Page 156 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I crouch down and give him some pets. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Be a good boy, okay?”

When I stand up, Lucy is looking at both of us with a warm, beautiful smile.

“What?”

“I like seeing you with Wally. You’re so sweet to him,” she says softly.

I kiss her, then grab her coat from the closet and help her put it on. I slide on my jacket, and we head outside to my car.

I breathe in the cold, crisp autumn air. It’s a chilly morning, but the sky is clear, and the sun is bright, making it feel a little warmer.

I drive toward my mom’s house, which is an hour and a half away.

“Wally’s really gonna miss you when we move out,” Lucy says.

A familiar sinking feeling lands in the pit of my stomach at the thought of her leaving. I really don’t want her to. I want her and Wally to keep living with me.

But I can’t tell her that. She wants to take things slow and have fun. If I ask her to continue living with me, that’ll make her feel pressured.

I look over at her and smile, hoping I look relaxed and happy. “You and Wally can come over and visit as much as you want after you move out.”

She flashes a small smile. “I’d like that.” She looks out the window. “So who’s coming to Thanksgiving dinner?”

“My mom’s friends and coworkers. All her neighbors. My sister will be there with her boyfriend. A bunch of my aunts and uncles and cousins will be there.”

Lucy beams. “Wow. You have such a big family. And so many family friends.”

“Yeah, it’s always crowded and loud, but it’s fun.”

When I glance over at her, her smile turns sad. “I’ve always wondered what it’s like to have such a big family. Especially during the holidays.” She glances down at her lap. “It was always just my parents and me.”

“You didn’t see your grandparents?”

“We did. My mom’s parents passed away before I was born though. And my dad’s parents passed when I was a kid.”

“I’m sorry.”

She looks at me and shrugs. “It’s okay. I guess some people just weren’t meant to have huge families.”

She stares out the window for a long moment.

I focus on the road, feeling so sad for Lucy. She’s the only one left in her family. How is that fair? She’s such a sweet, loving person. She deserves to be surrounded by people who care about her.

“Do you want a big family someday?” I ask before I can stop myself. That’s too personal. I’m prying.

But then she nods. “Yeah. I do.”

She glances down at her lap and plays with the button on her coat. “I know I’m way too young to be thinking about kids right now, but I know I want them. Someday.” She looks up at me. “How about you? Do you want kids someday?” She lets out a quiet, shy laugh. “Even though we’re still kind of kids.”

“Yeah. I do.”

She looks at me. “Really?”

I nod.

She smiles like she’s relieved. “Most guys would freak out if the girl they’re hooking up with asked about kids,” she teases. Then she shakes her head. “Not that I’m asking you to have kids with me, or…” Her cheeks flush bright red. “That’s not what I meant.”

I grab her hand in mine and kiss it. “It’s okay. I know what you meant. And I’m not like most guys when it comes to stuff like family and kids. I’ve always known that I want to be a dad. Maybe that’s a little weird.”