TJ chuckled but shook his head. “For a while, I did, but then Cody dragged me into town. Told me we should get it over with and let the gossips have their day. Their day turned out to be a month. It was a slow month, so we were top gossip. Of course, Cody got annoyed and made a point of talking about us whenever he went into town.”
“Ouch.” Santino winced. “A whole month. Not sure I want to go through that.” Santino smiled when he heard Orsen laugh.
“You got it bad.”
Santino looked back at TJ. “I guess I have. I want him to be happy.” He sipped his water, watching Orsen smile. “You know he knocked the place down?”
“Yeah. It would have been condemned, anyway. Not sure how it lasted as long as it did.”
“He said he went and watched them tear it down.” Santino would have liked to have been there to give Orsen support, but maybe it was something Orsen needed to do by himself.
TJ nodded. “We offered to go but he said he had to do it himself.” TJ glanced at Santino. “Has he said what he plans to do with the land?”
Santino watched Orsen smile at something Cody said. “I’m not one hundred percent certain. I told him to build a place that was his and it would be a huge ‘fuck you’ to Ambrose. He’s been talking to the men who work with Crompton. One mentioned a creek?”
“Orsen owns some gorgeous land out there now. He could build several properties and still have acres left. Could be a potential investment plan for the future. Build some properties and rent them out as vacation homes.” TJ picked up a plate and placed the steaks on it. “Steaks are done.”
“At last.” Cody bounded over and kissed TJ, then grinned as he took the plate and put it on the table. Salad, vegetables, potatoes, and corn on the cob were brought out and Santino rubbed his stomach. “Dig in.”
“This looks great. Thanks.” Santino watched Orsen look at the food, then smile and take a nice-sized steak. Cody nodded, then passed the corn to Orsen, who took some and passed it on. Santino filled his plate and then asked, “How are the kids?”
“Good,” Cody answered. “We’ll be having them next weekend and I’m taking Cassy and the boys to the city for a day.”
“Leaving me with the young ones.” TJ smiled as he shook his head at Cody.
“You’re better with the young ones. I can handle the teenagers fine.”
“Where do they all sleep?” Orsen asked. “You have three bedrooms and five kids.”
“We don’t have Christian every weekend. He’s still a baby, so maybe once a month just so Toni and Carter can have a break. When he’s here, he sleeps in our room. The girls share a room, and so do the boys. It does get cramped when we have all five of them. That’s seven people in total, but we make it work.” TJ shrugged. “It’s family.”
“And the boys are into working out now, so I take them to the basement and do a light workout with them. Cassy likes clothes and makeup.” Cody ate some food, then sipped his soda. “So it’ll be me, Arthur, Lincoln, and Cassy. We’ll be fine and TJ will have Macy, who adores her papa.”
“I’m taking her into town. She wants to go to Tea for Two? and they love her in there.” TJ sipped his beer, then looked at Orsen. “Have you thought about what you want to do with the land? There’s no rush, but it would be nice to have a place of your own.”
Orsen glanced at Santino, then shrugged a shoulder. “I went to the creek, and it looks like it would be a nice place to build a house.” Lifting his hand, Orsen rubbed his shoulder. “I need to go back to the therapist.”
“Are the exercises helping?” Cody asked. “You seem better with it.”
“It’s much better now, and doesn’t hurt, but sometimes it feels… stiff?” Orsen pulled a face. “Not all the time, though.”
“You were stabbed in the shoulder. It’ll take time for you to gain full function. You’re doing great, so keep up with the exercises.” TJ pushed his plate away when a furry head appeared. “Santino. Your dog is here.”
“Have you been giving him treats?”
“Me?” TJ coughed and looked away.
“I knew it!” Cody pointed at TJ. “I knew I wasn’t the only one feeding Charlie.” Looking at Santino, Cody said, “See? Don’t be blaming me for all of Charlie’s weight gain. It’s him too.”
Sighing, Santino shook his head and asked, “Do I need to find someone else to look after him when I have to stay in the city?”
“What? No! Of course not. We can look after him.” Cody narrowed his eyes at TJ. “Can’t we?”
TJ pursed his lips, inhaled, then nodded. “We’ll look after him and put him on a diet as well. He has put a little weight on while he’s been staying with us.”
“No wonder he’s always so happy when I mention your names.” Santino rubbed Charlie’s ears when he came over, begging for food. “You’re on a diet, so no steak for you.”
“How can you refuse that face?” Cody stared at Santino, then down at Charlie. “Look at him. You must have a cold, cold heart, Santino.” Cody clapped his hands. “Come here, Charlie. Let Cody show you some love.”
