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Twenty-Nine
It had been a good day, Robin thought as she carried an exhausted Becky home that evening. Phil and Nick had pitched in and called the diner—they’d ordered fried chicken and mashed potatoes and a few other side dishes for everyone. The diner delivered now. It hadn’t twenty years ago. Of course, Flo Talley’s granddaughters weren’t old enough back then to deliver.
Some of them hadn’t been any older than Becky or Elly back then.
The kids had enjoyed gathering around a picnic table and just being kids.
Robin had enjoyed being with her best friend, while their kids were just being kids.As she answered all of Glenna’s questions about Rory and where she was now. As far as Robin knew, Rory was with her friend Charlotte again.
It was hard not to worry, but she forced herself to focus on the beauty of the spontaneous time with family.
While Phil and Nick were being big kids at heart.
Nick challenged his brother to a swing off while Robin and Glenna were getting the food out and on the paper plates Nick had requested the diner provide.
Since it was his niece Junie who had delivered the food, and it was her last delivery of the day, she'd agreed to stop by the store and grab them picnic supplies as well.
For a very hefty tip, and a hug from both of her uncles. It had been sweet to see. While she was unloading the chicken, her uncles had busied themselves checking the tires and the oil on the old truck she was driving. Fussing over the girl who couldn't be more than twenty or twenty-one. Then insisting she eat something as well before they’d let her go.
"Deep thoughts?" the man walking next to her asked. He had his own daughter already draped over on his shoulder.Nova had played hard today. It had been fun to see. She’d be out soon, Robin bet.
"I was just thinking that this was why I came home. For days like today." She checked on the three boys, who were walking together in a little pack behind them.
Noah had that exhausted but content look kids got after a hard day of play. She wanted to think he'd half forgotten how his life had changed so drastically and just enjoyed being a kid for the day. The twins were calm and quiet as they carried their baseball mitts and balls like they were prized treasures.
"Thank you for lunch, by the way. We'll return the favor someday."
"Thank you for helping me with them. I feel like I'm just inching my way along the marathon every day. I don't know how things are going to go from one minute to the next."
"You’re doing ok.”
“Most of the time, if I'm not insisting we do things together, he's hiding in his room. I don't even know what he does in there. He doesn't have the internet, or a television, or anything else in there that could entertain him for hours."
"Then keep insisting you do things together, but give him his space, too. I can't imagine what he's feeling right now." She looked at Nick, noticing the circles beneath his eyes. "So tell me...how is Daddy doing now? Are you ok?"
"I just... have forgotten what it was like to sleep. There is always something that needs to be done, dishes, or food, or laundry—they go through a lot of clothes. I forgot what having a house entailed."
"Footloose and fancy free...until you came home and inherited two kids." Her shoulder bumped his lightly. "You'll sleep again, I promise. You'll find a routine and life before will seem like a dream."
"I'm not sure about that. But the sleep thing? I could do with that." He sighed. "I do think we've figured out a bit of a routine this week, but everything changes Monday. I have to get back to work; Chandler—and you—are counting on me to do my part. And the kids...I'm not sure I'm ready to leave them with a sitter yet."
"Who did you get?"
“The bus. It’s going to bring them to me at the office. I hope you are prepared.”
“It’s your company. I’m just the secretary.”
He shot her a look, and reached down for her free hand. His fingers practically scorched her skin. “You are far more than just a secretary. And we both know that.”
Her stomach dropped, practically to the sidewalk. She covered her nerves by looking down at her sleeping daughter.
“Where do yours go during the day?"
"Glenna. Well, when she's not working with Rhea, she watches them. The boys ride the bus out there after school. I pick all three up after I leave the office. Just in time for baseball practice at five. When Glenna’s working, Phil and Pete watch them for me. Pete appreciates the money, I think. And he likes kids."
"That's forty minutes from town. I didn't realize you were taking them out there every day.”
"It's a bit of a drive, but...you and Chandler paid the best, honestly. So I figured out how to make it work. And I needed the job, fast.”
