Page 71 of Your Soul to Keep

He grinned. “He complained incessantly about the other one, too.”

Gabe’s father came in through the back door. “Barbecue’s ready to go. Hello, Shae. How’re you doing, darlin?”

“Can’t complain, Brian. You look good.”

Gabe’s parents had never stood on ceremony. They invited all his friends to call them by their first names when we were yet teens.

Brian was, in fact, an older, thicker, and coarser version of the man beside me. Looking at Brian was a glimpse of how Gabe would look in 20 years.

I was not in the least disappointed.

Brian winked. “It’s all the rabbit food Maeve makes me eat.”

“I heard that!” Maeve called from the kitchen. “Are we not eating dead animals today?”

Brian scowled and fought the grin pulling at his mouth as he turned to me. “I’ve been marinating those steaks since yesterday and I made my own sausage. You’re going to love it. Even Maeve won’t be able to resist.” He lifted his chin and hollered back, “Woman, today you’re going to eat my meat.”

I choked, and Gabe spun away from his dad, giving him his back.

Brian groaned and covered his eyes. “My sausage.”

“Oh my God,” I wheezed.

Gabe sputtered, “That’s not better!”

“You’re traumatizing the children, Brian,” Maeve teased from the kitchen doorway, her hands on her hips.

“I’m going to check on my granddaughter.” Brian shook his head and dipped his chin as he headed for the kitchen, muttering, “I’m never going to live this down.”

Gabe laughed. “Not in this lifetime.”

Gabe tipped his chin down to meet my eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard him string that many words together at one time.”

“He’s quiet,” I agreed then laughed. “You are more like your mom.”

His eyebrows flew up. “Really?”

I nodded and laughed. “You and your mom both have this energy. You’re magnetic.”

He snorted. “Maybe that’s why we repel so many people.”

“Think of who those people are. It’s like you have a built-in asshole repellant.”

“True.” He looked past me at nothing. “Unfortunately, I need a lot of those assholes on my side for Dylan’s sake.”

I opened my mouth to ask for further details, but he cut me off.

“That’s enough of that. This is supposed to be a barbecue.”

“True. Let’s go into the kitchen and talk about your dad’s meat.”

Brian’s deep baritone sounded from the kitchen. “I heard that!”

Gabe helped Brian cart the steak and sausage outside, Dylan toddling along behind them. She clutched her Barbie by the hair, bouncing her along beside her. “Her walking, Daddy. Her walking just like Dylan.”

He smiled down at her. “She’s so fast! Fast like my Dilly-bar.”

My heart ached with such yearning it wiped the smile from my face and stole my breath.

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