“Yeah, yeah,” D’Shawn mumbled as he and the rest of his team headed to the field.
Trenton held Andie’s gaze as he approached, those brown eyes causing her heart to do a tumble of its own. He reached out as he neared, grabbed onto her hips with his warm hands, and brought his lips to hers for a short, playful kiss.
“You’re beautiful,” he mumbled before releasing her. “But I’m still going to have to crush you in this game.”
Andie rolled her eyes as he flashed her an unrepentant grin. “It’s all for the children,” he said, motioning toward the teens.
“Hey, we’re not kids,” Shaquille protested.
“He’s talking aboutme,” Emmitt said.
Andie couldn’t help but enjoy the friendship that had developed between Emmitt and Trenton. Even Dirk and Lee often joined the men in games such as these, sharing laughs while roasting one another in turn. She only wished that Richard would relax a little.
It seemed sometimes that he resented Andie for getting involved with Trenton at all, which didn’t make a lot of sense. It wasn’t like she planned to tell him the family’s secret. There was no need to.
Of course, as she and Trenton discovered Milt’s history, the fact that he’d been hiding from his dark past, Andie had been tempted to confide in him. But the temptation was gone soon enough. And what they’d been left with was a deep and meaningful relationship that Andie thanked the heavens for each and every day.
Somehow she knew what a rare and precious gift it was. And while she could tell that Trenton felt the same—he showed her in a dozen different ways—Andie was hoping to hear it from him soon. Sure, she could always be the first to utter the words, but if Trenton didn’t return the sentiment, she wasn’t sure she could recover. Or pursue the relationship with any confidence.
A small pat came to Andie’s leg as she took a seat on the bench. She glanced down to see Dominque pull her hand back and look up at her. “Will you be my assistant for the talent show tonight?” she asked in a whisper. “I don’t want my brothers to help because then they’ll know my tricks.”
“Good thinking,” Andie said. “Of course I’ll be your assistant. When should we practice the tricks?”
“Umm…” The little girl rubbed her lips together. “Maybe after this game. Butfirstwe need to get a doughnut.”
“A girl after my own heart,” Don blurted. “How do you think Mable won me over so quick?” The older man pulled Mable onto his lap and planted a kiss to her cheek.
“How long have you been married?” Dominque asked the pair.
“Forty years,” the two chimed in unison.
“One of the finest couples I know,” Betty added.
“Hey,” came Emmitt from the field. “I just got a ringer and none of you guys even saw it.”
“Oh, can I ding the bell this time?” Dominique asked with excitement.
“Sure, hon,” Don said, patting the wooden bench beside him. “Stand right here and reach for the rope.”
The small girl did as he suggested, then secured the end of the bell’s rope with one small hand.
“Give it a good hard tug, now,” he urged.
She did, the delight on her face doubling as it rang out loud and clear.
“We’ve got a ringer!” cheered Don as it rang. “Keep this up and you could take the game this round.”
Mable poked his ribs with one pointed finger. “Don’t encourage them,” she scolded.
Andie let out a laugh. Mable’s gesture might seem playful enough, but she knew well that the woman had a real competitive streak. It was one of the things Andie had come to love about her. In fact, in the nearly two months that she’d been there, Andie had discovered a whole lot of reasons to love the people around her.
For the first time in a very long time, she felt happy. It’s true that having Trenton in her life, dating him as she was, helped in all the obvious ways. But Andie felt it went even deeper. Being surrounded by such kind and loving people, friends that weren’t related, but they felt like family just the same. A wave of warmth rushed through her at the word. Yes, family, that’s what it felt like. And it had blessed her life with a new and deep sense of joy.
“Penny for your thoughts,” came Betty with a light nudge to the arm.
Andie glanced up to the guys to see that it would be Trenton’s turn next. She looked over at Betty. “I’m just thinking of how wonderful life is at The Homestead. Being here has been life changing. I knew it would be, but I had no idea that it would actually give me something I’d been missing. I didn’t know therewassomething missing from my life before.”
Betty’s kind eyes beamed. “The Homestead’s been a real godsend for me too. Coming out here with no family of my own…who knew the good folks here would become so very dear to me that they’d fill that void?”
