Page 4 of The Heart Remembers

“I’m good.” Tricia looks up, and Leon lowers his head. He’s leaning across the island countertop.

“Woman, let him be for five minutes,” he tenderly teases, knowing how much she worries about me. He looks up at her. “Baby, please.”

The softened tone reminds me of hanging out in their house as a teenager. Leon was always touching her, but not like my older brother once touched his former wife. Leon was respectful, doting, and kind. Shame fills me as I recall my brother’s behavior, and I’m reminded of my mission to never, ever be like him with a woman. I want to call someone baby and have her look at me like Tricia, whose eyes soften as she gazes over at Leon.

“I know. I’m just . . .” Concerned. Worried. Thinking of you. Those were the emotions this woman expressed to me over the years. She cared for my feelings and my well-being, and I’m forever grateful that out of all the things that have gone wrong in my life, she has been one of the few things to go right.

Her, and perhaps a kiss from one hot niece of hers.

“So, Katie’s back, too,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. Leon’s head pops up, gaze falling on me. Sometimes, I think he’s onto me, knowing what I did in his upstairs hallway when I was twenty-four. Knowing what I did the second time in the alley behind Town Tavern.

Jesus, Katie was better than a back alley, but I couldn’t help myself then. Those eyes, pouty lips, and a question: Are you a hero for me yet, Levi? She paused, placed a hand on my chest, tipped up on her toes, and kissed me. Thank you for your service. However, I wasn’t having any innocent, schoolgirl hallway kiss. I cupped the back of her head, tugged her hard to me, and kissed the crap out of her, thinking I was teaching her a lesson about kissing strangers in a back alley.

Only, she taught me that little, sweet Katie could handle it a bit rough and give as good as she got, even if she was still too young for me. She was only twenty the second time, and I’d been home for my father’s funeral.

“Yeah, everyone’s expecting the big announcement this weekend,” Tricia says, dancing AJ around the kitchen a bit, and he’s sticking his fingers in her mouth as she hums to him.

Leon hangs his head again, double taps the counter, and stands. “We’ll see.”

“What big announcement?”

“Katie’s been dating Derek forever.” Tricia drags out the word, and I’m instantly wondering who the heck is Derek. “And we’ve been wondering when he’s going to pop the question. We think he might do it this weekend when all the family is gathered.”

“Is he here?” I ask, brows lifting. How am I going to sleep in a room next to Katie knowing she’s doing some guy on the other side of the wall? No, thank you. I’m not listening to her soft grunts and loud moans as some dude pummels into her. I won’t be able to take it. It’s been months since I’ve had sex. Months. That’s a dry spell record worse than the desert.

“No,” Leon quickly remarks. “No, he’s not, and he’s probably running scared because you Carters are a lot to deal with.”

“We are not,” Tricia groans, smiling at AJ. “And what pressure? She’s twenty-seven and has baby fever. He’s like thirty-something.”

“It’s not like men lose that shit, baby,” Leon says to his wife. Are we discussing sperm count here?

“I’m not saying that, but her clock is ticking.” It’s an antiquated saying, considering who Tricia is.

“Don’t want her to play catch-up like us?” Leon teases, as he had Tricia pregnant shortly after they started dating and kept her in babies during most of her thirties.

“I just know she’s ready. What’s the holdup? It’s been like four years.” Tricia has this thing that the longer a couple is together, the less likely they’ll marry. It made no sense to me. Timing seemed irrelevant. When you know, you know. I thought I’d known with Alicia, but that was a joke. Then again, four years is a little long to be dating.

“It will happen when it happens. Or not. Who says she has to marry the guy?” Leon questions.

“Katie’s not like that,” Tricia says, shaking her head, and I’m wondering what she means. Tons of people live together, perfectly happy with that situation, but again, I consider myself and how I’d like to be married someday.

“I’m not like what?” Katie asks, eyes immediately fixating on AJ.

“Baby fever,” Leon states.

“Willing to live with a man forever,” Tricia speaks over Leon.

Katie’s feet stop short, and she side-eyes me. “And this is a discussion because . . .”

Awkward silence fills the air, and Katie waits for a beat. “Give me that baby,” she snaps, although a smile fills her face.

“You all are going to spoil him,” I warn.

“Babies are meant to be spoiled,” Tricia and Katie almost say in unison.

“We aren’t having another one,” Leon warns.

“Umm, I’m fifty-two, pal. No worries, not happening.”