“She went to feed your sister,” Joni explained.
The boy nodded.
“Mom, can we eat?” the other boy asked, directing his question to Darcy.
Darcy sighed. “Didn’t you have a snack to hold you over?”
“I had three snacks,” he said. “I need a hamburger. Or five.”
“I’m doomed,” Darcy said. “Two hungry children—“
“Three,” the dark-haired boy corrected. “I’m starving, too.”
“I could eat,” I added. “I’m pregnant. Are you going to starve a pregnant woman?”
Darcy glanced at me and grinned. “You’re going to get along great with us.”
“Zip!” Joni called out. “Light the barbecue!”
“You got it, babe!” he called back.
“Where’s Lily?” Joni asked. “She promised to bring me back a snack.”
“I think I saw her go inside,” one of the boys said.
“Shit,” Darcy said, jumping up from her chair. She rushed inside and a moment later, I heard her shout, “Lily! What did you do?”
“Yikes,” Joni said. “That doesn’t sound good.” She struggled to get up.
“Stay,” I insisted. “I’ll go.”
“Bless you,” Joni said, settling back down.
“What’s that smell?” I asked, looking around.
“Tank,” Allison replied, glancing at the baby who sat on her lap. “He needs a diaper change.”
My eyes began to water and, due to my overly sensitive nose, I shot up out of my chair and made haste for the bushes.
“Poor kid,” I heard Joni say in between bouts of throwing up. “I remember what that was like.”
“Yay! Aunt Linden’s here!” one of the boys yelled. “Now we can eat!”
* * *
“Well, the sentiment was sweet,” Linden said with a smile.
Boxer rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you know how long and how hard I planned this?”
“I love you for doing it,” Linden said.
I sipped on the glass of orange juice as Slash’s fingertips teased my shoulder. I snuggled closer to him.
“I’m sorry about your cake,” Darcy said. “I had no idea what Lily had gotten up to.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Linden said as she forked another bite of cake into her mouth. “It’s still delicious.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” I said. “While we’re on apologies, I’m sorry I puked in your bushes.”