Page 121 of Peaches & Pistols

“Auntie!” Harper bursts my eardrum as Olivia steps into view. I set the girls down, so they don’t bruise my kidneys or my balls trying to get down.

I use the opportunity to cross the space and steal a kiss from my fiancée. I’ll never get enough of her kisses, her soft breaths, and small hands that pull at my chest to get closer.

“Are you ready for this?” Mia asks against my lips, gently trailing kisses down my jaw to my neck before nuzzling in for a hug.

“No.” I chuckle into her mess of hair; the soft scent of peaches calms me a notch.

“I’ll get the girls set up with snacks in one of their rooms. I think I have an emergency toy tucked away in our closet,” she says.

“What the hell is an emergency toy?”

“You know, for when you get invited to a birthday party at the last minute and don’t have time to go buy a gift. Or they’ve done something exceptional you want to reward them for but aren’t prepared. I keep a small stash of emergency toys, books, and games so we’re always covered,” Mia explains.

“You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met, Mia. Never change.” I kiss her temple and let her go to execute her snack-toy mission.

Olivia gets roped in, as the girls won’t release her hands to save her life. My sister’s always been wonderful with children and gravitates towards them, but not once have I heard her talk about wanting any of her own. I figured it was due to her age, a college student breaching her twenties can’t be expected to have babies on the brain.

Not that women should be expected to procreate at all, but with her love of children, I thought I might’ve heard even a comment by now. Isabelle and Delilah talk about babies all time, even though neither of them intend to have any of their own.

I deserve to be backhanded. Olivia’s family planning is none of my, or anyone else’s, goddamn business.

“All set.” Mia dusts off her hands. “They should be occupied for at least the next twenty minutes, and if we need longer than that, we’ll go from there.”

We move to the living room in silence, Mia and I taking our corner of the sectional, Olivia choosing a spot where she can face us easily.

“Not to make this all about me, but if you don’t tell me what this is about I’m about to freak the fuck out,” Olivia says, and she ain’t lying. The girl’s got a wicked case of anxiety.

“Alright,” I acquiesce.

Mia takes my hand and gives me a double squeeze.

40

“I’m considering talking to Meredith.” Her name is bitter on my tongue.

Olivia’s eyes bug out of her head and she’s vibrating from holding her tongue.

“I’m not prepared to allow her back in my life as my mother, but I’ve been thinking about giving her a chance to be a grandma.”

Mia’s thumb rubs the back of my hand, and I don’t have to look over to see her unconditional love and support.

“That’s a purely selfless gift, Greyson. Giving our daughters another set of grandparents and giving them the opportunity to have grandchildren. I wish I had family that showed any interest in me, let alone love me or want to be in my life. If it’s something you decide to do, we’ll find a way to make you comfortable,” Mia assures.

“I love the idea. Mom’s been desperate to meet Harper since before she was even born. I think my parents would be wonderful grandparents,” Olivia says.

An oily film of disgust flows over me thinking about Meredith. Olivia’s and my childhoods, and adulthoods, couldn’t be more different. I can’t deny it’d be great for our daughters to be surrounded by more love, but I’m struggling to reconcile the Meredith who abandoned me with the Meredith who wants to be my daughters’ grandmother.

Because she can’t help herself, Olivia starts her typical bitch-fit.

“I don’t know the full story of why you’re no contact, you’ve always refused to tell me.” I interrupt her rudely.

“To protect you. Damnit, Olivia. How many times do we have to have this conversation? You grew up with a completely different mother than I did. Anything I tell you would drive a wedge between the two of us and you’d see her differently. For the love of god, can’t you accept there are things you’re better off not knowing?” My lungs are desperate for oxygen after my rant.

“I’m an adult, I can decide for myself what information I choose to receive.” Olivia stands her ground, but she looks like the petulant child I’ve argued with about this for years.

Mia’s soft voice pulls me from my spiral.

“I think she deserves to know.” My scowl doesn’t scare Mia one bit; for that I’m grateful because I never want her to fear me.