In matters of family, Lucky learned to take any time he could get.
Down one street, over another and back. When he headed toward the house, Ty kept pace.
Neither spoke, Lucky simply enjoying the day, the run, and Ty’s company.
Loretta Johnson’s Jeep sat in the driveway when he got home. She climbed out carrying a thermos.
“Bring your own coffee, Rett?” The short run left Lucky more out of breath than it would have a few years ago. He needed to hit the gym more. Wanting to be a dad and wanting a dad bod were two different things.
“Nope. I brought Charlotte something.” She grinned and led the way to the front door.
Oh fuck. Lucky knew all about the concoctions Rett brought over in thermoses. When he’d returned from the case in Mexico, one of her potions helped clear chloral hydrate out of Lucky’s system.
“Nice run, Uncle Lucky.” Ty held up a fist. Lucky bumped. “Next time, let me know you’re going. Coach says I could use stamina training.”
So much for simply wanting to spend time together. Then again, in a reversed situation, Lucky wouldn’t admit to a desire to hang out with a man he’d hated a few months ago. “How’s those grades?” Ty had never been a straight-A student, according to Charlotte, but managed to keep his grades high enough to hold on to his hard-won place on the soccer team.
“I’m doing better. Speaking of, I gotta study. Got a test on Monday.” Ty shot through the front door and into his bedroom.
Ty? Voluntarily studying? Someone mark the calendar.
Lucky followed Rett into the house, creeping in to avoid any female-type conversations he wanted no part of. Neither Charlotte nor Rett held back on speaking their minds. What popped into their brains immediately popped out of their mouths, in most cases, without even slowing down.
Unless their kids were around. Then all of a sudden they developed a brain-to-mouth filter. What would it take for Lucky to earn the same privilege? He found the women in the kitchen.
“Are you sure about this?” Charlotte held up the thermos, giving the shiny metal her best squint-eye.
Rett smiled and patted her arm. “Look, my family swears by this stuff. I’ve got six nephews and eight nieces, all thanks to my great-grandmother’s secret recipe.”
Oh shit. Lucky stood frozen in the kitchen door. Should he stay or go?
Charlotte took a glass out of the cabinet, poured two fingers of green liquid from the thermos, and made a face. “This smells like what Grandma used to give us for colds.”
“It’s pot liquor. Folks down in my neck of the woods been using this for ages. Cures what ails you.” Rett glanced back over her shoulder and gave Lucky a wink.
Charlotte only took vitamins and the occasional ibuprofen, and shouldn’t need a system cleanse, like Lucky had when Rett first dosed him with one of her potions.
“Well, if you’re sure.” Scrunching her face, Charlotte took a sip, screwing her expression up even more. “Oh, that’s vile!” She gave Rett wide eyes. “Oh, sorry. I mean… I didn’t mean…”
Rett brushed off Charlotte’s embarrassment with a wave of her hand. “I agree. It tastes disgusting, but it’ll do the trick. Honest.”
“I don’t see how it can help.” Charlotte stared into the glass. “If you say it’ll work, I’ll trust you.” She turned up the glass and chugged the green goo like a beer. Charlotte gagged, but held her own.
“I’m going to the mall. Wanna come with me?” Loretta eyed Charlotte intently.
“Rain check? I didn’t sleep very well last night. It’s definitely nap time.”
Rett nodded. “Sure. I’ll give you a call.”
“Thanks, Rett.” Charlotte ambled toward her room.
“What all’s in there?” Lucky nodded toward the thermos.
Rett ticked off points on her fingers. “Juice from beets, carrots, and collard greens, along with a few spices.”
“Isn’t that the same stuff you gave me?” Big difference between clearing drugs out of someone’s system and aiding pregnancy.
“Similar, but no cayenne.”
