She had to admit, she’d been shocked her brother ended up with Elise. For years the two of them couldn’t be in the same room without biting each other’s heads off.
Sure, they had some meddling help from her parents and other sources, but she was positive her brother did it on his own.The way it should be done.
“Yep. And you’ll have a grandchild you’ll want to spend time with,” she said, lifting her eyebrows.
“I know where you’re going with this. I’m not volunteering to babysit.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not sure of their plan, for one. Two, I raised three kids and am not sure I want to do it again. I want to enjoy my grandchildren, not be watching them day in and day out.”
“What if they ask you to do it?” she asked.
“They won’t,” her mother said.
Gabe wouldn’t. She knew that. Elise either.
Elise’s brother had a daughter who was in daycare most days, sometimes in the office where Elise, Royce and their father, Richard, took turns keeping an eye on Willow who would be three in a few months. They were expecting a son in January.
Over the years she’d gotten close with all the groups associated with the rental buildings her family firm had invested in. People she hadn’t known who were part of her work family now.
Many married and kids all entering the equation.
Fierce matchups. Her brother being one of them. Royce Kennedy another.
Walker Olson added to that list. They’d just had their second child a few months ago. A little boy named Christian.
When was she going to find her man and have a baby?
If those thoughts filled her mind too often, her mother might read them and start shooting flares to get help matching her.
No, thank you!
She wanted to do it on her own.
Even if her own provided some shitty results.
“No,” she said. “But, if you’d like to show me some more things in time, I’ll gladly learn, and together maybe we can figure out a way to delegate more for you.”
Her mother laughed. “Jocelyn, I felt the pain it caused you to say those words. Did your father put you up to it?”
Caught.
She could lie.
She wasn’t good at that either.
“Maybe. Are you going to give him a lecture too?”
“I wouldn’t think of it. Besides, your father knows if I cut back, then he has to.”
“Good luck there. Gabe has tried.”
“I know you kids mean well,” her mother said. “But your father and I have a plan and you have to trust us on it. He’s not working as hard physically and he enjoys the new ventures and dealings. He enjoys talking to people and getting contracts in place.”
“And Gabe likes being on site,” she said. “I know.”
“Your brother needs to do office work to have a better understanding of the other end of the business. Just like you do. I appreciate how concerned you are.”
