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“It’s only been a couple of weeks since Layne gave birth,” I say, leaning over to smile down at Abigail. “I don’t think they’re going to be getting up to anything too exciting.”
Mack chuckles. “Didn’t mean that. I suspect they want to be alone to take a long nap.”
I laugh too and glance around to see what everyone else is up to. It’s an unseasonably warm day for autumn, and a bunch of us spontaneously decided to come out to the lake for a picnic.
It’s the first purely recreational activity we’ve done outside since lockdown. It feels like a miracle.
Some people are hanging out in the water. Others are sunbathing. And some are gathered in the shade and snacking on vegetables and deviled eggs.
The only person I don’t see is Grant, but I already know what he’s doing.
“You’re good with her,” I say, turning back to Mack.
“You think so? I always liked kids.”
“You should have some.”
“I want to, but I got to get a woman first.” He’s still smiling and relaxed. If his romantic situation bothers him, it doesn’t appear to make him miserable.
Because of this, I’m comfortable enough to say, “I thought you told me a while back you already have a woman but you haven’t convinced her yet.”
Mack glances up. “That’s true. Still working on it.”
“Where is she?”
He glances at his watch, which surprises me until I realize he’s looking at the date. I never think in calendar dates anymore. I barely keep track of days of the week. “Right now I guess she’s probably on her way back from the coast.”
“What? The coast! I didn’t think anyone went there anymore. Isn’t it all flooded out? I thought that’s what everyone says.”
“It is. That’s true. The East Coast was hit by one hurricane after another, and it was completely uninhabitable for years. But there’ve been rumors that some of the flooding is receding now, so Maria and her crew headed out there to check things out. To see what it’s like now and if anyone is out there and if there are any resources left there we can use.”
“Maria’s your girl?”
“No. Maria leads a group of women. They travel around. Do a lot of good. My girl is with her.”
“Oh. Okay. So when will they be back this way?”
Mack glances at his watch again. “Two weeks. Three days. Six or seven hours?”
I laugh at this and reach over to squeeze his arm. “You’re a really good guy. I hope she realizes it.”
“Thanks.”
“Seems to be a suspicious amount of bonding going on around here.”
Grant’s voice comes from behind us, and it surprises me so much I jerk and turn toward him.
He’s grinning down at me, so drenched in sweat that his T-shirt and shorts are sticking to his skin.
I roll my eyes but smile as I haul myself back up to my feet. “Well, you insisted on working instead of enjoying yourself like everyone else, so you can’t blame me if I decided to hook up with another guy.”
“Hey, keep me out of this,” Mack drawls, still cradling little Abigail.
Grant has been working on cleaning some of the junk out of the cabin for the past two hours. He insisted on getting stuff done since we were already coming out this way, but I only gave him the two hours.
I’m pleased I didn’t have to go and drag him away. He’ll always work way too hard.
He’s giving me a wolfish smile as he reaches out toward me.
