Somehow, Moira and I end up at the back of the pack, strolling leisurely next to one another. I have an inexplicable urge to slip my fingers through hers, but I don’t.
“You’re quiet all of a sudden,” she says.
“I was just thinking about how much I’m enjoying myself,” I tell her. “I’ve needed a break for a long time, and this is just what the doctor ordered.”
“You’re not bored? I’d think Friday nights in L.A. would be a lot more exciting.”
I shake my head. “Most of my Friday nights are spent at home by myself watching sports or at the office trying to put out whatever fires my clients are starting. Sometimes literal fires.”
Moira laughs. “Your job sounds so much more interesting than mine.”
“If by interesting, you mean insane, you’re right.”
“But there must be some parts that are glamorous, right?” she asks. “Upscale restaurants, nightclubs with A-list celebrities…”
“It was fun for a while, but I’m totally over that part of my life. Wild nights out get old.”
“I could see that,” she says. “Although in my case, I can count all the wild nights out I’ve had on one hand, so they still hold a lot of appeal.”
Passing by a small bookshop, Moira stops in front of a window display of James Patterson’s latest. “That’s going to be you soon.”
My pulse races at the thought of being a bestseller, then I remember that blinking cursor on my screen all week waiting for me to type the first sentence. “I have to write the book first.”
“You’re going to find your groove, and before you know it, your great life will only get better.” She sounds far more confident in my abilities than I am.
Staring into her blue eyes, I suddenly long to tuck her hair behind her ear and lower my lips to hers. There’s something in her expression that suggests she might not mind me doing that. Or is that wishful thinking?
Thankfully, before I can act on such an impulse, Digger calls out, “Come on, you two!”
Moira jolts and her feet immediately answer the call to action. I’m left wondering if we were really on the verge of a moment, or if I just made that up.
Chapter9
Moira
The boys are sitting at the breakfast table, eating waffles faster than I can cook them. The kitchen is an absolute mess, what with the cupboard doors and drawer fronts gone. Digger disassembled everything yesterday and took them out to the garage to sand them and prep them for painting. Glancing at the clock, I realize he and Ethan will be here in about half an hour.
“I’m next!” Colton shouts out as Wyatt shoves his plate in my direction.
“No, I’m next!” Ash nudges past him.
“I’m next,” I tell them in my best no-nonsense mom voice. “I made each of you two waffles already and if you want more, you can make them yourselves.”
“What?” they gasp in unison. “You never let us cook,” my oldest says.
“About that,” I tell them. “Things are going to change. I can’t keep up on everything that I need to do and I’m not about to raise three sons who expect the women in their lives to take care of them. As of today, you three are in training.”
“Sweet!” Colton shouts while Ash and Wyatt exchange worried glances.
I open the lid to the waffle maker and put the offering on my plate. Then I push the recipe book in their direction. “Grandma Adele’s specialty. Follow the directions and if you have any questions, just ask.”
I watch them closely as they measure out ingredients and fight over the whisk. Having sons is hard, but it’s a lot tougher when you’re a control freak like I am. Once I’m done eating, and the boys are elbow deep in making the rest of their breakfast, I get up and walk into the entry hall and pick up all the mail that came in over the week.
Sitting back at the table, I sort bills, coupons, and other sundry missives. The last envelope I open is from Wyatt’s coach, Dalton Phillips. I wonder what he wants. I pull out a single sheet of paper and read carefully as a pit the size of the Grand Canyon starts to form in my stomach.
“Wyatt, why didn’t you tell me about this fundraiser your baseball team is part of?”
My son spins around on his heels, flinging waffle batter through the air. “I totally forgot! Isn’t it cool? The team that raises the most money gets free tickets to a Dodgers game, and we even get a tour of the dugout!”