all of our time at the bakery or with the women who worked there. I wanted my wife and a little alone time. Try for baby number two.
“I have a better idea,” I said as Cass stood beside me as I unbuckled Sean.
“What’s that?” she asked, but I recognized from the tone of her voice already saying she wouldn’t agree to it. She used her I’ll pity you and pretend like I’m going to agree sounding voice.
“What about this?” I said, trying to draw out the suspense as I pulled Sean out of his seat and draped him across my shoulder. He didn’t even budge. “We get Mary in charge of Sean and then you and I make a quick run back home for his favorite blanket and a little private time?”
I expected a quick no and another tap on the shoulder, but Cassandra surprised me—maybe both of us—when she perked up at my idea, thought about it for a moment, and then agreed.
“He has been attached to his new blanket with the stars on it.”
I nodded enthusiastically. Anything to get some alone time with my wife. “I think it’s his new favorite. If he wakes up and doesn’t have it, there could be problems.”
