Page 24

The three dogs are set free, and they immediately run around and jump all over each other. Miles hangs back out there to throw them tennis balls, and the rest of us head inside where it’s warmer.

“Where’s Mimi?” Dahlia asks with a pout.

“She’s going to be here any second, her mama just called me from the car,” Autumn explains.

She claps her hands some more, and runs over to the toy kitchen in the corner of the room. They keep lots of toys around for whenever they babysit Miles’ niece and nephew. I think it’s the sweetest thing, considering that only happens once or twice a month.

Autumn and I catch up for a couple minutes, talking about work and how she’s feeling. The answer is very, very pregnant, and sore, and tired, unfortunately. Miles has been working less to be there for her when she needs, which I’m grateful for. He gets a hundred extra points. It’s more than I usually give out at a time, but Autumn is worth a million. Anyone that treats her the way she deserves is pretty high in my ranking.

I make a note to come over more often and check on her these next few months. The more support, the merrier, and I don’t have so much going on in my life that I can’t make time to do that.

There’s a lot of screaming, jumping, laughing, and hugging when Vic’s family walks in. Her husband greets us all with apolite smile and a nod, and then Autumn points to the backdoor. He goes for it quickly, leaving the girls to their chaos. He and Miles were fast friends, which is extremely convenient for us on days like today.

It’s too bad for them that I won’t be adding a third guy to their little group someday.

Dahlia drags them over to said kitchen to show them how to properly cook chicken apparently, and they both watch her with rapt attention as she adds a plastic bottle of ketchup straight into the plastic frying pan.

I hug Vic, and give her a quick peck on the cheek. She pulls on a strand of my hair.

“Girl, I swear this is even longer than it was the other week. Who are you?”

“I don’t know, but I really like it.”

“So do I,” Autumn adds. “You have the prettiest curls.”

“We all know you have a thing for curly hair,” I tell her and I swear she blushes.

It’s not news anymore!

Gosh, she’s cute.

I look at Vic and laugh, but I notice something that shuts me up.

At least for a second.

“Victoria! Are those hickeys?” I gasp.

Then all three of us glance over at the children to make sure none of them heard me. I could have thought that one through before saying it so loudly. Oops.

“I’m a married woman, don’t act so scandalized.” She pulls up her shirt to hide the purple marks above her breasts. “My parents had the kids last night and we used our time wisely.”

“Wise would’ve been making those a little further down, you know? Was he expecting you to wear nothing but turtlenecks for a while?”

She laughs, and we follow her to sit down at the barstools in the kitchen. There are snacks laid out for everyone, and a box of Pepsi.

Have I mentioned how much I love Autumn?

I help myself as I listen to the other two continue chatting.

“You might be right, there wasn’t much wisdom involved. My legs are so sore today, I can barely walk. I should’ve thought that one through a little better.”

“Good for you guys,” Autumn says. “Glad you’re still able to find the time.”

“And you? How watered is your garden?” Vic asks.

There she goes blushing again, being all sweet and shy about it. She’s not a prude by any means, but Vic and I are definitely the vocal ones in this group.

“Very. I thought…” She clears her throat. “I thought that a lot less would be possible at this stage, but he’s very creative.”