Soon, my grandparents’ car drove into view. It had to be Grams going to the Yellow House.
To my surprise, she slowed down and then left the car at the crossroad before walking over.
“So this is the great ice rink I’ve heard all about!” She smiled widely as she came to a stop by the animals.
I skated to her and gave her a hug, then pushed my shades up so she could see my eyes. “Morning, Grams. What’s up?”
“I noticed you and had to come say hi. And give you this.” She held out a bag. “Loreena and I got it for you.”
I took it and peered in. There were a few different colors of very nice looking yarn inside.
“Thank you, that’s very thoughtful of you guys.” I hugged her again.
“Of course.” She kissed my cheek and then chuckled at the sudden, insistent meowing. “Okay, okay, let Grams give you a hug, too.” She scooped Salem up, and he headbutted her face. Without taking her eyes off him, she asked, “You look like you have something on your mind, Oak.”
Aw, damn it. Why was I such an open book to the people who loved me the most?
“I do. It’s….” I sighed and tied the handles of the bag together before putting it on top of the snow next to the blanket. I didn’t need Salem getting into the yarn, after all.
“Matters of the heart?”
I guess it was an educated guess, but I groaned. “This being an adult sh—thing isn’t what it’s hyped up to be. Did you know you’re supposed to like,communicateand all?”
She laughed heartily. “Oh sweet boy, how do you think your Gramps and I have stayed mostly happily married for so long?”
“Pure stubbornness and luck?” I snarked, then caught what she’d just said. “Wait, ‘mostly?’”
Her expression turned gentle. “Every relationship has its ups and downs. But communication is the key.”
I groaned again, making her giggle. “Okay fine. I’ll be an adult about it.” Then, to move the attention from myself, I asked, “So where are you going?”
“I’m picking up the kiddos from Law. He needs a night off and we’ll return them in the morning.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
She smiled. “It seems like it’s a whole boys’ weekend off.”
“Seems so, yes,” I replied, hoping that my face wasn’t betraying me again.
At Salem’s meow, she handed him to me and patted my cheek. “It’s going to be okay. Trust me, I’m old.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not that old.”
“Old enough to know these things.” She tapped the side of her nose. “Talk to you later, Oak. Salem. Cricket.” She grinned as she petted the dog on her way out of our rink area.
Soon, she was in the car and turned to drive the rest of the way to Law’s place.
Where he would be alone all evening and night. Like I was in my cabin.Shit.
Chapter 15
Law
Oak and I needed to talk. I knew it. I was sure he knew it. But I hadn’t found an opportunity to do so yet. Between how busy we both were, and then my little hooligans occupying the rest of my time, it had been difficult. But I had to stop putting it off. I needed to know he was okay about what happened.
That was why, when Mary called and sweetly demanded a sleepover with the kids, I took her up on it. I would have never asked, because I never wanted to shuffle the care of my children onto someone else. But she couched her demand as a question and was so prepared to argue her case that she didn’t hear my agreement at first.
“Because really, Law. You need a break too. The past couple of weeks have been a lot for you as well, and you deserve downtime too.”
