They both did.
Interesting thing about the McMurrys: Any tale of an unfortunate event was quickly followed by a success story. The time Chase thought he could swim without ever having had a lesson and almost drowned. But two years later, he won the freestyle race at the rec center in Elmwood. Ivy was one of the last kids in her class to learn how to read due to a late dyslexia diagnosis. Now, she gobbled books faster than the library could stock her favorites.
I dabbed my mouth with a napkin. “What’s your favorite genre?”
“I like mysteries and ghost stories. I’m reading a book about a wizard now, though. It’s like modern Merlin, and it’s so good,” she gushed.
“Wow. That’s cool. Geez, you can do it all. Sports, cooking, reading…”
“I know karate too,” Chase bragged, jumping up to deliver a sideways kick to an imaginary foe.
“Badass.” I immediately winced. “Sh-shoot! Sorry.”
The kids snickered gleefully. “Language!”
Cooper nudged my shin under the table and winked. I felt my cheeks heat as I returned the nudge, stretching my leg to maintain contact. He didn’t pull away. And the warmth of his clandestine touch made me feel gooey inside.
“Do you have a dog?” Ivy asked over a dessert of ice cream with the choice of chocolate sauce or berries. Much to the kids’ amazement, I’d chosen both the sauce and the berries.
“He already told me he doesn’t,” Chase reported. “You’re not home enough, right?”
“Right,” I confirmed, spooning up a bite that was sure to give me brain-freeze. “What about you guys?”
Chase and Ivy swiveled to stare at their dad on cue. Their timing was so in tune, I had to laugh.
Cooper raised a brow at them and leveled me with a put-upon glare. “You literally walked into that trap.”
“Uh-oh. Sore subject, eh?”
“No, but?—”
“Dad says no one is home during the day, and that’s why we can’t get one,” Chase said around a mouthful of ice cream.
Ivy took the proverbial baton and continued, “Mom says they’re a big responsibility, and she’d end up doing all the work. We try telling her that we’ll feed it and walk it?—”
“And even pick up poop,” Chase interrupted.
“But no…” Ivy’s long blond hair fell across her forehead like a curtain. “Dad loves dogs more than Mom anyway, so we’re trying to talk him into adopting a rescue.”
I eyed their extremely hunky dad, my lips pursed in amusement. “How’s that going?”
“Terrible.”
“Not good,” Chase concurred.
Cooper sighed heavily, lifting his spoon to his mouth, then hovering it above his bowl. “Someday, we will.”
“Sunday? I think he said Sunday!” Ivy teased.
“Woohoo! Yes!” Chase punched a triumphant fist in the air.
Cooper snickered at their antics. “What am I gonna do with these knuckleheads?”
I just smiled.
I was too dazzled with all this wholesome sweetness. A good meal in a warm homey atmosphere with a loving family, and friendly conversation. I was grateful Cooper had shared this most important piece of his life with me. I felt honored to be included.
CHAPTER 14
