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“Sounds like someone else I know,” she teased.
“I’m an angel,” I shot back.
Georgia laughed loud and hard. “Angel my backside. Come help in the kitchen, will ya? I need to bag up the last of the dog treats. Your mom went out to the barn to snag a few more eggs, then we will get lunch started.”
Keisha got up, tugged my hand, and together we went into the kitchen with Atticus laid against her shoulder, fighting sleep.
“Someone looks tired.”
“He should be. He was up until three this morning.”
“Oh yeah, I’d tell you that it ends sometime soon, but really, each kid is different. Abbie would sleep through the night from the beginning. Well, from the time I got here. Tanner was awake all night then slept all day for a while. Katie, she’s willing to sleep anytime her daddy is asleep. So when he’s out working, naps are hard.”
“He’s usually great at sleeping through the night. Not sure what it was. I finally put him in bed with me and turned on the cartoons. Once he got comfy, he was out. My eyes much appreciated that.”
“The twins have nights like that every once in a while. Tanner, that boy could sleep through an atomic bomb. He’s a solid sleeper, always has been.” Georgia slid her fingers along the Ziploc bag while pushing the air out of it. “Toss these in the big freezer for me, please.”
I nodded and did as asked.
When I came back in, I greeted Ma with a kiss to her cheek. “My boy, glad you're back. Could you do your old mama a favor?”
“Sure thing. What do you need?”
“I just got off the phone with Angie and Gene. They have a basket of vegetables from the greenhouse. Could you go grab it for me? I want to make us some chicken pot pies tonight for dinner.”
“You had his attention at dinner,” Keisha called out.
I turned to raise a brow. “Don’t mock my love of food, woman.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure, lover boy, anything you say.” She stood from the table. “Mrs. Cannon, can I go lay Atti on your bed; he’s out.”
“Of course you can. Just pull the two big pillows from behind the smaller ones and box him in. I will keep an eye on him if you want to go with Danny. Make sure he doesn’t eat all of the carrots on the way back.”
“I can do that, thank you.”
“I’m so glad I can give you all hours of entertainment.”
“I love you, my boy.”
I smiled, hugging her tight. “I love you, too, Ma.”
Ten minutes later, I was helping Keisha into the cab of my truck before running around to get in myself. It was colder than a witch’s tit out here. I started my truck, put the heater on, and headed for the Wilder farm. My stomach was already growling at the thought of tonight's dinner.
I admit it, I was a man who could always eat. Food was just as good for your soul as love was. I had a full load of love already; food was all I was lacking now.
Epilogue
Keisha
I’ve been in this house ten million times since I was a little kid…why was I so dang nervous to go in now?
That was easy; most of the town would be here, and I was walking in with a baby in my arms. They’d judge me—maybe not all of them, but I knew some would. I let my mom and dad go ahead of us. I really didn’t want to go inside.
I jerked when the front door opened. My nervousness seemed to vanish when a pair of smoldering hazel eyes met mine.
“Hey, beautiful, come on in. It’s freezing out here.”
I kicked off my boots, making sure there was nothing on them, before I came in the door. Atticus was plucked from my arms and as I took my coat off, I watched Danny with him. My smile grew at the little laugh Atti made. Danny had him over his arm and was blowing a raspberry on his belly. I couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them.
