“Sounds perfect.”
?
I wake up to a familiar little giggle and a startle. I open my eyes to see four adult children, Jade, Ryan, and Tessa’s parents.
“Hi, Daddy,” Ava whispers as she walks to the opposite side of the bed that Tessa is now sliding off of, looking completely bewildered.
“Hello, Ava.”
She bends over and kisses my cheek, and a tear falls.
“I’m okay. Don’t cry.”
Logan walks up beside her and looks at me.
“Hey, Logan.”
“You …” He swallows hard then continues, “You scared me.”
“I just wanted to see which one of you would get here fastest. Looks like a tie.”
“She had an advantage.” He nudges Ava. “I would’ve been here.” He looks at Tessa then quickly away.
She clears her throat. “Does anyone want a drink? I’m going to get a drink. Ava, Logan?”
“And so it begins.” CJ walks up, puts his hand on Tessa’s shoulder, and kisses her cheek.
“What begins?” Tessa asks.
“Well, the way I see it, if you end up … well, you know, with Lucas, Logan is the baby, so he’ll get more toys at Christmas.”
Matthew walks to her other side. “And more attention.” He kisses her cheek.
“Oh, and add to it that he’s a hotshot football star,” CJ groans.
“That may work in our favor, you know.” Matthew chuckles. “Think of the women he’ll toss aside that we can pick up after him.”
“Boys,” Tessa whispers a warning.
“What, Mom? It’s already happening.” CJ chuckles.
“I’d say you’re already well underway.” Matthew looks at Ava and Logan. “They tell us to behave and check them out—one date, and they’re already in bed together.”
They all laugh.
“Yeah, Daddy, what’s up with that?”
Logan smiles. “You need any condoms?”
The room goes silent, and Logan’s face starts to turn red.
Then, out of nowhere John laughs louder than I’ve ever heard him laugh.
Tessa and her boys look at him like he’s crazy.
Tessa shrugs. “My dad’s sitting here, stoned out of his mind.”
The room becomes loud as everyone tosses around jokes. Logan is even at ease.