Page 95 of Josh’s Play

I leaned over without taking my eyes off the road, looking for a kiss, which Campbell happily gave me.

“Or the world of the alphabet mafia.”

“Yeah, that too,” he agreed.

Cam had graduated in the spring, and with the summer waning, was busy with practice. He was off for the long holiday weekend, so long as he promised to keep up with his exercise and diet regime. Cam’s parents had offered us one of the bungalows, so I’d assured Cam that I’d make sure he got his cardio in while we were visiting his family, and some of mine, at Pond View Acres.

My phone was buzzing from the cup holder in the door, and I passed it to Cam without looking at it.

“Yup, they beat us there. It’s Devon, looking for you.”

Another buzz erupted, and Cam picked up his phone. “And here’s my Dad, telling me how wonderful your family is, like we didn’t just see them all on Fourth of July.”

“And here’s a picture from Jamie of Devon with Vera on his shoulders. She’s really getting too big for that. That man is spoiling your niece.”

I grabbed Cam’s hand but didn’t say a word.

As we traversed the long driveway, we tried to hatch a plan that would allow us to sneak past the farmhouse to the bungalows.

“Maybe they’ll all be in the barn, showing Vera the horses. Or so busy in the kitchen getting lunch together that they won’t hear us.” Josh sounded hopeful.

“It’s a gravel drive, babe. They’ll hear us in Hampstead.”

“I know. It’s just so nice to have you all to myself this weekend. Neither of us having to work. I need some alone time with my man!” I whined.

“That’s very sweet, but we live together and work together. I know we’re busy, but the season hasn’t even started yet. You’re going to have to get used to me traveling.”

“No, I don’t.” I may have sounded a little petulant, but to Cam’s point, you couldn’t really hear it over the noises of the tires rolling over the gravel.

As we approached, the door swung open, and my niece burst out, followed by my brother AJ’s boyfriend Jackson, who picked her up from behind and lifted her to his shoulders. We could hear Vera’s squeal of delight as she looked up and stretched, trying to touch the floorboard of the upstairs deck.

“It’s a wonder the child knows how to walk,” I muttered as I put the car in park, and we headed into the fray.

The Ryans had a home-cooked feast waiting, and we all crowded around the large picnic table. It reminded me of my own house, with people talking across the table, their volume increasing to be heard over everyone else’s conversation, Cam’s brother Chase even replacing Vance as the quiet one.

Food was passed like we did at home as well, over Vera’s head, though Devon sat next to her and added things to her plate before taking some for himself and passing it along.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched my best friend insist that my niece eat some vegetables. I thought about the Labor Day holiday a few years earlier when both of us still called ourselves players and never dreamed of settling down.

With a hand on Campbell’s knee, I whispered in his ear after flicking my head in Devon’s direction. “I swear, she’ll be calling him Pop or Papa soon. Look at him being all Eat your vegetables.”

Campbell stabbed a spear of asparagus with his fork and presented it to me. “Eat your vegetables,” he teased, and I allowed him to feed me the spear. All eyes were on us by the time I finished, so I smiled at my favorite nine-year-old. “Yum. My favorite. Now you try.”

Vera may have glared at me and then at Devon, but she did scoop up a piece of asparagus and pop it in her mouth.

Campbell’s dad offered to take the group on a tour, but Camille insisted that her boys and I stay behind.

“I need to talk to my boys. We have all weekend. You guys go, look at horses. We’ll be right behind you.”

Campbell, his brothers Danny and Chase, and I all sat staring at each other after Camille said, “Wait right here,” and exited the room. She returned with four matching sustainable gift boxes in two different colors.

“I know it’s early, but we just don’t know what time Campbell is going to have once the season starts. So this might be the last time in a long time we’re all at the Acres.”

“Mom,” Campbell warned, “don’t get maudlin. I already made plans for everyone to be at the first game of the season even though I likely won't play, so don’t make it sound like we're never going to see each other again.”

“No, no. I know. I’m fine. We just have to get this done,” she said as she passed out the boxes, one to each of her boys on the words “get,” “this,” and “done.” She handed me the final box. A box the same color as Campbell’s.

I may have been a little confused, but Cam beamed as his brothers opened their boxes, and he just stared at me. Eventually, he gave me a little nod.