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Laughing, she pats his chest, her eyes roaming between us. “Hmm,” she hums, smiling. “I think I’m getting déjà vu.” She cups Jake’s face again when he kisses the top of her head.
Their relationship is beautiful.
I know Jake’s mother passed away some years ago, but I don’t think he was ever short of a mother figure.
“Have they been sleeping long?” Jake asks. “He won’t sleep tonight.”
“I was about to wake them before you arrived.”
I feel my inner child coming out. “Oh, can I do it?”
Jake knows me well enough, so it’s no surprise when he casts apprehensive eyes on me.
“Of course, honey.” Rose nods.
Poor kids.
Taking a deep breath, I fight the giggle bubbling in my throat when I roar at the top of my lungs, “Jay-Jay. Ava. You’re late for school.”
Eyes wild with panic, they jump, and scramble to their feet.
Jake shakes his head, but his chest is vibrating with laughter. Rose stands with her hand over her mouth.
“Claire,” they whine, blinking away the fog of sleep.
Ava props her hand on her hip like she’s twenty. “It’s Saturday and summer break.”
I watch as it sinks in.
“Auntie Claire,” she screams, running to me.
Jay-Jay’s glasses are crooked when I look at him in Jake’s arms.
After hugging him too, I kneel to Ava, keeping my voice low. “How’s projectMake Jay-Jay Your Boyfriendgoing?”
She purses her lips and rolls her eyes. “Difficult. He thinks girls are stupid.”
Like father, like son then.
“Never mind. Boys are stinky anyway,” I add, but a little too loud, and I hear objections from the father and son duo in the corner.
I roll my eyes with her this time.
“I missed your pretty face.”
She looks taller, and I’ve missed it. I’ve already missed enough of her growing up.
Rubbing my hands together, I stand, loving the sea breeze sweeping through the open doors. “I don’t know about all of you, but I’m going to change and get in the water. Will you tell your mom I’m here?”
“Sure,” she chirps, grabbing a reluctant Jay-Jay by the hand and taking him with her.
There’s a low groan in my ear. “I hope you’re wearing a fucking wetsuit because if I have to watch you in a bikini, you’re in trouble.”
I spin around and wink. “The teeniest one you’ve ever seen.”
“Fucking tease.”
“Come on, Grandpa. Show me to my room.”
