“That’s as easy as breathing,” I confess.
“Good.Now, let’s go see what our girls are doing.”
Together we walk through the yard to where the ladies are huddled on their blanket.We’ve barely stopped when my niece, Maeve, comes rushing over.
“Uncle Cope, look what we got!”She holds up a water gun.
“Wow.Where did you get that?”I crouch down so that we’re eye level.
“Grandma!Colter got one, too.”Her eyes are bright with excitement.
“Grandma’s the best,” I tell her, my heart squeezing.I should have kids her age or older by now, and they would have had years to spend with my mom.Regret washes over me for all the time wasted.
“Maeve!”Colter calls out, and my niece takes off running.
“To have their energy.”Macie smiles fondly as she watches her daughter race off after her big brother.
“Just a little of that would be nice,” I tell my sister-in-law.“What are you ladies doing over here?”I ask the question in general, but my gaze is only on Ellison.
“Sitting out of the sun,” Leighton answers.
“Got room for two more?”Chandler asks, already moving to sit on the blanket, pulling his wife onto his lap.
“Tighten up, Ellie,” Courtlynn says, cackling.“You’re going to have to sit on your man’s lap.”
“I’m fine,” I say, moving to sit on the grass.It’s not the worst place I’ve had to sit.
“Ellison!”Kinzie scolds her.“Don’t be greedy.”
“If y’all would quit your gabbing, I could have told him to sit with me.”Ellison shakes her head, an amused smile tugging at her lips.She smiles up at me.“You want to sit with me?”she asks, her tone soft, almost shy.
“Yes.”I don’t bother bullshitting her.My answer makes everyone laugh, but I couldn’t care less.Ellison moves, and I slide my ass onto the blanket, and she takes a seat on my lap.Unable to help myself, I slide an arm around her waist and kiss her bare shoulder.“This okay?”I whisper in her ear.
She glances at me over her shoulder and nods.She turns back around and jumps back into the conversation with the other ladies, as if sitting on my lap on this sunny Monday afternoon is normal for us.It used to be, and I hope like hell it will be again.
Chandler nods at me, as if he approves, and all I can do is grin.We’re still taking steps toward our future, but this one feels big, and right here on this blanket with her on my lap is exactly where I want to be.
“Is this some kind of group huddle thing?”a deep voice asks.Turning my head, I see Cody, Chandler’s best friend, wearing a lazy smile.
“We’re going to need a bigger blanket.”Leighton chuckles.
“Oh, I think Kinzie can take one for the team,” Ellison says with glee.Kinzie’s eyes bug out of her head, but she quickly snaps out of it, smiles, and shrugs.“Come on over.The more the merrier,” she says, but there’s something in her voice.
“I’m good,” Cody says.
“Oh, no, you have to,” Courtlynn says.
“She doesn’t bite,” Ellison teases him.
“Daddy!”Cody’s son, Carter, comes rushing up to him.“Look what Miss Mary gaved me.”He holds up his own water gun.
“Gave you,” Cody corrects his son.“Did you thank Miss Mary?”he asks his boy.
Carter bobs his head up and down in quick succession.“And I gaved her a big hug ’cause you said hers sick, and hugs make me feel better when I’m sick,” he says with the innocence of a child.
“Good man,” Cody says, running his hands over Carter’s hair.
“Daaad,” Carter whines before he slips away, chasing after my niece and nephew.
