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I sipped my coffee, shaking my head at my imp of a son. “Will,” I gently chided as he tried to shove an entire scone into his mouth.
Will smiled, half of his scone falling into his lap.
Natalie rolled her eyes, ever the blossoming teenager. “Mom, am I seriously related to him?”
“It’s a fact, girlie.” I winked at her. “Deal with it,” I said, repeating her favorite sibling zinger. “While you, mister, need to remember your manners, please,” I said to Will sternly. “We don’t talk with food in our mouth. And you should try not to wear so much of what’s supposed to be breakfast.”
“Yeah, it’d be kind of nice to have a normal, less messy breakfast,” Natalie added.
“It’d be boring without me.” Will smiled, adding more milk to the sticky mustache on his upper lip.
“Um…Peaceful is more like it,” Natalie shot back. Her smile widened at something behind me.
I peeked over my shoulder to see Josh entering the dining room, freshly showered and bright-eyed as he made his way to us. He returned Nat’s smile and winked.
“Mom, he may not be Jake Gyllenhaal, but he’s gorgeous. You know that, right?” Natalie said.
“It’s hard to miss.” I smiled at her.
“Any jam left?” Josh asked as he sat by Will. He laughed at the boy’s jam and cream covered face—and napkin and lap.
I peered into the jam pot. “I’m not sure there is, actually.” I started wiping Will’s face with my napkin. After a thorough rubdown, he was a little less creamy but still exceptionally sticky.
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“Good thing I prefer toast.” He reached for two pieces of toast from the toast rack in the center of the table, then the butter. “So what are you lot up to?”
Will took a long swallow of milk and said, “Grams has gone to call her friend.”
“Maureen in Brighton?” He cocked an eyebrow and nibbled his toast.
“Right,” Natalie said.
“That’s a bit of a train ride.” He smiled. “Ever taken a proper train, Will?”
Will nodded, taking a somewhat smaller bite before saying, “There’s a red train at our zoo.”
“That’s not a real train, Will. It’s a kiddie train.” Natalie shook her head, eating some strawberry scone.
“Will, you have food in your mouth. Please swallow before you try to talk.” I smiled. “It is a real train, Nat, just miniature.”
Josh was watching us with an amused smile. “Will you all go to Brighton then?”
I peeked at him over the coffee cup.
“We’re going with Grams. Grams said it was important for a couple to have special time together. Like Uncle Arthur and Aunt Shannon, who are gone now.” Will poked his scone, momentarily crestfallen. “Natalie said you might go to Stratford cottage or something. Is that another hotel?” Will finished his milk, adding to his mustache. “Why do houses here have names?”
Natalie choked on her drink as Josh shot one of his knee-wobbling, lethal smiles my way.
“No, it’s not a hotel. Stratford is the name of a town. But you’re right. The cottage does have a name. It’s Summer House.” He reached for my hand.
I shrugged, asking, “If the offer still stands?”
“Of course,” he said.
There was a slight lull in conversation. Will stared at Josh’s hand wrapped about my own. I started to pull my hand away, but Will smiled up at the two of us.
“Are you going to hold hands a lot while you have your special time?” Will asked.
