Page 13 of More Than A Fixer-Upper (Hope Runs Deep #13)
Rosalie
The days fly by as I spend every waking moment cleaning. My body aches in places I didn’t know could ache. Right now, I’m soaking in a hot tub, trying to coax my muscles into relaxing. I close my eyes and sink deeper, letting the water rise to my chin. I’m completely submerged, finally still.
Then comes the banging.
“Mom! We’re going to be late!” Winnie yells from the other side of the door before barging in.
“God damn it, Winnie!” I jolt upright, knocking over my glass of sweet tea and sending my Bluetooth speaker flying into the water. It’s not waterproof. Of course.
“The party isn’t for three hours,” I groan.
“Hailey wants me there early,” she says, standing in front of me in shorts that barely qualify as clothing and a crop top that’s more bra than shirt.
“Change your clothes or you’re not going,” I say, fishing the speaker out of the tub. She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “I can see your ass cheeks, and your bra is barely covering your under boob. Change. Now.”
She stomps off, leaving the bathroom door wide open. I sigh and climb out of the tub, moving to the shower. The hot water helps, but I still curse birth control companies under my breath. Abstinence may be foolproof, but college hormones don’t care about logic.
I take my time getting ready. Tonight, I’m meeting members of Gerald’s wife’s family and parents of the kids my children will be going to school with. I don’t want to mess this up for them. Small towns have long memories, and one bad impression could make us outcasts.
When I finally walk downstairs, Drew and Winnie are midargument. I don’t know if it’s a sibling thing or a twin thing. They stop when I reach the bottom step.
“Are you ready to go? Gerald sent me the address, so we should be able to find it easily,” I say, sighing.
“Mom, are you feeling okay?” Drew asks, concern in his voice.
“I’m just tired and sore. It’s been a long week and a half.” I walk through the kitchen and into the garage. Winnie bounces into the back seat. Drew takes the front it’s their turn taking system to avoid fights. I crack my neck as I back out.
“If you want to drop us off and go home to rest, you can,” Winnie says, leaning forward. “Chase and Seth will be there, and Gerald too. One of them can bring us home.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want me at this party?” I ask, following the navigation voice.
“No. I just don’t know if there’ll be other parents there besides family. I don’t want the other kids to think we’re babies.”
I get that.
“How long is this party supposed to last?”
“Hailey said until dark. They’re doing a fire, s’mores, sparkles the whole thing.”
I think about it as we drive. When we pull up to the beautiful two-story home, I’m struck. I’ve lived in group homes, dorms, and apartments. This kind of house feels like something out of a movie.
Hailey comes running out, waving. She hugs Winnie immediately, then stretches out her hand to Drew.
“I know we’re not at the hugging stage I’m a hugger, by the way so we can shake hands, fist bump, or high five for now,” she says with a grin.
Drew looks like a squirrel caught in headlights. He fist bumps her.
“I can tell we’re going to be friends. I heard you’re working with Uncle Chase and Uncle Seth before school starts. I do that sometimes too. It’s so much fun.” Her smile is infectious. I’m grateful she’s the first person my kids meet here. She’s exactly what they need.
“Hi, Miss Rosalie,” she says, coming over to hug me. I hug her back.
“My mom’s inside, but my dad went to get my grandma. She can’t wait to meet you.” Hailey links arms with me and walks us into the house.
As we step inside, I can’t help but glance around for a black truck.
Something about Chase makes me want to know him better.
But after Randall… Can I really let someone in again?