“Let me get the boys settled. They’ll be fine here if you’re outside. I can run Mason into town to pick up Noah’s medication and grab my work,” Leslie offered.
Owen kissed her on the forehead. “I prefer you stay here for now. Get the boys caught up. I’ll run Mason into town. I have a couple of errands to run.”
“Oh, all right,” she said, disappointed he didn’t ask her to accompany him.
Mason followed Owen out to his truck while the others sorted through the equipment. Leslie took theopportunity to teach Noah and Nathan how to use a fork with canned peaches.
“Good morning,” Tucker greeted her, rubbing his eyes.
“Good morning,” she replied. “I saved you some pancakes.”
“Conner will be here in a minute,” Tucker said, getting a plate and silverware. He watched his cousins as she showed them how to catch the fruit.
“Why don’t they know how to eat correctly?” Tucker asked.
“They’ll learn. You didn’t know how to use it until I taught you and Conner,” she reminded him.
Conner entered, walked up to Leslie, and hugged her.
“Did you sleep all right?” she asked, kissing his head.
“Ugh, huh,” he answered.
“Good. How about some pancakes?” she asked, smoothing his hair.
“Mom, did my brothers decide what to do about me?” he asked sadly.
Sighing, she put her arms around him and said, “You’re not going anywhere. You’ll stay with Tucker and me. Owen will be moving here to spend time with you and Tucker. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. You must’ve worried about it.”
His eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t want to move away. I love you like my real mom.”
“Oh, honey, I love you, too.”
“What will happen to my other brothers?” he asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she answered. “I’m sure they’ll come to visit if they decide not to stay. They live in different places, but we can visit them, too.”
“Yeah,” Tucker agreed. “Uncle Cade said he’ll take us to see the Grand Canyon.”
“All right,” Leslie changed the subject. “Uncle Dillon will do the chores today. After breakfast, I’ll expect you to get your assignments completed.”
“When will we have Dad’s funeral?” Conner asked her as he moved to fetch a plate and silverware.
“The doctors examined his body to determine how he died,” she explained. “When they finish, we’ll have a funeral.”
Conner slid into his seat, and Tucker passed him a piece of bacon. Leslie attempted to get the boys to try their forks to no avail.
In the afternoon, she put Mason’s sons down for a nap and checked on Conner and Tucker, who played a card game at the kitchen table. The sound of vehicles pulling into the driveway caught her attention.
Walking onto the porch, she watched as Mason got out of Owen’s truck with the prescription bag. Owen climbed out of a pretty blue SUV. Upon seeing her, he walked around the car and took the steps two at a time.
“Did you get a new vehicle?” she asked.
“No. I got you a new vehicle. Mason and I checked on your truck. Someone messed with the spark plugs. In general, it’s in bad shape.” He dangled the keys out in front her stunned face.
“You…bought me an SUV?” she asked, ensuring she heard him correctly.
“You need something reliable and with more safety features,” he said, pressing the key into her hand.
