Page 69 of Ever's Last

“Every word of it.”

“It’s my favorite story,” Lake, my other granddaughter, says.

“Mine too,” I agree. Always.

“Do you still love Auntie Skye?”

“As a friend. I was dumb. I should have been with grandma the first time, when she told me how she felt, but it took me some time to get there.”

“And grandma passed out when you asked her to marry you?”

“She did. Scared the heck out of us.”

“That’s not what you wanted to say,” River says, giggling.

“You’re right, it’s not.” I wink at her.

“The whole town went to Texas?”

“They did. I made a fool of myself. Ever told me to get off the floor and I thought she was going to say no.”

“She didn’t.”

“Darn right, she didn’t.”

“You almost swore again.” River giggles.

“Dad, did you swear?” Wren sits down, pulling Champ up on her lap.

“No, I did not.”

“He wanted to,” Lake tells on me.

“Kids these days, I tell ya,” I proclaim, laughing. Lark and Hawk join us as we chat until it’s time for the fireworks.

“And you and Uncle Brick fought because you were mad at each other?” Champ asks.

“No, I dared him and the money went to charity.”

“Who won the fight?”

“I let him win,” I wink at Champ.

“He telling you stories again?” Brick and Ariel join our group.

“Never.” I chuckle.

“He’s always spinning something.” Brick winks at the girls and they laugh.

“Were you mad at each other?” Champ asks.

“No, I could never be mad at Uncle Brick,” I roll my eyes and laugh.

“If you weren’t mad at each other then why did you fight him?” Lake asks Brick.

“I think it started as a joke. He called me about your grandma and we got into a little fun tiff. Told him we could take it to the cage.”

“I don’t think that’s how it went,” I say.