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“Cookies?” I ask, and he just grins. “I have some premade dough. Let’s do it.”
I busy myself turning on the oven and placing the dough on a cookie sheet, and once the cookies are in the oven, I turn to my son and sigh.
“I’m not ready for you to get married.”
Now it’s his turn to raise his eyebrows. “You don’t like Sid?”
“No, silly, I love her to pieces. I’m not ready for you to marry anyone. It’s a mom thing, I think.”
“We won’t be far away.”
“That’s what your dad said, and you’re both right, but it’s not the same.”
I come around the island and sit on the stool next to him as we wait for the cookies to bake, and I rub my hand over his strong, broad back.
My boy is a handsome man.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” I ask him.
“I would have eloped the day after she agreed to marry me if she’d have gone for it. There’s nothing in this world that I want more than her. Nothing I love more. Does that sound cheesy?”
“Only in the best way. That’s exactly how you should feel when you’re about to get married. Like the sun rises and sets with the person you’re in love with.”
“I know that was how Dad felt about you,” he says and turns to me with a rueful smile. “Hell, he still does. It’s pretty gross.”
“It’s pretty wonderful from where I’m sitting. I’m so glad that you have parents who showed you and your sisters what it means to have a loving marriage. Have we had our rocky moments? Of course, we’re only human, and your father refuses to put anything in the dishwasher. But love and respect? We have that in spades, and you guys saw that.”
“You’re right,” he says, nodding. “And I think because we did see it, the four of us know not to settle for anything less. How do you feel about being a grandma?”
My heart stops. All the blood drains from my body.
“Holy shit, is Sidney pregnant?”
Keaton grins. “No. She’s not pregnant. But I want kids, Mom. I want a lot of kids.”
“You little shit.” I slap his arm as he laughs, and then the oven timer goes off, so I stand to get the cookies. “You got my hopes up on purpose.”
“You’re the one who jumped to conclusions. But, hopefully, it won’t be long before we start having babies.”
“What about her career?” I ask as I remove the hot cookies from the pan and walk back, around to set the plate between us.
“What about it?”
“I would expect that it would be difficult for a woman to maintain a successful music career and have a bunch of babies.”
Keaton scowls and stares down at his cookie. “Sid and I talked about it, and we’ll make it work. We can always hire a nanny.”
“Or a grandma.” I wink at him and bite into a cookie. “We all had fun tonight at your home. Sidney’s turned that place into a cozy, lovely place to live for both of you.”
“Yeah, she’s had a good time with it. And you helped.”
“It was my pleasure. I’m going to get mushy for a second, so bear with me, okay?”
“You wouldn’t be my mother if you weren’t getting mushy.”
I grin and take his hand. “You have been the pleasure of my life. You and your sisters, your father, our family. You are everything I ever wanted, and I couldn’t be prouder of you, Keaton. You are my sweet, quiet boy, and you’ve turned into a wonderful, strong man.”
“Yeah, really mushy,” he says as he stands and pulls me into his arms for a long hug. “I love you, Mama.”
And here come the tears again. But they’re happy tears.
“I love you, too, baby.”
The Soundtrack
All songs written and produced by Josiah and Rachel Holien.
* * *
Life in the Slow Lane
* * *
Small town girl
Born and raised in the country
Turned eighteen and packed up for the city
Lived my dream out for a couple good years
But it’s funny how now
I’m crying homesick tears
* * *
I drove miles further than I ever dreamed
Played dress up for anyone who’d hear me sing
I drank fancy wine and took shots of fame
But never thought I’d ever miss the days
Of life in the slow lane
* * *
Traded a starlit night with a city high rise
From karaoke bars to being the headline
A black limousine replaced my old white truck
I guess you gotta build a home
Wherever your heart ends up
* * *
I drove miles further than I ever dreamed
Played dress up for anyone who’d hear me sing
I drank fancy wine and took shots of fame
But never thought I’d ever miss the days
Of life in the slow lane
* * *
I miss those dirt roads I used to ride
Before the fast lane ever caught my eye
I should have taken my sweet time
