AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you have kids?” the teen asked.
“No, not yet.” Tess was getting used to the idea of her baby still.
Just then, the door behind them slammed open, and a boy of around eleven came out. He seemed to not be paying much attention to what was going on around him and stopped when he saw his dad and her. Tess didn’t hold his attention long before he asked, “Dad, when is supper?”
Math smiled at his son and said, “Mason, this is Tess Thorn.”
“Dad’s girlfriend,” Cora provided.
The boy looked Tess from head to toe. “You’re kind of old to be Dad’s girlfriend.”
“Mason,” Math warned his son.
“But she is so much older than Jason’s dad’s girlfriend. I thought when old guys got girlfriends, they were younger than she is,” Mason argued his point.
“I understand, Mason. When we met, I guess I forgot to tell him I was older. Maybe he didn’t notice,” she joked.
“He doesn’t always pay attention,” the boy agreed, looking at his dad.
“How old are you?” Cora asked, looking her up and down also. It seemed having the girl warm up to her was going to take time. A lot of time.
“How old are you?” Tess turned the question around on the girl, the way she usually did when someone asked her age. She’d learned the trick years before. Usually, people forget they asked if she countered with a question.
“Fifteen, almost sixteen,” the teen stated proudly.
“When you are twenty-two, I will be twice your age. How old am I?” Tess smiled at her.See how fast she can get it, or if she even tries.
“Thirty-seven,” Mason provided from behind his sister.
“I was getting there, Mason,” Cora said angrily at her brother.
Tess grinned at the boy. “Good job, Mason.”
“Okay, I have to get supper ready. You two go and get Tess’s car from the end of the driveway. Don’t hit anything. Call if you have any trouble,” Math said to his older kids. Both looked at their dad for a second and then took off, happy to get to drive a car. Alone.
“You did not tell them how to drive a stick shift,” she said as she watched them go.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I get more alone time with you, and they will call before coming back.”
Laughing at his tactics, she asked, “What about the third one?”
“She’s in the house.” He nuzzled her neck.
“If she looks just like all of you but shorter and cuter, she is watching from behind the door.” She waved at the little girl looking down at them.
Groaning, he lifted his head to look at the blond watching them. “Come out here, Juniper.”
The girl did as requested and came out of the house, but she lingered by the door. Tess went up the steps and crouched down in front of the eight-year-old. “Do you remember me, Juniper?”
The little girl nodded. “You are Mia’s friend.”
“Yes, I am. We met at Easter,” Tess reminded her of their meeting place, in case the girl couldn’t remember.
“I know, you have two middle names,” she pointed out.
“I do.” Tess smiled and was glad the girl had remembered her.
“I only have one,” Juniper confessed.
