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"That sounds great," I said, "and exactly what I need."
She kissed my cheeks, squeezing me in her arms again. "Bye. Have fun.”
After Taylor left, I took Becky for a walk. We came back thirty minutes later. We stepped inside the house, and I was just about to close the door when I heard Jeannie's voice.
"Penny! I didn't know you were here."
I looked to the left and realized she was bouncing Ben in her arms, pacing in front of the house.
"Hi, Jeannie," I said. Taking the key, I put it in my pocket, closing the door behind me and walking to Jeannie. I kissed the top of Ben’s head. "Hi, little guy. How are you? I swear you did grow an inch, maybe even two." I ached with the need to hold him.
"What are you doing here? Visiting your friend?”
"She's got a last-minute trip, and I'm here to look after her pets."
"Hmm," Jeannie said. I recognized that tone of voice. She was plotting, for lack of a better word.
Ben began fussing in her arms.
“This little guy was happy for hours, but now I'm having the hardest time soothing him.”
"Can I try?" I asked, eager to hold him.
"Of course."
Her eyes were soft. I carefully took him from her arms. I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, the way he liked it. If the movements were too jerky, he usually protested with groans, but right now he seemed to enjoy this. He placed his head straight on my chest, and I felt his breath on my skin.
"You're so good with him," Jeannie said. "Do you want to go inside with us? I can make some tea."
"Sure. I'd like that," I said.
"You do look lovely. Can I take a picture of you?" Jeannie asked once we were in the house.
"Sure," I said as I carefully sat on the couch, kissing the top of Ben's head.
"Yeah, that's right," Jeannie mumbled.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Nothing," she answered a bit too quickly, tapping on her phone as if writing a message. Then she put it down on the counter. "Where was I? Oh yeah, I wanted to make some tea. So, how long are you staying at Taylor's?"
"This evening and tomorrow evening.”
"Hmm," Jeannie said.
She busied herself with the teapot and then joined me on the couch, bringing two steaming cups with her.
"Far be it from me to be nosy," she began with a voice that indicated she absolutely intended to be nosy. But that was okay, I didn't mind. "I know you and Spencer are a bit at odds."
"Oh," I replied. "He told you?"
"No, but he met up with his brothers, and I know how to get the information I need out of them. Especially Gabe."
My heart turned into a tiny pebble.
"He met with all his brothers?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes. I could barely believe it. Especially that Colton would get together with his half brothers. He usually only does that at big family gatherings, at my insistence, but there you go. I'm glad to see my boys are ready to put their differences to the side when one of them needs them."
