Page 18

RiffRaff, six months later

“Daddy, look!” Callum exclaims as his line moves.

“You’ve got one on your hook. Do you remember what I told you about reeling it in?” I ask.

“Yes, sir,” he says, his little tongue sticking out as he carefully starts bringing the line closer to where we’re sitting at the dock.

I settle behind him, ready to help anchor him and assist with bringing in the line if needed, but he’s doing very well all on his own. Better than the boys did when they were his age, that’s for sure. Once he’s done as much as he can and I see him straining to pull the fish out of the water, I reach over and place my hand over his and say, “Let me help, bud.”

“Okay, Daddy. Won’t Mommy be surprised?” he asks, glancing back at me.

I chuckle because my wife, as well as Kimber, have zero interest in fishing. We tried, several times, but caught absolutely nothing whatsoever because Kimber squealed every time a fish splashed in the water which chased them all away.

Instead, both of them are out shopping with the ol’ ladies for a club barbecue this afternoon while I spend time with my youngest boy.

He’s adjusted really well to all the changes, but we still have him going to therapy. Actually, we’re all still adapting to being a family of four. Jilly and I didn’t waste any time going to the courthouse to get married, since I didn’t care for a big wedding, and she said she’d already had one of those and was okay with using the Justice of the Peace.

Instead, we had a huge reception at the clubhouse and spent the day eating, drinking, and dancing, before Brick and Ryleigh kept the kids and I spirited my wife away for a few days.

“Wow, Callum, look at this one, it’s definitely a keeper,” I tell him as I look at the fish currently flopping around in the net I used to grab it with. It’s at least a three-pound bass, which will filet and fry up quite nicely. I cut it off the line and put it in the cooler, then re-bait his hook. “Can you get a few more?”

“Yeah, I think I can,” he replies, grinning at me.

I ruffle his hair and settle back next to him, as we sit there and wait for the next fish to bite.

This right here is everything I’ve ever wanted but never expected to have.

Family.

Brothers.

Love .

We continue fishing, adding several more to the cooler before I call it a day so we can get back to the clubhouse, I can get them cleaned and prepped for grilling, and Callum can take a bath because right now, he smells like he’s been rolling around with the damn things.

“Let’s go show your mom what we did, okay?” I ask as I pack up the rods and make sure we didn’t leave any trash lying around.

“Yes! I need something to eat too, I’m starving,” he states, rubbing his belly.

I chuckle because like Brick was at that age, Callum has a hollow leg or something. He’s put on a little bit of weight, which he needed, but hasn’t hit a growth spurt just yet. I suspect it’s gonna happen pretty soon, though, based on how much more he’s been eating.

Jillian

“Don’t forget, Callum really likes snickerdoodles,” I say as Kimber starts pulling out the ingredients for cookies.

The other ol’ ladies and I are currently making all the salads and sides we need for today’s cookout. I’ve found over the past six months that these guys will celebrate pretty much anything at all. Today’s celebration is because Ryleigh and Brick found out they’re pregnant again.

RiffRaff just laughed and laughed then started whistling I’m My Own Grandpa while Brick glared at him. Because of our dynamics, I’m Brick’s stepmother, but he’s a big brother to both Kimber and Callum. Plus, RiffRaff and I are Aubree’s grandparents, which makes Kimber and Callum her aunt and uncle respectively. It may be confusing to others, but it’s my family and I love it. Every single chaotic moment of it.

“Me and Katie are gonna make them and also those sour cream cookies Dad likes.”

She started calling RiffRaff ‘Dad’ about three months ago and he preened like a damn peacock, knowing what an honor it was for her to do so. She says it’s because she didn’t want Callum to be confused, but I suspect it’s because her father’s betrayal cut her deeply, but I haven’t asked because if she wants to talk about it, she knows that she can come to me without any judgment.

“What can I do next?” Cora questions, handing over the peeled potatoes to Rory.

She’s turned out to be a good friend and has been coming to the clubhouse whenever we have a family event. So has Dr. Webber, who insists we call her Collette when we’re not at work. I’ve noticed that whenever either woman is around, there are two single brothers who aren’t too far away, never straying from their sides and are always within eyesight of them whenever my friends are around, but as I told RiffRaff, I’m not gonna meddle.

Nope, not me. Now the other ol’ ladies on the other hand? Well, they just might. It’ll be fun regardless.

“Um, we need the baked beans opened and put in the aluminum pans so we can doctor them up a bit,” Rory says. “Kimber, did you see Chloe on the cat tree?”

Kimber giggles and nods. “She, Calvin, and Hobbes have become the three musketeers and I imagine Sassy looks at the three of them and their antics and wonders what she must’ve done in one of her other lives to deserve their treatment of her.”

At that, we all bust out laughing just as Callum and RiffRaff come through the back door.

“Mommy! We caught a bunch of fish! Daddy’s gonna clean them so we can fry them for dinner!” Callum exclaims.

I stop what I’m doing and lean down so I can hug him then wrinkle my nose. “Maybe while Daddy’s cleaning the fish you should take a bath, sweetie, because otherwise, your big brother might mistake you as a fish!”

He giggles as Kimber comes over and holds out her hand. “C’mon, stinky boy, let’s get you cleaned up then you can help me and Katie make cookies, okay?”

“Best day ever!” he shrieks.

He’s adjusted so well that now Jo comes by just to visit as she’s signed off his case months ago. Sadly, right now she’s mourning the loss of her husband, so she won’t be here today, even though I extended the invitation. They weren’t able to have children together which is one of the reasons she became a social worker, but I don’t want her to bury herself in work. There’s still a lot of life left to live as I’ve found out myself.

Actually, I just want all my friends to be happy if I’m being totally honest. Grinning, I go and wash my hands again and end up in RiffRaff’s arms.

“Did you have fun, handsome?” I ask, looking into his eyes.

“He’s a better fisherman than my girls, that’s for sure,” he teases. Leaning in, he kisses me thoroughly.

“Tease,” I murmur against his lips.

“You and me, tonight, our bed,” he replies.

“Good thing that Callum and Kimber are spending the night at Katie’s house then, huh?” I reply, grinning.

“Yeah, you won’t have to be quiet.”

I snicker at him before he releases me so I can keep going. The guys have a pig on the huge smoker in the back, plus there’ll be other meats for those who don’t like barbecue, and now, apparently, fish.

“Love you, Jilly,” he whispers in my ear.

“Love you, too, handsome,” I tell him, nipping at his chin. At his surprised look, I simply say, “Foreplay,” in the tone that the actress used in The Cutting Edge when she tells the guy ‘Toe pick’.

As I go back to the worktable and pull the vegetables over to start peeling them for a veggie tray, I send a prayer to the heavens thanking God for my beautiful life. It’s not always perfect, but it’s just right for me, my husband, and my two kids.

And maybe another one or two in a few years, my mind whispers.

The end… for now