“For starters, I wanted to see if we could get those pillows back on the couch. But I wanna see if we can make ’em crooked. That way your mom and dad’ll fall in when they sit down.”
One big grin formed, then another.
It was probably wrong of him to play them that way, but Keegan knew that was the game. If they thought they could pull one over on their parents, they were all for it. He’d been the same way at that age.
Come to think of it, he was the same way now.
Keegan grinned at the thought.
It took a good twenty minutes for them to deconstruct the blanket fort and get the pillows back where they belonged. It was Matthew’s idea to put the pillows from his parents’ bed at the foot of the mattress instead of the top so they would have to sleep upside down. Matthew’s logic, of course.
As for the couch … well, the cushions were most definitely crooked, but he figured Sawyer and Kennedy would live. After all, Keegan’s babysitting services were free of charge. He had to get his recompense somehow.
An hour later, Keegan was strolling into Curtis and Lorrie’s two-story farmhouse, lured by the aroma of roasting meat and the delicious scent of fresh-baked cornbread.
His first stop was over to Lorrie to plant a hello kiss on his aunt’s soft cheek.
“Would you mind adding a few place settings to the table?” Lorrie asked, smiling up at him. “We’ve got a few additional guests comin’ this evening.”
“Of course. Mind if I ask who?” Keegan grabbed three more plates and three sets of silverware.
“Frank and Iris,” she said pleasantly. “And they’re bringin’ their grandson, Eric.”
Keegan had been seeing quite a bit of his Uncle Frank these past few months. He wasn’t sure why that was, but he was glad for it.
He set out the extra plates and silverware in various spots reserved for those who dropped by unexpectedly. After delivering the additional settings to the enormous dining room, Keegan returned to the kitchen.
“How’d your afternoon go with Brody and Matthew?” Curtis asked, stepping into the room.
“Good.” He smiled. “Blanket fort.”
Curtis shook his head in that disbelieving way, a big grin forming on his aging face. “I talked to your daddy today.”
“Did you?”
“Said they’d be comin’ down for Christmas this year.”
“Yes, sir, he promised us they would,” he told his uncle. “I tried to get ’em down for Thanksgiving, but Mom was excited to spend it with her brother.”
Keegan’s father was the oldest of the Walkers as well as the only one who had settled down outside of Coyote Ridge. They’d been begging their parents to simply move here, but there was always one reason or another why they couldn’t. Considering his other brothers and his sister were finally relocating, he figured there weren’t going to be too many more excuses they could use. Perhaps the lure of some grandkids of his own would get his parents here.
From that point onward, there wasn’t a whole lot of in-depth conversation taking place at the weekly meal. Curtis and Lorrie’s kids soon descended, bringing along all the grandkids until the house was packed full. Keegan answered all the questions directed his way:How’s life on the ranch? You get the floors done yet?then asked some of his own:How’re things with the kids? How’s work? Anything new you want to brag about?That sort of thing.
He was busy chatting it up with Braydon and Brendon when Kaden walked in. The first thing Kaden did was seek him out, their eyes meeting across the room. It was just something they did. Since they’d been old enough to go separate ways, they always found their way back together. Not only was Kaden his twin brother, he was also his best friend.
Kaden offered a clipped head shake, an answer to his silent question: Did Bristol come with you?
Keegan couldn’t deny he was disappointed not to see Bristol on his brother’s arm. He thought for sure Kaden could sweet-talk her into joining them. Didn’t seem to be the case.
Last but not least, Frank and Iris arrived with their grandson, Eric, and surprising them when Reese and Brantley were right behind them.
“Welcome, welcome,” everyone greeted, dragging the newcomers into the fray.
Once dinner was finished, Keegan and Kaden made their exit after saying their goodbyes.
“We goin’ home?” he asked his brother, waiting for Kaden to tell him how things had gone with Bristol. He’d managed not to hound him for the past couple of hours, respecting her wishes for them to keep their interactions a secret for now. If he’d so much as brought up her name, someone would’ve overheard, and they’d never hear the end of it.
“Yeah.”
