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Isabel made her way to the bedroom door, but she backpedaled when a car door slammed outside. She walked back to the window and grinned when two SUVs pulled up in front of Jackson’s cottage. Donovan, Tessa, Landon, and Aliza spilled out of one, and Christian and Nicole spilled out of the other. Jackson came back outside and after they’d all greeted each other with fist bumps, hugs, and pats on the back, they all disappeared into his cottage.
“He called in reinforcements, Blaze.” The man was incredible and his family members were so generous. They all had jobs and things to do, but here they were, bright and early on a workday to help out. Isabel’s throat tightened, but she shook her head and straightened her shoulders. Now was not the time to get all sappy. It was the time to get to work so Grandpa would relax and the cottages would be prepared for the weekend’s guests.
She followed Blaze out of the bedroom and found Grandpa at the kitchen table with a few papers strewn about its surface. “Good morning. How do you feel?” She rested a hand on his shoulder then bent down to kiss his cheek.
Grandpa put his hand over hers then released it. “I’m feeling fine, Belly.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Like a rock.” He picked up one of the papers. “So I added a few things to the list for today, so I can—”
“Go into the office and do administrative work that only requires you to sit at your desk?” Isabel asked, interrupting him. “That sounds like a fantastic idea, Grandpa.”
He let out a grumble and dropped the list back onto the table. “I can do things other than paperwork.”
“I’m sure you can. Another day.” She patted his shoulder as she went deeper into the kitchen to grab some orange juice and a muffin for breakfast. “But today, you’re going to follow the doctor’s orders and take it easy. You’re lucky I’m not cutting you off from working altogether.” She pointed at him. “Be grateful I’m letting you go into the office at all.”
He pointed back at her. “I don’t think I like this Bossy Belly.”
“Tough. I don’t like seeing you in the hospital, Grandpa, and we’re going to do what we have to in order to avoid that.” She sat across from him with her juice and muffin. “I’m not saying you can’t ever do the more physical stuff. You can, but right now, you need time to let your body recover from the heart attack. If you give it the time and care it needs now, you’ll be better off down the road.”
Grandpa’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I hate it, but I know. It’s hard to go from giving a thousand percent to only giving nine hundred ninety-nine percent.”
“You’re going to give less than that, Grandpa. I mean it.” She pointed at him again and he reached over the table to slap at her finger.
“Okay, okay, but you can’t do everything on this list by yourself either.” He tapped the list on the table. “You’ll wear yourself down too.”
A knock sounded on the door and Isabel popped up from her seat. “I’m not going to be by myself.”
She jogged to the door, Blaze on her heels and ready to greet their visitors. When she opened the door, Jackson had his arms braced on the frame and she was treated to another outstanding view of his muscles. She would have attacked him right then and there, but her grandfather was behind her in the kitchen and Jackson had an entire troop of people behind him.
“Morning,” he said. “I found these hooligans milling about. They’re ready to take orders and get their hands dirty.”
“You guys are the absolute best.” Isabel stepped aside, allowing them all to enter, exchanging greetings as they passed by her.
“Small-town life is about helping your neighbors,” Christian said after they’d all said hello to Grandpa too.
“Plus he owes me for all the help I’ve given him at the farm,” Jackson said.
“This is true.” Christian slapped Jackson on the back. “I also thought you folks could benefit from my brute strength for any of your more strenuous tasks.” He widened his stance and gave them all a bodybuilder pose.
Isabel laughed at how Nicole’s gaze roamed over her fiancé. “Am I going to find you two sneaking off to make out?”
“We already made out this morning.” Nicole grinned, but she didn’t take her eyes off Christian.
“And since when do we have a once-a-day makeout rule?” Christian grabbed Nicole around the waist, dipped her low, and planted a loud smooch on her mouth.
“God, were we that ridiculous when we were engaged?” Landon asked Aliza.
“Yes!” everyone except Jackson and Isabel answered.
“Oh, okay.” Landon slid his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Just checking.”
“Let’s get these clowns started on something,” Jackson said. “Otherwise they’re going to drive us crazy.”
“Careful how you talk to the help,” Donovan said.
Grandpa held up the to-do list. “Everything that needs doing is here.” He gave the list to Jackson then rested his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “I sure do appreciate you all coming here to pitch in.”
