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“I’m jealous that I won’t be here for it,” Zoey says.“Maybe I’ll come back, just for that.”
And so it goes for the rest of the evening.Banter and jokes and stories about football games played long before I was born.
I love it.Our two families get along better than I could have hoped for.Not that I thought they wouldn’t, but I was nervous.
And I see now that there was no need to be.
I glance up and find Rem watching me over the rim of his water glass.“Hey, Doc,” he says, “would you please pass me the potatoes?”
“Sure.”I pass the bowl to him, and he brushes his fingers over mine, sending a little thrill through me.And by the look in his eyes, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Doc?”Mom asks.
“The Seven Dwarfs,” I reply.
“I need to hear how this all came about.”Mom turns to Remington.“Spill it.”
He looks at me, and I nod.“Go ahead.”
“I used to go into the coffee shop every afternoon before I got the kids from school, and I saw Erin.I didn’t know her name.Over time, she’d acted like almost every one of the dwarfs when I’d been there.Sleepy and happy and even dopey.”
“I had a brain fart moment,” I interject.“Just to be clear.Plus, I’m adorable and lovable.”
Everyone nods, then turns back to Rem.
“Then, coffee spilled on my hand, and she fixed me up.So, I called her Doc.”
“And I call him Grumpy,” I add.“Because heis.Most of the time.”
“He’s been way less grouchy since you came to live here,” Johnny says, surprising me.“He laughs more.”
“And he gets to do stuff with us,” Holly adds.“Like take us out on the horses and stuff.”
“Well, I’m happy to hear that you like having Erin with you,” Mom says.“I have to say, this spontaneous trip was exactly what I needed.”
“We get to go on a trip, too,” Holly tells her.“When do we go, Grandma?”
“In just a few days,” Joy replies and turns to my mom.“John and I are taking the kids over to Spokane for a few days of shopping and eating in the city.”
“And we get to see Aunt Melissa,” Johnny adds.
“Oh, how fun,” Mom replies.“Maybe someday, you two would like to see Seattle.”
My gaze catches Remington’s again, and he’s simply watching me, listening to all the conversations going on around the table.Ryan and Brady are asking my dad a million questions about the team and being a famous football player.Chase, Millie, and Zoey are talking about crime, of all things.Which shouldn’t surprise me because I’m pretty sure my sister is going to pursue a career in law enforcement after she graduates from college this spring.
Ilovethe chaos and chatter happening around me.It reminds me of being with the rest of our family.
With everything else going on, this is exactly what I needed.
ChapterNineteen
Remington
Ineed a break from the chaos.Dinner with everyone went better than I hoped, and I enjoy Erin’s family, but I’m not used to the noise, and I just need a minute of solitude.
So, I sneak off while everyone’s digging into my mother’s chocolate cream pie and sit on the back deck, watching the sun set behind the mountains.
I’m falling in love with her.I’ve known it for a couple of weeks now, but I didn’t acknowledge it.Tonight, watching her with her family and with mine, the way she so seamlessly balanced both broods, kept conversations running smoothly, and helped Holly when my little girl accidentally spilled her juice, only reinforced what I’ve known for weeks.
