Page 22 of Campaign Season (By Design #18)

“No,” Candace agreed softly. “But he never stopped telling that story.”

For a moment, the heaviness lifted. The memory—warm, ridiculous, alive—threaded them together in a way that only family stories could.

“He was happy to be here this week,” Candace said. She hadn’t planned to mention Lucas, but the words found her anyway. She sighed. “He said something to me when I walked him upstairs last night.”

Silence hovered.

“He said, ‘I can’t wait to see him.’ Lucas.” Her voice caught, but she steadied it. “He was smiling.”

Marianne sniffled.

“He was ready,” Candace told her children gently. “He wanted to leave you while you were laughing—a good memory. It meant a lot to him to have this year with all of you.”

“Neither of you ever talks about it—our brother,” Jonah said.

Candace nodded. “We should have. Neither of us knew how, Jonah. It’s a pain I can’t really explain—losing a child.

We laugh now about you hiding under that clothes rack.

And your dad laughed later, too. But in that moment, when he couldn’t find you, he was terrified.

” She smiled faintly. “Your dad loved you. More than he always knew how to show. I know this much—he was proud of all of you.”

She cleared her throat and stood. “It’s been a long day. Tomorrow will be longer still.” A wink softened her words. “Sugar-hyped kids, no doubt.” She reached for Jameson’s hand. “Come on. We’ll put them down.”

“Mom, you don’t need to—” Marianne began.

“No. We can do it,” Scott added.

“Sit down, Scott,” Candace said firmly, though her smile softened the edge.

Jameson leaned down, scooping Avery into her arms.

“Brody,” Candace said, “you and your sister and JJ need to brush your teeth.”

Their collective groan earned a raised brow.

“Okay, Nana,” JJ said, resigned.

Candace glanced at Jonah. “I’ll take Sophie.”

“She can sleep here for now,” Jonah said softly.

Candace smiled. “All right. Goodnight, then.”

“Mom, you and JD don’t need to leave,” Michelle said.

“Let us make our exit gracefully,” Candace replied.

“Night, Mom. Night, JD,” Marianne said.

“We’ll see you in the morning,” Jameson promised.

Jameson followed Candace up the stairs.

Conspiratorial whispering filtered from the bathroom into the hallway. Candace giggled.

“I’ll put Brody down. You deal with the Three Musketeers in there,” Jameson said, gesturing to the bathroom.

Candace stepped into the doorway and cleared her throat. Three faces whipped toward her.

“Mm-hm. Toothbrushes?”

Brody held his up. “On it, Nana.”

Candace held back a laugh. “Do I want to ask what you three were plotting?”

“We were just gonna see if Coop and Spence could help us build a fort.”

“A fort?”

All three nodded eagerly.

Candace pursed her lips. “Brush your teeth.”

“Aw, Nana?—”

“If you want to build a fort, you’ll brush your teeth.”

JJ brightened. “You’re gonna help us?”

“If you brush your teeth,” Candace said firmly, biting back a grin as they all turned back to the sink.

She found Jameson in Jonah’s old room.

“Do I want to know?” Jameson asked.

“How do you feel about sleeping in a fort tonight?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve been asked. Spencer and Cooper seem to have passed that phase.”

“You want to sleep in a fort with the kids?”

Candace stepped into Jameson’s arms. “Yes.”

"All set, Nana!" Amanda announced, barreling into the hall.

Jameson shook her head affectionately. “Okay,” she said, raising her voice. “Grab your pillows and meet us in Nana’s room.”

“We’re sleeping with you?” Brody asked.

“Well, it’s the biggest room,” Jameson said. “Besides, I have a plan. Get your pillows.”

Candace arched a brow. “You have a plan, huh?”

“I do. You’d better invite Coop and Spence. They might pretend they’re too old, but they’ll never forgive us if we leave them out.”

Candace shook her head. “Just don’t use my good curtains this time.”

“I did that once!” Jameson protested.

“No curtains, Jameson!” Candace called over her shoulder as she headed toward Cooper’s room.

From below, Jonah looked up the stairwell, laughing.

“What on earth are they doing up there?” Melanie asked.

“Probably building a fort,” Marianne said.

“Now?”

“Probably,” Jonah agreed.

“JD almost got put in time-out last time she built one for Brody and Amanda,” Michelle said.

“Why?” Marianne asked.

“She used the curtains in the Lincoln Bedroom.”

A stunned beat of silence gave way to boisterous laughter.

“No way,” Laura said.

“Way,” Melanie confirmed.

“Cooper even told her it was a bad idea,” Michelle added.

Marianne laughed so hard that she wiped away her tears. “Did she get grounded?”

“No, but I’ll bet she didn’t get any Bible study for a few days,” Michelle teased.

From upstairs came Candace’s indignant cry: “Jameson! My mother’s quilt?”

“You said it was ugly!” Jameson shouted back.

The whole room dissolved into giggles until Marianne, catching her breath, said softly, “I’m so glad we’re all here.”

Jonah nodded. “Whose side do you think Dad would take?”

The answer came quick and sure. “Jameson’s.”

More laughter bubbled through, lighter now, warmer.

Upstairs, Candace leaned her forehead against Jameson’s shoulder as the kids tumbled around them with pillows.

"You okay?" Jameson asked.

Candace swore she heard Jonathan say, "Get the curtains, JD." She pulled away with a smile. "Let's see your plan."

Jameson scurried away to help the kids.

Candace shook her head. Give Lucas my love .

Already done, Candy. Already done.