A squeal comes from Tyler when Aleah manages to finagle the hose from him. It’s his turn to run from the cold blast of water.
I look over my shoulder when the sliding glass door opens behind me to see Bryan, Charlotte, and their seven-year-old son, Parker, coming outside. Parker beelines it straight for the backyard. With only a year separating them, Tyler and Parker are as thick as thieves.
I once asked Bryan if it was strange having a half-brother so young. He said it was more strange that his child was only one year older than his half-brother.
“Gimme, gimme,” Charlotte says, coming straight for the sweet bundle lying on my chest, her arms already stretched out and her fingers wiggling.
Kissing the top of my daughter’s head, I gently lift her up to Charlotte.
I get up from my chair and walk over to the cooler, grabbing two bottles of beer by their neck and tossing one to Bryan. He catches it and twists off the top.
“Looks like baby fever is getting to Charlotte,” I comment when she begins cooing to Layla. “Should I be expecting another grandchild soon?”
“I’d say in about seven months.”
My head jerks around to look at a grinning Bryan.
“Holy shit, son!” Grabbing him by the back of the neck, I yank him forward into a back-slapping hug. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks, Dad.” His smile is full of pride, as it should be.
I walk over to Charlotte, who’s looking at both of us with her own proud smile.
“You’re already a great mother.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “My new grandchild will be blessed to have you two as parents.”
“Thank you, Spencer.” She looks down at Layla and lifts a hand to smooth a finger over her chubby cheek. “Maybe this one will be as close to Layla as Parker and Tyler are.”
“I have no doubt they will.”
“What did I miss?” Aleah says, coming up the three steps to the patio. Her shirt is soaked, but she doesn’t have a care in the world. “Everyone looks mighty happy up here.”
She comes to me, and I wrap an arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
“Looks like you’re going to be a grandma again,” I answer, unable to keep the laughter from my voice.
Aleah’s payback is a sharp pinch to my side. I laugh and let her go to rub the sore spot.
“You are so not funny,” she says, giving me the stink eye, which only makes me laugh harder. I love this woman to distraction. She knows just what to do to keep me young.
With a happy smile on her face, she moves to Bryan first and gives him a hug. She goes to Charlotte next, giving her a sideways hug since she’s holding Layla.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have another set of babies close in age!”
Charlotte laughs. “How about we make this the last set? Not sure how I’m going to be able to handle the morning sickness a second time, let alone a third.”
“Hey, we agreed on a baseball team, remember?”
Charlotte shoots Bryan a look that suggests he’s lost his mind. “No way am I doing this seven more times. You can carry the next one.”
We all laugh.
My eyes move back to Aleah as she takes Layla from Charlotte. As she looks down at our daughter, memories of a pregnant Aleah flash in my head.
A baseball team created by my filthy little tease and me?
Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that at all.