“You’re daddy’s old boss,” Livie said when the lightbulb moment connected. “You taught him how to use the law to help people.”
“Correct. I’m Uncle Lon,” he said, extending his hand for a proper handshake. He tucked her hand in his. She loved every second of the mature approach of life.
“You’ve met Livie, beside her is Ava, then Mia,” Dash said, coming into the living room. “West, raise your hand. Fisher, then Hunter.”
Lon’s gaze swept the room, taking in each child, then the surroundings. “So who’s gonna show me around this monstrosity. Do you ever get lost in this house?” Lon asked, stepping further into the kitchen.
“What the hell?” I mouthed to Dash.
My guy gave me a shrug, a movement designed to ask forgiveness, not permission. My self-esteem was going to take a solid hit after this encounter. Great.
“Stay for dinner, Lon. You can even stay the night,” Amelia said. “You can stay in my room. I’ll stay with the girls.”
“What?” Lon said. “This big house doesn’t have a guest room?”
“Too many kids,” West said, mimicking my words that answered everything.
The six stood close to Lon.
Man, even my kids gravitated to the guy.
“I’ll schedule another trip to spend some time. I’ve listened to story after story about you all. I feel like I could fit in here.” Lon’s index finger flipped toward Mia. “Mia, you’re the easygoing one, very loving. Livie, you’re super smart and neat. Then Ava...” His brow playfully dropped, indicating her normal expression, bringing them all to laughter.
“How do you feel about sticking around for dinner?” Lon asked Dash.
“We eat light and healthy,” Dash warned. “Usually on the patio when it’s nice outside. Can we eat out there? It’s my favorite place.”
“Sure,” Amelia said, “redirect, my little loves. Set the patio table.” One of the two salad bowls was between her hands as she headed outside. Everyone grabbed something and followed her out.
Dash walked straight up to me and stole a kiss from my lips. “I was driving—”
“My kids like him better than me,” I hissed, begging my inner self to calm down and smile. Thankfully, I did.
“No they don’t,” Dash said.
“Did y’all get everything ready for next week?” I asked, pivoting topics until I fully explored what the heck was happening inside me. The shock of seeing Lon again had worn off. My southern manners kicked in. I needed to get drinks.
“We did, or we’ll see if we did.” Dash’s hands went to my hips, trailing behind me outside.
“Everyone wash your hands,” I called, pivoting one direction while Dash headed in the other.
I felt like my whole plan for the next couple of hours was to avoid Lon. The music that had been quiet inside our house for months began playing overhead.
The relief was instant. The sounds changed everything. If the tunes were back, then we were back.
One week later
“Babe, I’m going three-piece and adding the tie bar,” Dash called from the inside of our closet. “Which means you need to wear this warm taupe suit to blend with me. We’ll appear to coordinate effortlessly.”
I was lying on the mattress, back against the headboard, my leg bent at the knee. My thumb rested on the channel search option on the remote, clicking until I found HGTV. We had two days before we left for Chicago. I didn’t know how long we were going to be gone, but Dash wanted me there with him. Not for show, only for support. We were down to the wire, every second of every minute was planned with only room for a few unexpected twists and turns. Except those weren’t afforded to me too. My whole game plan for the trial was to stay quiet and glare at the Richmonds any chance I got.
“Stone said he can send someone over tomorrow to dress us,” I murmured somewhat distractedly, happy to see David Bromstad’s gorgeous smile light up the screen. I tapped the increase volume button, letting that be the indicator that our favorite show was on. “If you win, let’s useMy Lottery Dream Hometo buy us a side place. What’s that called—a vacation home?”
“How’re you so relaxed?” Dash asked, poking his head out of the closet. “I’m the one who’s done this before, and I’m a wreck.”
“The anxiety medicine I started takin’ last week,” I said. How I hadn’t started taking it years ago was beyond me. Man, did it help me put distance between me and the problem. Unlike my emotional wreck of a husband. Dash had taken the abuse he’d been handed straight to heart. I saw remnants of a young boy, seeking his parents’ approval, and never getting it quite right. Those fuckers kept messing with my guy… The anger shot forward but then eased off. That’s why I loved the medicine. “It’s kicked in. I might take it forever.”
“Yeah, I should too since it turns out, I’m the one who should be jealous of Lon,” Dash said, persnickety as he crossed the bedroom, heading for the bathroom and its mirror.
