They just didn’t know it yet…
“It’s going to be great,” Reardon assured me for the gazillionth time. “They already adore you, now they’re going to absolutely love you.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking out the window in hopes of a tornado or something.
“Mom, calm down, Uncle Rob and Aunt Jenny are the coolest,” Chris chimed from the backseat.
“I’m calm,” I lied.
“Okay,” was his sarcastic reply.
Chris had taken the news of being a big brother, again, in stride. He seemed perfectly happy that Reardon and I were together, and was already head over heels for Evie, so he welcomed the idea of another baby with open arms. He’d even asked if that meant Reardon and I’d be getting married.
I’d put a pin in that for now. I could only handle one life-changing event at a time.
“So,” Chris began, his head popping up between the front seats, “are we going to move into Rear’s house, or is he moving in to ours? Not that it really matters, since we’re right around the corner.”
“Um,” I began, not sure what to say.
“Either would work, for now,” Reardon answered, and I swung my head toward him. “But eventually we’ll need to get something bigger. We have enough rooms for one baby, but if we decide to have more, we’ll need to expand. Plus, I’m not sure how your mom would feel about having my Star Wars collection in her office.”
“Um,” I said again.
“We could always move out by Gabe and Zoey, find some land and build custom, or stay in the subdivision. They have some new four and five bedrooms being built.”
“Dad and Zoey’s place is cool, but I kind of like where we are, since there are kids and I have friends already and stuff,” Chris put it.
“Um…”
“That settles it then, we’ll stay in Copper Woods and get one of the bigger houses,” Reardon turned his head to me and asked, “Do you want to wait, or just do one move?”
I was sure my mouth was gaping like a fish, opening in closing, as I sat there in a stupor.
Why did moving in together never cross my mind? I mean, he’d mentioned wanting to get married one day, but we haven’t discussed living together.
“We don’t have to decide today,” Reardon assured me with a sweet smile.
“Jeez, Mom, get a grip,” Chris chided from behind me.
I lost my chance to say something witty in return, because we pulled up to the Lewis’ home and I had something new to fret over … again.
Reardon came around and opened my door for me, then took my hand and assisted me out. I would have smiled at his chivalry, which I always appreciated, but I was too busy watching the front door open and his mom step out onto the porch.
Nerves made my hands shake, which Reardon must have felt, because he leaned in and whispered, “I love you.”
I smiled and told myself everything was going to be great, then let him lead me up to his mother, who was already hugging a happy Chris and letting him inside.
“Hello, Chloe, son, I’m so happy you’re both here,” Jenny said sweetly, giving us both quick hugs and kisses on our cheeks. “Come in, dinner’s almost ready.”
“Thanks for having us, Mrs. Lewis. Christopher has been excited all day,” I said as we entered the house. “He’s still raving about your meatloaf.”
“Such a sweet boy, our Christopher,” she said, her compliment of my son warming me. “And, please, call me Jenny, dear.”
Reardon gave me a wink and thumbs up behind her back, then took off in search of his father.
I surmised this when I heard, “What’s up, Pop,” from the other room.
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked as I followed her to the kitchen.