“Welcome home,” Josh called as he spotted his mom chatting with Erin in the living room, Mia perched on her lap.
Mom’s brown eyes twinkled and a smile bloomed at the sight of her son. She set Mia aside, jumped up, and enveloped him in a hug. “Oh, it’s so good to get my arms around you! You seem taller.”
He chuckled as he let her hang on as long as she wanted. “Pretty sure I haven’t started growing again, Mom.”
She cupped the back of his head. “And your hair is longer. Are you growing it out? Because that didn’t work out so well for you in high school.”
He had a cowlick at the crown of his head. “I’ve just been busy.”
She leaned back and took his face in her hands, her gaze sharpening on him. “You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”
“I should be asking you that. You guys have gotta be jet-lagged.”
Mom tucked her short brown hair behind her ears. What looked like chandeliers jangled under her lobes as she spoke. “We got a good night’s sleep at a Fairfield Inn last night. The staff was so nice. They hunted down a foam pillow for your dad—you know how he hates the feather ones. We went to bed at five and slept till eight this morning. I feel like a new woman.”
Maggie entered from the kitchen and leaned against the wall.
It was all he could do not to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her right on her sweet mouth. “Hey, Mags.”
“Hey.”
“There’s my hardworking son.” Dad stepped through the French doors. He seemed a few pounds heavier, but a summer in Europe would have that effect.
Zoey slid from his arms, joining Mia on the sofa as Dad pulled him in for a quick hug. “Good to see you.”
“You too. Seemed like a great trip.”
“It was. But it sure is good to be home in the US of A. Business good?”
“Terrific. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so tan.”
Dad patted his gut. “Or so f—”
“Dad!” Erin said. “Not in front of the kiddos, please.” She’d lectured them about complaining of weight issues in front of the children.
“Oh, right, right.” Dad’s grin widened. “On that note, let’s eat!”
By the time they finished the grilled burgers, corn on the cob, and Maggie’s deviled eggs, the sun was setting and the temps had fallen to a comfortable eighty degrees. The beach was deserted and the seagulls soared overhead, drifting on the breeze. The ever-present roar of the waves comforted Josh.
He’d been too anxious about the upcoming conversation to eat more than one plateful. But his family had been too busy talking, laughing, and catching up to notice. His parents were full of humorous anecdotes from their trip. And they wanted to know everything that had happened while they’d been away.
Maggie caught them up on the swim lessons she’d been teaching. Mia got a high five for her progress in the pool. Owen had been playing baseball and helping his dad with the landscaping around the church. Erin was preparing to return to her position at the high school in two weeks, same as Maggie.
“And what have you been up to this summer, Zoey?” Mom asked.
“I been building sandcastles on the beach!”
“I hope your mom took pictures,” Dad said.
“Of course I did. She’s the best little castle builder on the island.”
“Only when Uncle Josh helps me. And then we eat supper and he always lets me help put the dishes in the dishwasher ’cause I’m good at that.”
She’d made it sound like Josh was there all the time. Which, of course, he was. Josh glanced at Maggie, who began biting her nails.
Dad leaned back in his chair. “Been coming over a lot, have you?”
“Every night,” Zoey said. “And he sings to Mommy and me sometimes, especially when he tucks me in. But not when Miss Sharon stays with me ’cause then she tucks me in, but she sings bad.”
