“This is perfect,” I assured her. I didn’t want her to change a thing. She was feeding Gideon, and he ate for an entire army.
Or hockey team.
All my nephews except Gage played or had played.
“How’s Gideon coping with Gabriel being in Chicago?” I asked. I was curious about the twins’ next step in life.
I’d cheered so loudly that my neighbors had banged on the wall when I’d found out that Chicago had drafted Gabriel. He was moving there after the summer, and he’d finish high school there too.
“I think I’m the one suffering the most,” Chloe huffed. “They’ve already made plans to see each other as much as possible, and Gideon will go to college there as well. He’s lookin’ into sports medicine and rehabilitation fields.”
Oh, but that was wonderful. “Given how good Gabriel is, surely it won’t be a problem in the future to get Gideon a job wherever Gabriel ends up.”
“That’s their plan,” Chloe sighed. “Just leave old Mama behind…”
I laughed and gave her a playful shove.
“Why can’t Camassia have an NHL team?” she blurted out. “I’d like that way more.”
Oh jeez.
“When Gabriel comes home from this training camp nonsense, I’m going to invite Abel over for dinner,” she went on. “He’s a good boy. He picked Vancouver—that’s only forty-five minutes away.”
Erhm. The twins had practically grown up with Abel since he was so close to Gray, so if they weren’t already inspired to aim for a team close to home, chances were they wanted to explore other areas. Besides, Abel had a few years on the twins. He’d proven himself in the league, and he’dwaitedfor the right call. It wasn’t like the players could choose freely, less so rookies. If I wasn’t mistaken, Abel had played in Pittsburgh before. That was hardly around the corner.
“Wherever they end up, they’ll make enough money to visit you frequently,” I said. “And you can visit them too, Chlo.” She and Aiden loved to take weekend trips together.
“It’s not the same.” She was in full grouch mood. “The nest is almost empty. I hate it. If I were a few years younger, I probably would’ve convinced Aiden to have a baby with me.”
I chuckled. Technically, she still could. Forty-two wasn’t that old.
“Then again, go through all the sleepless nights… Jesus Christ.” She shook her head and shuddered. “I’m just bitching. Gray and Isla have at least started giving me grandkids.”
Exactly.
Speaking of Gray…
“How are Darius’s parents?” I asked. “Are they enjoying the onslaught of grandkids too?”
Smooth.
“Oh yeah, they’re adorable.” Chloe brought the baked potatoes over to the dinner table. “They’re older, of course, but you kind of need to be a firecracker in order to raise a family like theirs. Can you imagine? Five boys and two girls.”
No, I seriously couldn’t. My God.
“They lost their eldest years ago, sadly,” she went on. “Afghanistan. Such a tragedy.” She returned to the stove to plate the steaks.
I assumed Darius was the eldest Quinn brother now, and where Ethan wound up in that bunch, I didn’t know.
“I think I’m gonna stop by tomorrow,” Chloe said. “She’s watching her youngest daughter’s kids because Elise and Avery have a date night.”
I smiled and returned to my task. The salad was almost ready, only the baby spinach missing. “How do you keep track of them all?”
“Youmeetthem, and then you can’t forget.” She winked at me.
The whole big-family thing was so new to me; that was all. Growing up as Army brats, we’d learned from a young age that friends were temporary. Brad had been my first friend I’d been unable to say goodbye to. So we’d stayed in touch when my family had relocated.
A couple minutes later, Chloe called out for Gideon and Aiden, and I brought the last stuff to the table. Aiden was in the middle of a deadline, so he moseyed in like a zombie. Now, there was a man who didn’t mind growing older. He had that whole rugged vagabond vibe going, with cargo pants, Henleys, and a graying man-bun.
