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Just not tonight.
* * *
“Did you get anywhere?”Marci asked Jolene later that night. Everyone had left and Marci and Logan came over to visit.
“Not very far,” she said. “You’re right. My niece has always been like a vault.”
“They didn’t seem very close to me,” Logan said. “They didn’t sit next to each other. Not really touching either.”
“That’s because you are used to Sean,” Marci said. “He’s always been so touchy-feely with women. I don’t believe Sawyer has ever been like that or would be.”
“Faith isn’t that way either,” Gavin said.
“You went overboard trying to let Faith know I’m the bad guy and you had her back,” Jolene said. “I bet she and Sawyer are laughing about it now.”
“So?” her husband said. “It’s not always the way we think it’s going to be, just like Faith said. We should be happy they are dating and getting along. Sawyer was a good sport about it all today. Not many men would be.”
“You’re right,” Jolene said. She had to remember that. She was used to strong men that could handle their families. Sawyer fit in well.
“Did you guys hear that?” Gavin asked their neighbors. “I’m right. Remember that, Jolene. Let this one play out and stop pushing. You should be happy you got an engagement out of Ivan, were holding your new grandniece Haylee today, and know that Margo is going to have a baby in the fall. Take those successes.”
“That’s right,” she said, lifting her chin. “My successes.”
Her husband laughed at her. She didn’t care. It was a game they played and it worked for them.
She just had to figure out how to work her niece more because they weren’t getting as far as she’d like.
37
Upset Their Dynamic
“Hold your fist tight with the treat in it, Regan,” Faith said to her cousin’s daughter. “You too, Cameron. Now lift it up.”
Faith was watching the twins for her cousin six weeks later. She found it funny that Cade thought this was going to work and Alex was willing to prove her husband wrong.
She supposed Cade’s wife was willing to get a puppy if she was allowing this and since Alex had to work today due to a holiday on Monday and Cade had promised to help a friend out with a legal issue for a few hours, Faith was spending her first day of the Memorial Day weekend babysitting and having a ball.
“Like this?” Cameron asked, his fist up higher than his sister’s. The twins would be three in a little over a month.
“That’s it,” she said. “Fred, you stay. You’re such a good boy.”
Her dog towered over the kids and was patiently sitting for his treats like a well-behaved dog.
“Can I say it?” Regan asked.
“Go ahead. One at a time,” she said.
“Treat,” Regan said.
Fred barked but didn’t move. “You need to open your palm like me.” She put her hand wide. “He needs to see you’ve got a treat in it.”
“Oh,” Regan said. “Treat.” Then she opened her hand, the small biscuit in the palm, and Fred gently nipped at it and swallowed it whole. She’d bought smaller treats for the kids to hold, but for Fred it was like a crumb. She’d reward him with a much bigger one next.
“My turn,” Cameron said, jumping up and down. He held his hand over his head whereas Regan had it closer to her. “Treat.” He opened his fist and Fred stood up to take it this time, not even needing to get on his hind legs for it.
“Good boy, Fred,” she said, pulling the larger bone out of her back pocket. She did the same thing as she taught the kids. “Treat.” Fred got on his hind legs, took it out of her hand and the kids were giggling up a storm.
This was easier than she’d thought it’d be. She’d never really babysat in the past. Nothing more than watching the kids when others were around and she could pass them off.
