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“Jack and I are having breakfast together, Ollie,” Lu says, jumping in. “Is that alright with you?”
Ollie’s head flicks between us again before turning to her brother where they share a secret look before turning back to us. “Yeah, that’s alright with us,” she says, nodding.
I laugh, pushing out my stool and standing. “Well, thank god for that,” I say, rinsing out my mug and leaving it on the draining board. “I would hate to think we didn’t have your approval,” I add, walking over to them.
Oscar stands silent, hands on his hips as he gives me a once over.
“What?” I ask, mirroring his action.
“Aren’t these the same clothes you were wearing last night?” he asks, flicking his hand at me.
I laugh, shaking my head as I reach forward and pick him up, slinging him over my shoulder. “Enough with the interrogation little man, you’re with me,” I say, before turning to Lu. “I’ll see you later,” I add, winking at her.
“Wait a minute!” Ollie shouts and I pause, halfway out of the kitchen. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
I glance at Lu, see the confused look on her face. “What?” I ask her niece.
Ollie gives me a straight up WTF look as she stands, hands out and says, “A kiss goodbye? Isn’t that what the French do?”
I burst out laughing. Fuck me these kids don’t forget anything. Lowering Oscar to the floor, I walk toward Ollie, grabbing her tiny face in my hands as I press a bunch of kisses all over her cheeks and forehead. “Bye, Ollie,” I say.
When I step back, I can’t help but laugh at her flushed cheeks, the embarrassed smile she tries to hide. Glancing at Lu, I see her watching us, a strange look on her face. Unable to stop myself, I step to her next, leaning in and pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek. “Laters, beautiful,” I whisper, before turning, grabbing Oscar and heading outside.
Oscar heads toward the drive, but I call out a, “Hold up,” before running back to my place to grab some shoes. When I come back out Oscar is sitting on my front steps.
“So, no shoes?” he asks, as though prompting me to explain.
I grin, pulling him up, before crouching down to offer him a piggy back. “It’s an Aussie thing,” I tell him. “We hardly ever wear shoes.”
“Right,” he says, arms around my neck as I stand and start walking toward the sheds that house the barrel rooms. “So are you and Aunt Lulu like a thing now?” he asks.
I chuckle. “What exactly is a thing, Oscar?” I ask, stalling.
“You know,” he says, his hand flitting out in front of me. “Like boyfriend and girlfriend,” he explains. “Someone you get all smoochy about.”
I burst out laughing. “Is that what you and your girlfriend do then?”
“Pfft,” he scoffs. “I don’t have a girlfriend,” he says, in a disgusted tone.
“Really?” I ask. “Cause you seem to know an awful lot about boyfriends and girlfriends,” I add, teasing him.
“I just know things,” he says, as though this explains it.
“I see,” I add, offering nothing further in response to his questions.
We walk in silence until we reach the sheds. Oscar jumps from my back and heads inside, me close behind. I grab the clipboard that lists all the barrels Lu keeps and the dates and stock of what they’ve been used for. Just as I’m about to get started, Oscar surprises me with one more nugget of information.
“Well, I like you better than Aunt Lulu’s other boyfriend,” he says, before wandering off toward the back of the shed leaving me to contemplate just who this previous boyfriend was.
Chapter Eighteen
Lauren
It’s pretty hard to keep something a secret in this family, especially when you’ve allowed them access to your entire life. When my wedding failed to materialize I needed them more than I ever thought I would and I certainly can’t tell them to shove off now.
Not that I think I’m fooling anyone because it’s clear that Jack and I are spending a substantial amount of time together. I guess I could chalk that up to the fact that I live alone on a vineyard and there’s finally someone to spend time with. Yet Jack and I know it’s far more than that.
Jack and I were supposed to get together for dinner, but he’s running a little behind; texting me about an hour ago to let me know he’s still working on something. He called it a little surprise and I didn’t push for more information. It’s kinda fun and cute the way he’s been sneaking around working on something. I have yet to figure out what he’s up to and I’m not sure I want to know. He’s made surprises fun again.
