Page 16 of Crewe (Nelson’s Honkytonk Saloon & Bar #3)
Chapter Sixteen
R y had wondered who would be taking their picture. She hoped it wasn’t her because she wanted to be in the pictures.
Since they’d left the pizza place where she’d overindulged, Crewe hadn’t stopped touching her. He either had his hand along her waist or was holding her hand. A couple of times, he brushed her hair out of her eyes when the breeze blew it in front of her face .
“Okay, people, there’s too much fun in Mistletoe Canyon for us to spend forever taking pictures because some cousins decide they want to be funny.
I’m warning you now, if you screw up my pictures by flipping the bird, making weird faces, or any other irritating thing you can think of—think again.
I have a list of nasty, disgusting chores tailored to each of your most hated tasks if you screw this up.
“Now, if you choose to be cooperative family members, then I also have surprises for everyone in these little sacks that I will burn in the hotel fireplace if the adult male Nelsons choose to ruin the picture. I want a large one over the fireplace at the apartment,” Vivi said, whining a little.
Ry was impressed because the cousins who had been dicking around stood up straight and all replied, Yes, Vivi .
Vivi walked over to where Whiskey was standing with their family, his arm sliding around her as they got situated .
A photographer on a platform looked through her camera and then had a couple of the guys move so she could see all their faces.
“Do you want to get a picture of you with the kids and then maybe one with all four of us?” Crewe asked.
“Alright—no talking and five, four, three, two, one,” the photographer said.
She glanced at her computer screen. “Okay, two more times.”
Ry smiled and didn’t answer Crewe. She wasn’t going to be the one who ruined the pictures. Once the photographer had a good shot, she had Vivi come approve it.
“I love my family. The picture is wonderful. She is happy to take any family photos, and then you can get your prize bags,” Vivi called.
Ry turned toward Crewe. “I’d like a picture of all four of us, just me with the kids, and then one of just you with the kids.”
Crewe grinned and led them over to the photographer. They were the first family to request one, so they were quickly done. Crewe took the kids over to get the gift bags, and Ry walked toward Ellie and Vivi.
Ellie grinned, pulled her close, and handed her a small white bag. “Vivi and I bought you something to give you some extra confidence tonight.”
“Yep, I’m positive Crewe’s tongue will drag the floor when he sees you. I bought one for Ellie and myself too. Our men won’t know what hit them,” Vivi said, chuckling.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, us women have to have each other’s backs. I believe we’re dancing at the clubhouse tonight. The Papas are having another kids’ movie night and sleepover. I think Burt, Peck, and Bill want you and Crewe to get together as much as Ellie and I do,” Vivi said.
Ry grinned. She didn’t mind a little help. Freya and Wyatt yelling for her to come had her saying goodbye to her friends and walking toward what she hoped was going to be her family forever.
She wasn’t going to open what the girls had gotten her. She didn’t need two little children asking questions she didn’t want to answer. She stuffed the bag in her combo purse/camera backpack. Seeing everyone around had her wanting to get a couple candid pictures.
Crewe was standing with the kids, patiently waiting on her.
“The kids want to go over and ride that train there. If it’s good with you, I’ll take them, and you can do what I can tell you’re itching to do—take some pictures,” he said.
“Perfect,” she said, watching Crewe hold the kids’ hands as he walked away. She hurriedly got her camera out and snapped some shots. The mountains in front of them and Crewe holding her babies’ hands gave her all the feels.
Once they’d gotten in line for the train, she turned to the rest of the group. She focused in and snapped a picture of Hennessy lifting Sutton above his head so his sons couldn’t reach the candy she was holding. The pure joy on Sutton and Hennessy’s faces had her needing to capture it on film.
The horse-drawn carriage was over on the other side of the park. The horses were waiting for their next passenger. Ry focused in on the way the light hit their manes to where the white almost sparkled.
Everywhere she looked, there were scenes to immortalize in film.
She focused in on Quinton, Halligan, McClure, Gaines, Schaefer, and Dillon, who had started an impromptu football tournament on the lawn to the side.
She snapped a great action shot of McClure tackling Halligan right as he caught the pass Quinton threw.
She chuckled because it was a good thing the group picture was done, as Halligan now had a huge amount of dust all over his shirt.
She wanted her kids to have what the Nelson cousins had.
Family always around. It wasn’t reason enough for a relationship, but with every fiber of her being, she was positive Crewe would always look out for her children.
After she’d had Freya and Wyatt, she’d told herself she’d never date anyone who wouldn’t make a good father for the kids.
And she hadn’t, but now she was at a crossroads, and it was time to saddle up.