Page 60 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

“Middle of September,” I reply. “But the baby is measuring big.”

She throws her head back and laughs before she gestures at Luke. “I wonder why.”

She takes the stairs down to the walkway that weaves around to the driveway. I follow her and make introductions with her husband Tanner.

“Thank you guys so much for giving us a place to stay,” I say with a smile that’s a little shaky. My nerves are getting the best of me with meeting new people today. Their kids seem oblivious to us, still running and laughing in the front yard.

“Don’t mention it,” Tanner says, throwing an arm around Luke’s shoulders. “Happy to help out the rookie.”

Luke’s answering smile is just as nervous as my own. I’ve always known he’s shy, but apparently, I’m beginning to fit right in with him.

Clapping his hands together, Tanner says, “Let me help you get this unloaded.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” Luke insists. “I can handle it.”

Tanner gives his shoulder a light shove. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’ll go faster with both of us.”

Kayla turns to me, her smile kind and her eyes warm. She can’t be that much older than me, I don’t think she looks quite thirty yet, but she exudes this motherly feminine energy. I suppose it could be because she is a mom, but I feel like it’s more than that.

“Do you want to help me get started on dinner?”

I try not to cringe since I’m sure she’s just trying to include me. “I’m warning you now, I’m not a very good cook.”

She loops her arms through mine. “That’s okay. You can keep me company. It’ll be nice to talk to an adult that’s not my husband. Kids,” she calls out. “Inside. Now.”

They don’t listen at first and she snaps her fingers, giving them a look that sends them barreling into the house.

“My mom always told me kids need to be a little bit afraid of you.” She holds up her fingers just a smidge apart. “I didn’t think she was right until I had my own.”

She leads me through the house, and I have to say it’s not what I expected, in a good way. It’s a warm, lived in home with blankets piled on the couch and kids toys everywhere. It’s not cold or sterile like the home I grew up in. Memories are very clearly made here.

It shocks me even more when Kayla tells me she’s making sloppy joes.

“I thought those were only in movies.”

She whips toward me so fast that her hair, that she’s braided out of her way while she cooks, goes flying over her shoulder. “What?”

My face is beet red, I’m sure of it. “I … uh … I’ve never had sloppy joes before. I’ve only ever seen them in that Mary-Kate and Ashley movie.”

“Oh.” She snaps her fingers. “It Takes Two.”

“That’s the one.”

There’s a commotion behind us and I turn to find the older daughter dangling a fire truck above the toddler’s head.

Kayla sighs. “Lola, give your brother his fire truck back.”

“He keeps hitting me with it,” she whines.

“Oliver.” Kayla plants her hands on her hips. “Are you using your truck to hit your sister?” He pouts and she shakes her head. To me she says, “That look means, yes he is.”

“Mommy—”

“Oliver, time out chair.” She points to a chair I hadn’t noticed before that faces the corner. The boy, shockingly walks over and plops himself in it.

“How old are they?” I ask, watching as Lola drops herself in front of a doll house and begins to play.

“Five and three. Tanner is begging me for another, and don’t get me wrong I love being a mom, but with his travel schedule I don’t think I can handle three kids on my own. Two feels good. I have two arms and two legs. I can manage.” She gets back to work on preparing dinner. “I hope I’m not scaring you.”