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“They act like a child’s birthday party might make them impotent or something,” Annie said, sitting down.
“Well, I just have to say this. I thought Maggie and Justin won the prize for hotness, but you two are running a close second,” Katrina said, making a sizzling sound and touching her shoulder.
“No one will ever out-sizzle Maggie and Justin,” Annie said, looking at Katrina critically. “Unless it’s you and Dave. You two are smokin’ hot.”
“Here, join the party,” Maggie said, handing her a glass of wine. “We’re all three pretty damn hot if you ask me.”
“I love a good kiddie party!” Annie cried, taking the wine.
“We’ll have a party for you in a couple months when you graduate! Master’s degree in social work. Woot!”
The friends clinked their glasses.
“We’re together again,” Katrina said. “We made it through a year of parenting and survived.”
“Well, almost,” Annie said. “My marriage didn’t survive.”
“And you’re with that hunk,” Katrina said. “When God closes a door, he opens a bigger door.”
“Praise God,” Maggie shouted. “We’re dating brothers! Is that a dream come true?”
“I don’t remember us saying we would marry brothers,” Katrina said. “But we might have.”
“Who’s talking about marriage?” Maggie asked, laughing out loud.
“A goal to set right now is that our children will go through twelve years of school together,” Annie said. “Look what it did for us. We are lifetime friends.”
Maggie lifted her glass and they chorused. “To friends. Lifetime friends.”
***
Walking to his brother’s barn, Chris Harcourt looked forward to the time he’d have with Justin and Dave. A loving relationship had developed between the brothers over the past year. Even though he was the older and probably more sophisticated of the three because of his Air Force stint, Chris looked to Justin as his advisor.
After an unhappy, failed marriage and a long drought alone, he’d met Annie Markley, the sweetest, kindest young woman with a built-in family, too. He was learning to love her little boy. The father was a jackass, but they dealt with it by letting him do his own thing, breaking appointments or not showing up for his visitation. He was digging his own grave as they carefully documented every encounter. Currently, his status was supervised visitation after he incurred a DUI. Steve admitted having to deal with a toddler was too much for him.
The current dilemma: Chris wanted to move to Cypress Cove. This meant finding another job because weekend visits with Annie weren’t enough. He had sent his resume to several firms in New Orleans and Saint John’s Parish. After discussing it with Annie, they’d decided to move in together as soon as he was able. He’d asked Annie to marry him, but she said she was still recovering from her divorce and it was too soon.
“Trust me, we don’t need a piece of paper to be devoted.”
“I should know that since I’m divorced, too,” Chris replied. “It’s just what my people have always done.”
“Well, your people are here now,” Annie said, kissing him. “And we don’t have to be married right away to satisfy them.”
Justin and Dave were in the corral with Dale, doing something to his hoof.
“That looks dangerous,” Chris said, joining them.
“Hey, you’re here!” Justin called out.
“When are you going to make it your permanent home?” Dave asked. “I’m waiting to write you a traffic violation.”
The men laughed out loud.
“I’m working on it. What can I do to help?” Chris asked, eyeing the horse. “This is so weird, but I feel like I know this horse.”
Justin stood up, stretching his back. “Dale was your mother’s horse. I bet that’s why.”
“Wow.” Chris came closer. “I’m not that familiar with horses. I rode as a kid but not for years.”
