“No!” Jake snapped, causing all of us to freeze. “You guys can come with me,” Jake declared.
“Don’t be silly, Jake,” Shelley interrupted. “You can’t take Cassie near that monster. Cassie and Kellie can come with me to the house, and we can catch up while we wait for you to get him back where he belongs.”
“Who’s Gladiator?” Cassie asked, stumbling over the word.
“He’s the big bull that makes Jake crazy.”
“Are you crazy, Jake?”
He chuckled, no offense taken. “Sometimes,” he confirmed with a wink. “Do you want to come and see him?”
“Can we, Mom?” Cassie pleaded, turning to face me, fluttering those long lashes that had me caving.
“I don't know, sweetheart. We don’t want to get hurt.”
“We won't, Mom. Jake will look after us,” Cassie explained, having complete faith in him.
“Will he now?” I asked, looking at Jake.
“You guys can stay in the truck,” Jake confirmed. “Mom. Are you coming?”
“I might leave you to it. I’ll organize some lunch…”
“Can we have cheese sandwiches?” Cassie interrupted.
“Cassie!” I called out, embarrassment flooding me. Damn kid would only eat cheese sandwiches at the moment. Turning toward Shelley who I was convinced was judging my every move, I quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, Shelley. I have Cassie’s sandwiches in her bag back up at the house. There’s no need to go to any trouble.”
Shelley waved off my words. “It’s no trouble at all. It’s not every day you get to meet your granddaughter.”
I sucked in a breath.
She’d just called Cassie her granddaughter.
In front of her.
Thankfully, Cassie missed the whole thing.
I was under no illusions that Shelley had dropped that little bombshell deliberately. For someone who used to treat me like I was her daughter, her attitude toward me had certainly cooled. And even though I understood and was trying not to take it to heart, it kind of hurt. But right now, I didn’t have time to dwell. Cassie was dragging me across the yard toward Jake’s truck.
“Jake,” I interrupted, coming to a stop. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I suggested.
“Mom,” Cassie rolled her eyes, and I cursed how much like me she was. Sassy to the core. this child, and I had no one to blame but myself.
“Sweetie, your car seat is in my car. You know you can’t go in a car without one,” I reminded her.
“Kel, it’s all good. I got this,” Jake smirked over Cassie’s head before flashing me a wink. One that was enough to make me a little crazy and wonder what he knew that I didn’t.
Choosing to trust him, I let him lead us over, and when he yanked open the door, sitting on the back seat was a brand new, perfectly clean car seat already buckled in.
“When did you…”
“During the week. I thought it would be easier if I had one too.”
“But, Jake…”
“It’s all good. I had the guy install it, and the woman at the store said it was the best one for a cheeky little monkey,” Jake explained as he booped Cassie’s nose, causing her to erupt in a fit of giggles.
“I don’t know what to say.”
