Page 91 of Back To Our Beginning

I looked down at the little boy and smiled. He looked nothing like his mother. He was blonde and blue-eyed and was soon to turn five years old.

“How about a mini hot dog instead?”

“A hot dog?” he asked suspiciously.

“Yeah, but really small. That way you might get two.”

A big smile brightened his face. “Mom never lets me have two. I throwed up the last time I ate two hot dogs.”

“Your mom is a smart woman.”

“That’s what Dad always says. But he says we’re smarter because we know to tell her she’s always right, even if she isn’t.”

I threw back my head and laughed. Something told me I would like Aiden O’Malley.

“When can I have my hot dogs?”

“Soon. I’ll make sure to save you some. But let’s not tell her, okay?” I held out my hand so he could shake it. Instead he held out his fist, and I bumped mine against his.

“Don’t forget Zephyr,” he said, referring to his little brother.

“I won’t.”

He ran out of the kitchen. “Mom, I get two hot dogs! Mr. Beau said so!”

“Little rat,” I muttered, grinning.

I went into the fridge and pulled out the crab dip that I’d made up and took off the plastic wrap. I grabbed some of the cut-up pieces of bread that I had in a bowl and swiped it through the dip for a taste test.

Not bad. Bonus, it shouldn’t poison anyone.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zoe walking in.

“We need more wine. And no, we’re not opening the cheap bottles that Trenda brought. She’s got to get over that. She’s not a single mom anymore.”

“Some habits die hard,” I said. “What did you drink when you were in college?”

“I drank when I was invited to parties and they had a keg. I also ate a lot of ramen noodles. It’s just that we were dirt poor for so long growing up that I don’t want Trenda to be raising Bella to think that she has to squeeze every penny.”

“Are you kidding?” I asked. “Bella is squeezing all of us for every dollar. From what Maddie’s told me, both Trenda and Simon spoil her from time to time, just not every time they go to the store, like some parents do.”

Zoe tilted her head. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I know you’re not an uncle or anything, but are you a godparent or something?”

“A couple of the men on my team have kids. I’ve been around them a lot when we’re on a training cycle. Teams tend to end up being family,” I explained.

“Makes sense,” Zoe nodded.

I went to the fridge and pulled out one bottle of Chardonnay that Evie had brought. I opened it up and handed it to Zoe.

“Thanks.” She smiled and sauntered out of the kitchen. I followed her with the dip and bread. All the women were sitting around the dining room table.

“Whatcha got there?” Evie asked as I set the food down.

“My famous crab dip that I made for the first time.”

The ladies chuckled. I took a good look at Maddie, who was sitting close to Trenda. She was drinking water, since her meds and wine didn’t mix. She looked at ease, surrounded by her sisters. She really belonged here. How the hell was I supposed to ask her to leave this behind for Southern California?

“Rumor has it you’re going to give my kid two hotdogs. Just know that you’re on puke duty,” Evie told me.