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“Yeah, well, you need to go eat and get your brother up. I have to drop you off at Grandma’s in a little while. I have to work for a couple of hours this morning since I’m taking Monday off.”
“Alright.” She kissed my cheek and then hustled inside.
I was amazed that my daughter was so on board with this and thankful that she was excited to meet Lauren while being willing to adjust what she usually would do at a picnic to make sure Lauren was comfortable.
Would Nolan be able to see that my children could accept hers as they were? I hoped so.
* * *
Monday, I was at my parents' early to help get things set up. I was both excited and nervous as hell, but I had high hopes that things would work out. It was going to be a huge event, as not only our family, but the Winstons would be here too, along with several other family friends. If everyone invited showed up, we’d have over fifty people.
Hunt and Henley were there also, and we set up tables and put up two tents to give shade. It was going to be a beautiful day with temperatures in the mid-eighties with low humidity.
The ladies were in the kitchen putting together the salads and desserts, and when Wes arrived, he brought the beer. We put Tonya and Tyler in charge of stocking the four coolers on the back deck with beer, water, and soda.
By noon, the seating areas were ready, and Hunt and Ethan were on the back part of the property setting up the horseshoes for the adults. On the left side of the house, away from the driveway, was the kids’ area. We had kid’s horseshoes and bocce ball. Plus, I’d picked up a ladder ball game and a bean bag toss. Even the old sandbox was cleaned out, and new sand was added for the little ones that might come.
Dad also bought a new sprinkler and had that ready for later in the day when they were getting hot and cranky. A few adults might need that too.
There were two grills ready to go, and the plates and utensils were neatly organized on one of the side tables.
It was shortly after noon when the cars began to arrive. I waited nervously for Nolan to show up, and with each car, I found myself just a little bit more anxious. There were about twenty people present when I glanced up at the sound of my daughter’s voice. She was at the corner of the house, and with her were Nolan and her daughters.
Nolan was introducing Tonya to them, and I drank her in. She wore another pair of cut-off shorts and a sporty tank top. Her arms and legs were already sun-kissed with a warm golden tan, and I wanted to taste every inch of them.
“Cool your jets,” Wes said beside me softly.
I laughed. “I’m not going to jump the woman.”
“Yeah, you might not do that, but your expression says otherwise. Say hello to her, and then move along. We are going to start grilling soon anyway.”
I looked at Wes. “Since when did you become my relationship coach?”
Wes grinned at me. “Since you thought you were a magnum.” He slapped me on the back and walked away with a laugh.
I was never going to live that down, and despite telling them that I never intended to buy the magnums, they wanted to believe otherwise. I shook my head and went about moving some things around the barbeque area as I worked up the courage to say hello.
“Dad!” I turned and found Tonya behind me, Nolan, Lauren, and Emmy close to her side. “This is Lauren and Emmy.”
“Hi, ladies. Glad you could come to the picnic.”
“Thanks,” Lauren replied. She was a miniature of her mother. Although rather pale compared to her, but her bright-brown eyes sparkled up at me just like Nolan’s had previously.
Emmy didn’t say anything, but I hadn’t expected her to. “Hi, Nolan.”
“Hi, Brad.”
I forced myself to smile politely and diverted my attention back to the girls. “Do you girls like your new house?”
Emmy nodded after a moment, and Lauren was grinning as she replied, “Yeah, it’s great! My bedroom is so much bigger than my old one.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Dad, I’m going to go show them Buttercup and Fellow, okay?”
“That’s fine, but you should have an adult with you just in case there is a problem.”
“Aunt Riley is in the barn right now.”
