Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“I’m going to need a sitter one day soon.” He winks.
“How about you leave both of the crumb snatchers with me and your mother, and you boys have a good time?” Dad offers.
“Mine’s not here yet. I can’t wait until we find out what we’re having.”
“Did Gabby finally decide to not keep us all in suspense?” I ask him.
“Yeah, she said she could wait, but nine months is a long damn time to wonder.”
“But it’s one of the true miracle surprises in life,” Dad comments.
“Did you know we were both going to be boys?” Chase asks.
“Yep.” Dad chuckles.
“Come and get it!” Mom calls out.
“Want me to take him?” I ask Chase.
“No. My time is limited. Once Grandma and Aunt Gabby get their hands on him, my time will be over.”
“You’re not getting out of this house until we’ve all had a turn,” Dad says, pointing at me. “This one,” he points at Chase, “is a baby hog.”
“Soon, there will be another, so more baby love to go around,” I remind him.
“Right. Like that’s going to make a difference. Until we have one for each of us, it’s going to be a battle.”
“Hold up, old man. You’re rushing that a little, don’t you think? Milo and I are flying solo.”
“Are you?” he asks, giving me a knowing look.
“Yes. Now let’s go eat before Mom comes in here and hits us all over the head with a frying pan.”
“I heard that.” Mom laughs as we enter the kitchen. “Make your plates and give me that baby.” She walks over to Chase with her arms out, ready to steal Milo.
“Fine,” he grumbles, kissing my son's fuzzy head before passing him over. “Hollis, good to see you,” he greets her.
“Hi, Chase.” She gives him a kind smile.
“Colt, can you show Hollis the refrigerator in the garage where all the drinks are?”
“Follow me,” I tell Hollis. “Sorry about that. I know my family can be overwhelming.”
“Not at all. It’s obvious how close you all are.”
“It was like this all the time growing up. I was a little worried about the dynamic when I decided to leave the service. However, I should have known better. It was always fine when I was home on leave, but that’s a week or so, not permanent.”
“I can see how you would worry, but not with your family. They’re great, Colton, really.”
“What about your family? Do you have any local?”
“No. Just me.” As she says this, something flashes in her eyes. Her body language tells me she doesn’t want to talk about it. I’ll leave it alone. For now.
“What would you like to drink?” I open the refrigerator door, and as always, Mom has it stocked with anything and everything you could imagine.
“Is that bottled root beer?” She leans in to get a better look, and I get a whiff of her perfume. I can’t place it, but it smells damn good.
“Yes. Chase and I loved drinking these when we were kids. I didn’t even know they made it anymore. Want one?” I ask her, grabbing one for myself.
“Yes, please.”
I reach in and grab another before shutting the door. “After you,” I say, nodding toward the door. Everyone is standing around the island, filling their plates with Mom’s pot roast. The conversation is flowing, and it’s taking a lot of effort to keep my cool when it comes to Hollis.
“What? You didn’t get us drinks?” Chase asks.
“You’re a big boy. Besides, Mom told me to show Hollis, not to wait on you.”
“I tell you. It doesn’t matter how old they get, they still bicker like ten-year olds.” Mom smiles fondly, shaking her head.
“He started it.” Chase points to me and sticks out his tongue, making us all laugh.
“Is this what I have to look forward to?” Gabby asks.
“If you have more than one, yes,” Mom answers.
“Let’s see how we do with this one.” Gabby rubs her small baby bump, wearing a smile.
“So, Hollis, tell us about you. What do you do?” Dad asks her.
“Here we go,” I mutter. “You don’t have to answer.”
“I don’t mind. I’m in graphic design. I do websites and company branding mostly. I work independently since it’s all electronic.”
“You kids and these computers, I tell you. I can’t keep up.”
“Mom, you sound like you’re eighty,” Chase jokes.
“I can do what needs to be done, but that design stuff, I don’t know how you do it.”
“You’re not supposed to, dear. We’ll leave all that high-tech stuff to the offspring. We just need to worry about spoiling those grandbabies of ours,” Dad says.
The night couldn’t be better. Hollis fits right in as if she’s been a member of my family for a lifetime. I admit as I sit here, listening to her and Gabby talk to Mom about Gabby’s baby shower, I wonder what it would be like if she were mine. What if she was more than just a tenant or a friend? I can see us here for Mom’s monthly dinners and at home together with Milo. I can see it all, and I confess, it’s enticing.