"Grandma said not to listen to you and your money talk," she said as he put her down. "We have to give Mama a party and Uncle Evan a wedding. I’ll be right back!"
"Where are you going?" Alex asked as she ran in the house.
"I have to get my bag," she yelled on her way into the house.
"Her bag?" Alex gave me a pointed look.
"It has a pack of fruit snacks, a juice box, and a pen." I rolled my eyes. "She’s an accessories girl."
He nodded and quietly laughed to himself.
"So"—Alex faced Jack—"Brenna’s doctor?"
"Everything’s fine," Jack said.
Brenna and Ryan were happily married, but it took them three years to get pregnant, and that was only after several rounds of in-vitro once Jack found her the best fertility specialist in the country. She was due in three months. It had taken Brenna a while to warm up to me, but once Alexa arrived, she proved to be a great aunt and an even better sister-in-law.
"I was just getting a progress report," he told us.
"I’m ready!" Alexa said as she came running out of the house. "Don’t wait up."
Alex and I smiled at our little angel.
"Come on." Jack took her hand. "We’ll see you two for dinner. Evan and Cali are coming over too."
"Okay." I kissed his cheek. "Thanks again for the education."
He returned my kiss. "It was my pleasure, Jocelyn," he said. "I’m just so proud you got your degree."
"Not yet," I said.
"I’m sure you passed your finals," he said. "You always do."
I smiled and leaned down to kiss Alexa.
"Be a good girl," I said.
"I’m always a good girl, right, Grandpa?" She looked up at him with her father’s green eyes.
"He’s not a good one to ask." Alex kissed the top of her head. "He’s biased. We’ll see you in a little bit."
"Take your time," she yelled as they headed down the path.
Alex let out a sigh and plopped down on the lounge chair. "She was in rare form today." He laughed. "My little chatterbox."
"She’s full of energy, isn’t she?" I crawled in next to him.
He turned to face me and slowly kissed my lips. "You look tired, baby," he said and felt my head. "You okay?" He was always taking care of me.
"I’m fine." I smiled. "Just glad to be done."
"Now what do you want to do?" he asked. "You can do anything you want."
"I know. But, I was thinking."
"About?" He gently kissed my lips, but quickly deepened it, moving his hand up and resting it on my hip.
"Hmm," I mumbled against his lips, but then I pushed him away. "Wait!"
