The words had slipped from my mouth of their own accord, and I desperately wanted to pull them back in.
But Muddy didn’t respond, as if she already knew I didn’t want to talk about it.
“So, are you excited for your new grandbaby?” I asked.
“Ecstatic.” She held up her crochet project. “I’ve been working on this for about a week. That’s when I knew Jane was pregnant.”
“How do you know everything before everyone else?” I demanded with a laugh. “Do you read tarot cards or something?”
Her hazel eyes, the same shade as Salem’s, twinkled with amusement. “Don’t need to. The thing is, so few people actually pay attention to anything going on around them. That’s the secret, Poet. Watch. Just watch. You’ll be amazed by how much you learn just from watching people closely.”
“Okay, fair,” I allowed. “But you also have a gift.”
She inclined her head in acknowledgment and turned her attention back to her project.
The front door opened and a moment later Cas and Declan walked into the den.
“Our wives?” Declan asked.
“Talking by the campfire. Where’s Brooks?” I asked, peering behind them, hoping to see my cowboy.
“He’s on the front porch,” Cas said. “He needs some alone time. He’s like that a lot.”
I frowned. “Is he? Huh. I hadn’t noticed.”
Cas and Declan exchanged an amused look.
“What?” I demanded.
“He invited you into his mental man-cave, sugar,” Muddy explained.
“Strangest fucking thing, too,” Cas said.
“Watch your mouth in this house, Cas,” Muddy warned. “I will not have my great grandbabies’ first word be a curse.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cas said, duly chastised.
I rose from my spot on the couch and went to Muddy. I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Thank you.”
“Any time, sugar.” She beamed at me.
I tried to walk past Declan and Cas, but the two of them stopped me by sandwiching me into a hug and then Declan ruffled my hair in a completely fraternal gesture.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Cas said.
I wasn’t a stranger, I realized.
I was family.
Tears gathered in my eyes.
“Dude, you made her cry,” Declan said.
“How? Why?” Cas asked, horrified. “What did I say?”
“You guys.” I wrapped one arm around each of them and squeezed them tight.
I slipped out the front door before I heard anything more. Brooks was sitting on the porch bench that was nestled against the front of the house. Several pairs of shoes were lined up next to it.
