Josie was Avery’s best friend's daughter. Her sister-in-law got custody of the girl when Josie’s mother tragically died.
But the ten-year-old was family to the Bonds now.
“How many pictures of Luca have you drawn or painted?”
Josie had an exceptional artistic talent.
“A lot,” Josie said. “Want to see them?”
“I’d love to.”
Josie left and ran up the stairs to her room.
“I’m so happy you called for a visit,” Avery said. “I thought it was to see Luca, but the look on your face says there is more to tell me.”
Her head shifted some, then she glanced toward the hall where Josie had run. “Kind of but not a conversation for little ears.”
“No worries. I’ll handle it,” Avery said. “Do you want to feed Luca?”
“Yes, please. I need to get my hands on the little guy.”
She glanced at Luca in his bouncy seat with his little legs kicking in blue footed pajamas as he watched the dogs with wide-eyed curiosity.
They’d followed her into the room and were sitting guard just as she’d expected would be the case.
Natalie unbuckled her nephew and lifted him.
Nothing was more soothing than the scent and softness of a freshly cleaned baby.
Her hand ran over his dark hair. Soft and smooth. Not a lot, but enough to brand his Bond coloring.
The same with the wide dark eyes.
Avery moved to the kitchen to get the bottle but could still see her.
“Did you eat dinner yet? I was going to order pizza.”
“I haven’t,” she said. “I only ran home and changed. I didn’t want to stay long and bother you.”
She hadn’t been that hungry since she’d had a bigger than normal lunch.
“I’ll order now. Then once Josie is done eating, I’ll send her to do her homework to get done before the weekend starts. That will give us time to chat.”
“I don’t want you to kick her out or make her do work on a Friday night,” she said, wincing. No kid wanted that when there was company.
“Don’t play the peacemaker. That is the norm here. If she does it on Friday she can do what she wants all weekend and then there is no whining on Sunday night that she shouldn’t have waited.”
Natalie laughed. “I never thought of that. I always did my work early, but Carter waited until the last minute.”
“So he said. I was like you.”
Avery came in and handed her the bottle, then picked her phone up to order pizza at the same time Josie returned with a sketch pad in her hand.
“Look at Luca.”
Josie flipped the pictures for her to gaze at while she held her nephew in one hand, the bottle in the other, the baby greedily going to town.
“Those are fabulous,” she said. “I can’t believe how much detail you’ve captured.”
