Page 18 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“Nothing,” her mother said.

“Yes,” she argued. “There is. What?”

“Just that I want you to be careful,” her mother said. “I can see the reaction on your face over everything. From his house to what is in cabinets. Your mind is on overdrive.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I thought I knew Coy so well.”

“You know him as Spencer’s best friend. You’ve talked to him multiple times over the years and have heard about him. But you don’tknowhim. You don’t know his likes or dislikes. You didn’t know how large his house was or that he might want a big family.”

“I want kids,” she said.

“I know you do. But I also know you’ve spent a lot of time in school and are eager for that too.”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” she said.

“No,” her mother said. “I think you’re the one that has things going through their mind like that. What I want you to do is focus on your new job. Nothing more. Don’t push other things. Don’t rush. If they happen, they do, but if they don’t, don’t be upset either. Remember, that was a young person’s fantasy and dreams. You’re a woman now.”

Angel blinked her eyes a few times. “Thanks for that,” she said. “Sometimes I think everyone forgets I’m a woman.”

“They would have if I let you attack your brother and father like you did as a teen, which is why I kicked them out. Your facesaid it all and I’ll give you a word of advice. You’ll need to control those things if you want to be looked at as more than Spencer’s baby sister in Coy’s eyes.”

6

SWEET AND REFRESHING

Coy wasn’t forgetting Angel was a woman when he returned home at five and Spencer’s family was still there.

He’d been hoping they were, as he enjoyed Spencer’s parents as much as he enjoyed spending time with his.

“Hey,” Coy said, walking out on the deck. They were all sitting there relaxing with what looked like slices of cake in front of them. “What’s that and where’s mine?”

“It’s a cake I picked up from the bakery,” Angel said. “I’ll get you a slice.”

“I can do it,” he said. “Is it in the fridge?”

He hadn’t really looked at his kitchen when he walked in. Rather came in from the garage and out to the main area to see where everyone was.

He had no problem with them being in his house without him here.

Spencer was like a brother to him and he’d let any of his siblings or their spouses in his house at any time.

“Yes,” Angel said.

“Can I get anyone a drink while I’m in there?”

“I’ll take a beer,” Spencer said.

No one else wanted anything so he went in and found the cake, opened the box, and cut a slice to put on a plate.

He got two beers and poured his into a glass and brought Spencer’s out in the can to put his in his glass out there.

The doors to the deck were wide open. The weather was beautiful on the last day of August. He got a nice breeze off the water and liked that he didn’t need his AC on all the time.

Angel stood up fast when he got there and pulled the can of beer out of his hand that he was gripping with the glass of beer he had.

“Thanks,” he said.

“No problem,” she said, handing it over to her brother.

---