“But not Everett, Embry, and Candace. They’re too little,” Jason interjects.
“They’ll be there in due time,” I counter.
“You’ve already got them longboarding, and they’re not even in kindergarten?” Faye asks in disbelief.
“Uh… He taught us last year. We go real fast now!” I don’t even have to look to know Jason’s punched his hip and is cocking his head in challenge.
As a five-year-old, he thinks the world should already know his every move. Though that’s likely because the adults around him can spot his plotting from a mile away.
This earns an amused chortle from Faye. “I don’t doubt that. Your papa always loved longboarding.”
“If I recall,” I quickly add, raising a brow, “you weren’t so bad at it either.”
Faye shakes her head. “Oh, Lancaster. That ship has sailed.”
“I’m sure if you gave it a try, it’d be like riding a bike.”
“The risk isn’t nearly worth the reward,” she muses. “Besides, if I fell now, I’d likely break a hip or something.”
“Sheesh, it’s not like you’re signing up for AARP or anything just yet,” I tease.
“Ohmigoodness!” Faye quickly covers her mouth as she rolls her eyes in amusement. “I can’t even with you, Lancaster.”
Instead of pushing my luck further, I change tactics. “What do you say, Faye? Are you up for dinner with the boys and me? I’ve got plenty.”
Faye tilts her head to the side, and an unreadable expression crosses her features. When she looks from me to the boys, I go for the jugular.
“How’s that stomach of yours gonna handle my barbecue wafting through your windows if you stay next door? Besides, when was the last time you ate?”
Pulling a hand to her stomach, she rolls her lower lip under her teeth before sighing heavily. “My meeting went right through lunch, so… breakfast?”
“You need to eat,” I pointedly remind her.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she grumbles. “I eat.”
“I’ll tell you what…” I counter. “Let’s get you fed, then, if you’re lucky, these boys and I will challenge you to a game of UNO. Fair warning, these two”—I turn their way to prove a point—“like to gang up on the unsuspecting.”
Her beautiful laugh is music to my ears. “Who can refuse an offer like that? Just let me put my mail inside, and I’ll be over—on one condition…”
“What’s that?” Josh asks, fully invested in our conversation.
“That you let me help.”
My cheeks hurt from laughing as I drop down a wild draw four card onto the stack of UNO cards in the center of the table. I hesitate for a moment as I look my hand over, then quickly add, “I choose red.”
“You’ve got to be kiddin’ me!” Mark winces as he picks up another four cards and adds them to the collection he’s acquiring in his hand. “The three of you must be ganging up on me.”
“Do you need a card holder like us, Papa? I can help you look for one,” Josh asks without an ounce of malice or sarcasm.
Oh, my heart! These boys are the sweetest.
I’ve always loved being around kids and consider myself to be an amazing aunt to my nieces and nephews. It doesn’t hit often, but at times like this, I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if I’d had some of my own. Maybe if I hadn’t been so focused on my career, things would’ve been different.
Then again, that ship sailed years ago, I quickly remind myself.
“I’m doing just fine, kiddo. But thanks,” Mark snarks playfully, effectively drawing me out of my thoughts as he organizes the cards into his growing pile.
The boys each have their own card holder so they can keep track of their cards, with their hands being so tiny. I’d never even heard of such a thing, but when Mark pulled them out with the deck of UNO cards, I was impressed. If only something like this had been around when I was growing up. There’s no way either of the boys could hold as many cards as Mark has in his hands.
