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Amelie closed her eyes at him and turned her head to Barrett. “Hi Uncle Barrett. May I have a swing?”
Cole rolled his eyes as Barrett smiled down at Amelie and crooked his elbows for the twins to hang off his arms as he swung them back and forth.
“I’m going to have to increase my weights to keep doing this with you guys,” he rumbled with a small smile.
While this was happening, Calum approached, and opened his arms for a hug. Big and tall, like Barrett, I knew this was how Barrett would feel in thirty years. I wanted that, desperately. I hugged him back and his deep, booming voice reverberated from his chest. “I’m sorry for your loss, Willa. I’m so glad you still came. It’s good to see you.”
I blinked back tears. My voice was lost so I simply nodded. He gave me a final squeeze then released me. I turned to Rhys who was looking at me kindly. God, it was too much. These people were unlike anything I’d ever seen.
I swiped under my eyes and then rolled them at Rhys, who chuckled. Finally, I made it to the safety of Bex. I took a moment to steady myself. When the attention shifted away from me I murmured to her, “They’re something else, hmm?”
Bex looked surprised, then understanding clicked in. “They’re a good family, chickie. My parents were like this. This is normal.”
I must have looked disbelieving because she nodded encouragingly. “You’ll get used to it.”
I felt doubtful and it must have shown on my face because she laughed and squeezed me around my waist.
“What’s up with Amelie?” I asked.
Bex chuckled. “One of her little friends thinks Cole is cute and she took offense.”
“Why’s she mad at him?”
Bex shrugged. “She gets jealous when his attention swings to other people. She’s very possessive of him. She’s going to have to get used to it, though, that boy has his father’s looks and his uncle’s demeanor. He’s going to be getting a lot of attention.”
I laughed. “If he’s anything like his uncle, he’ll know it, too.”
Bex turned to me. “It’s freaky how much that man sees. Jeanie’s just like him, or rather, he’s like her.”
Jeanie came in at that moment with two paper bags. “Okay, my lovies, I packed up the baking for you to take home, separate bags, just like you asked for, Amelie.”
There was a twinkle in her eye. They must have had an interesting couple of days.
“Okay, chickie,” Bex said, leaning in to kiss my cheek, “we have to get these guys home and prepared for school tomorrow.”
“You’re leaving?” I asked, surprised.
“We’ve been here since ten o’clock. We came for breakfast.”
“Right, of course.” I nodded.
Bex looked up into my eyes. “Relax, chickie, this is a safe place. You don’t have to be anything other than who you are.”
I nodded. “What is going on, am I wearing my heart on my sleeve or something?”
Bex nodded, laughed. “Or something! You seem rattled. You had a tough day yesterday. And a rough week, I heard.”
“Who told you?”
Bex looked surprised, then concerned. “Mara. Is that okay? She was sad for you.”
“Does Rhys know?”
Bex raised her eyebrows. “I honestly don’t know. I know I haven’t told him. I doubt very much that Barrett would say anything. But, even if he did know, and it’s not my place to tell him, he would not judge you.”
I took a deep breath. “It’s in the past. It’s not something I want people to know about me.”
“No worries, chickie. It’s no one’s business.”
