“I see how it is….” Mark zips to the right and snags another kid instead.
“That’s Carter, my youngest.” Lanie chuckles. “Poor guy, he didn’t even see Dad coming.”
“Gotta be quick on your feet when Dad’s around. The man still runs miles each morning, for fun,” Raven adds, then shouts, “Go, Candace, go! Papa’s on your heels… Turn and burn, baby!”
For the next few minutes, our attention is on the impromptu game of chase. From what I gather, there’s really no rhyme or reason to their chaos. The only thing that matters is they’re having fun.
When the guys finally tucker all the kids out, they come over to join us.
It’s Mark who declares, “Are you all ready for some dinner? I brought hot dogs, and Ryan’s got our roasting sticks ready.”
That’s all it takes.
To my surprise, Jason and Josh both come to sit near me, ditching their parents. As the rest of the kids find places to sit further back from the flames, Ryan gives campfire skewers to Mark and each of the dads. Efficiently, Ryan passes out hot dogs to everyone once they’re settled, and like a well-oiled machine, someone pulls out these Y-shaped spikes, and they’re quickly bored into the sand to hold the skewers over the coals, which are perfect for roasting.
This is obviously not their first rodeo.
As Mark settles next to me, he leans in so that only I can hear and asks, “Still doin’ okay?
“Yep.” I grin as Jason scoots closer and reaches for my hand. “I’m having a great time. Thanks for inviting me. I absolutely love your family.”
“Good.” Shifting closer, he whispers, “I know we’re a wild and chaotic bunch at times, but I’m glad you’re here to share this with me.”
“Papa,” Josh interrupts. “Is Faye your girlfriend?”
Mark reaches around me and tussles his hair playfully, “What do you know about girlfriends?”
My heart stalls, and my breath catches in my throat.
There’s no way I just heard him say that.
When neither Mark nor I says anything, he continues matter-of-factly, “Momma said she was.”
“Your momma’s a smart woman,” Mark muses. From that twitch of his lip, I can tell he’s fighting like hell not to laugh.
“So… is she?” Josh pushes further, wide-eyed and expectant in learning the answer.
“Would it be a problem if she were?” Mark counters.
“No. Jay and I love her.”
Oh. My. Heart. He is just the sweetest boy ever.
Mark leans in conspiratorially and whisper-shouts, “That’s good, kiddo. Cuz I love her, too. Should we try keeping her?”
Both boys nod fervently.
Then Josh asks as if his papa hasn’t just rocked my world, “Is my hot dog ready?
It’s a good thing I’m sitting down, because between the two of them, I’ve been rendered speechless. Not only did they just completely steal my heart, but I’m not so sure I want it back. Mark must notice my shift in mood because he lifts an arm over me and pulls me in close. For the longest time, all I can do is lean into Mark and stare at the burning fire in front of me.
By the time everyone has their hot dog roasted and s’more eaten, it’s getting dark. As I lean further into Mark on the blanket beside me, Jason falls asleep with his head on my lap.
“Hey, Dad,” Sloane hollers, catching our attention, “Faye is the twin whisperer. Just look at what she’s done to my boys.” I glance down and smile at Josh who’s fallen asleep leaning against Mark and myself. “You need to bring her around more often.”
Squeezing me tight, I hear Mark’s smile without even looking when he says, “Oh, I plan to, trust me.”
Lanie:
