Jack:Nope.
I can insist on going separate, but then I’ll get stuck in front of the mirror obsessing about my clothes, and my hair, and my makeup. I should just keep it easy. It’s a Saturday brunch and a morning recital—nothing fancy. I won’t overthink it.
And though overthinking things has been my middle name for the last dozen or so years, I don’t. Just like yesterday; Maggie encouraged me to be my natural self, and I felt confident that way.
I brush my teeth, gargle, then rush into my closet. I opt for black jeans this time, pull on a snug, white tee shirt, and shrug into my leather jacket. I’ve had the thing since high school, but since it was hiding in the deep darkies of my closet, I forgot I even had it. I brush through my hair, pull it into a bun on my head, and tie a red and white bandanna around it for a splash of color. A bit of blush, lip gloss, and I’m good to go.
Except…I race back into my closet, squirt a spray of tea rose in the air, and slowly walk through it. There.
Moments later, a knock comes to the door. I picture seeing Jack on the porch, but when I crack the door open, I see Beau standing there in black jeans and—I’m not even kidding—a white tee shirt. He’s missing the leather jacket, which would look very good on him, I muse, but we’re just about twins.
He eyes me up and down, causing heat to spread over my cheeks. “You look nice,” he rasps. “I missed the memo.”
My brow furrows as I step out and reach to pull the door behind me. “Memo?”
“About the leather jacket. Mine’s back at home, feeling all left out, I bet.”
I grin. “I bet it is.”
He nudges my shoulder as we walk, and I nudge his back, feeling like I’m about twelve years old again. Until I spot the kids in the car. Paige is waving so wildly and happily I feel her joy clear to my toes.
“Hi, Paige,” I say, waving back as Beau opens my door for me.
I try to pretend I’m not swooning from that fact and climb on in. “Hey, boys,” I say with a wave over my shoulder.
“I can’t believe we fell asleep during number two last night,” Jack says.
“Seriously,” Parker adds. “Embarrassing.”
I feel Beau’s eyes move to me at the stop sign. The look in his eyes speaks of the delicious secret we share. The spectacular kiss he gave me while the boys snoozed nearby, completely unaware. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss him when the boys weren’t around.
“I’m so happy that you’re coming to my recital,” Paige says while clapping her hands.
“Me too!” I glance over my shoulder to take in her lovely blonde locks. “And your hair looks so pretty. Who put those ribbons in for you?” I’m asking because the truth is, it could use a little touch-up. While itispulled into two ponytails, and theyaremostly on opposite sides of her head, one side has much more hair than the other. And the one with less hair is seriously higher than its counter.
“My dad,” she says. “But I brought a brush cuz he said maybe you could fix it.”
“I’d love to.”
“I was thinking,” Beau says, “maybe tomorrow afternoon we could go to Spicer’s Orchard.” He goes on to mention some of the fun activities they have while Paige squeals and claps.
“Oh, yes, yay!”
“And they have fresh cinnamon donuts and cider,” Parker adds. “Remember that, Jack? You went with us one year.”
“Right, it’s awesome,” Jack says. “Mom, do you think you could make a pie? You’vegotto make a pie.”
“Dude, your apple pie isbomb,”Parker adds. “Dad, you have to try it.”
The conversation goes on like this all through brunch, which consists of hot coffee for me and Beau, warm cocoa for the kids, and an array of pancakes, eggs, and breakfast meat. When Beau and I put both ketchup and salsa on our eggs, the boys fake gag and say our generation is whack.
Amidst it all, I feel happier than I’ve been in ages. And more hopeful too. Being with these guys brings one word to the front of my mind.
We’ve got love, encouragement, laughter, and a fair bit of teasing too. We have the ease and joy of being together, our energies merging, fusing, creating something that’s better than we are apart. Something I feared we might never have again—family.
At the recital, I’m surprised to see both Greg and Trish. I hadn’t given it any thought, really, seeing that both flopped out on the soccer games at the end of Jack and Parker’s season. As surprised as I am to see them, Trish and Greg look absolutely gob-smacked when I walk in with the family and sit next to Beau.
He leans over and whispers something in my ear. “Jealous much?”He pulls back and grins. I’m way too distracted by the feel of Beau’s hot breath on my skin to say anything back.
