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I laugh.
* * *
Me: Yeah, so do you. That’s Mark. You met him Memorial Day.
* * *
Mara: Mark? Dawn’s Mark?
* * *
Me: That’s the one.
* * *
Mara: Wow. Small world.
* * *
Mara: Gotta go. Finley and I are headed out to grab some boxes, and start packing.
* * *
Me: Be safe. Let me know when you’re ready to start moving.
* * *
Mara: I start next week. So, this weekend?
* * *
That’s faster than I thought. Then again, she’s told me before how she and Amelia are close and that she misses her. I have no doubt that’s why she’s willing to pack up and move her life a couple of hours away on such short notice.
* * *
Me: Send me the address. I’ll be there.
* * *
Mara: Thank you, Seth. I appreciate it more than you know.
* * *
Me: Don’t mention it.
* * *
Grabbing my clothes, I rush to get dressed and remember I don’t have a shirt. Cursing, I quietly open the door to go to the restroom. Kent is no longer on the couch, and there’s no sign of Amelia. In the bathroom, I grab some toilet paper and spy my shirt folded on the counter. Reaching for it, I grab my shirt and pull it over my head and go dispose of the condom. I still can’t believe we slept together. She’s right when she said it feels like incest. It also feels wrong. Wrong because I’m falling for a woman I’ve only ever laid my eyes on one time. Other than the few pictures she sends me.
That woman and her daughter are moving here. To my town. Maybe some wishes do come true. Condom taken care of, I straighten up the room, pick up a few beer bottles, finish getting dressed, and then make my way upstairs. My friends look about like I feel, but it’s obvious that Amelia and I are the worst of the bunch.
“Breakfast is ready,” Kendall says, all chipper.
“Is she always this happy in the mornings?” I ask Ridge.
“She is. But today it’s more than just her demeanor. We had a kid-free night.” He grins, smacks me on the shoulder, and makes his way into the kitchen where all the wives are making breakfast.
“Thank you,” I tell them, following Ridge.
“Oh, you’re welcome, and don’t thank us yet.” Reagan grins wolfishly. “Y’all get to clean up.”
“This smells so damn good, you’re not going to get any complaints out of me.” The guys chorus their agreements.
“Yes!” Amelia says, and we all stop to look at her. “Oh, sorry.” She smiles. “Mara just texted me and she got the job.”
“Wow, took them long enough,” Reagan says.
“I know, but I’m so excited to have her close.”
“It will be nice for Ev to have another little girl to play with.” This from Kendall.
“Guys, do you mind helping her move? Mark, I guess she’s renting your place,” Amelia says, looking at her phone.
“Possibly. We have a new tenant. The leasing company sent over the details, but I haven’t had a chance to look at them. That’s what I pay them for. We’ve been kind of busy with Daisy and the wedding.”
“Where’s she working?” Dawn inquires.
I could kiss the wives right now. They’re giving me intel without me having to ask for it.
“For me,” Ridge says, shocking us all.
“What?” I ask.
“I hired her. Mom is helping more with the kids, and I want to be home more. It was time.”
“What took you so long to decide?” I ask him. I know it’s wrong to be pissed off that he could have hired her sooner, that she could have been here sooner, but I am all the same.
“I didn’t know it was her. She was at our place over Memorial Day. That following Tuesday, I had an interview with her. I was on the fence opening the day-to-day operations of the business to someone outside of the family, but Kendall and I talked it over and it’s time.”
“Do we need a human resources person?” Kent asks.
“Yes and no. There are a lot of legal things as a business that Mom takes care of. I’d like to take that off her plate. She’ll be taking care of payroll and paying the bills too. All I’m going to have to do is sign the checks. It will give me more time at home and more time on the job site that makes us money.”
“She’s going to be at the office all day fielding calls for new jobs. She’ll be able to answer questions about how far out and schedule days for Ridge to go give estimates. It’s well past the scope of human resources, which is her degree, but she seemed up for the challenge,” Kendall adds.
“Your damn phone rings all day long,” Tyler says.
“Yep. I’m hoping that this changes that, and I can actually get some work done. I love owning the family business, but a big piece of that is working with my hands. I hate the office stuff,” Ridge confesses.
“So, what took you so long to decide?” I ask him again, trying not to let my irritation show that he left her hanging for over six months. Six months we’ve been texting when she could have been here. Although, I feel that that gave us a chance to really get to know each other. Besides, she’s not mine.
“Mom. She was having a hard time giving up. It took us some time to convince her. All these years she’s taken care of things. When Dad retired, she insisted she keeps doing them. It’s time for them to enjoy life.”
“And their grandkids,” Reagan chimes in. “It took me and Kendall promising her she could have the kids more to get her to agree.”
“She starts Monday, so yeah, if you guys are willing to help us get her moved, that would be great,” Kendall says. “She’s a single mom, and from what she’s told us, no close family. She could use our help.”
“I’ll call Helen and see if she can keep Daisy,” Dawn offers.
“Pft,” Mark scoffs. “The problem is getting our daughter back from the baby hog.”
“Mark!” she scolds. “That’s your mother.”
“Baby hog,” he mutters.
“Mom and Dad are keeping Knox and Ev,” Kendall says.
“And my parents are keeping the boys,” Tyler informs us.
“Perfect,” Amelia chimes in, looking up from her phone. “I really appreciate you all helping her out. You’re going to love her. She’s going to fit into our group perfectly.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
Though my fear is feeling more and more like excitement.
Chapter Two
Mara 2
* * *
Moving day has my head spinning. I’m comfortable here, in my current life and home. Moving almost three hours away from my comfort is a big deal. A huge deal. Luckily, Ridge and Kendall have been amazing. They helped me find a place to stay, and Kendall’s mom, Sonia, is going to watch Finley for me until I can arrange childcare. Amelia speaks highly of the family as she grew up with them. Since she’s like family to me, her word puts me at ease that Fin is going to be okay with them. Although I’m comfortable, I’m ready to be closer to my best friend. I miss having her so close, and Finley needs more than just me and the ladies at her daycare. I want my daughter to have more people in her life; something I never had.
Sonia just recently retired and claims she has too much time on her hands, according to Kendall. She’s been alternating days with Ridge’s mom, who watches their kids.
Glancing at the clock, I see I still have an hour before Seth gets here. Well, Seth and the rest of the cavalry. Apparently, Amelia asked them all to help. I feel bad that they’re all using their weekend to help me move, but she assured me it’s fine. Seth too. I mentioned it to him in one of our text messages this week, and his reply was That’s what we do for family. I didn’t argue. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I was too stunned to think of a good response. I’ve never really had someone outside of those who were paid to look after me take care of me. It’s not something I’m used
to.
I take a minute to survey my small home. Finley is playing on the living room floor. The house is all boxed up but a few of her toys. I packed the remaining toiletries and kitchen items after we had breakfast early this morning. Now, all that’s left is a box of toys, which are currently strung out all over the floor.
