Page 27 of Too Much In Common
“I knew back in the day they did—”
“Back in the day? Careful, Johnson, you are going to make me feel old. I’ll have to ask Alan to take you down.” Fighting her husband would be a fair fight. He’d sparred with Alan before.
“I thought you took care of your own fights?”
“I am on desk duty for the next six months, before I semi-retire or change job titles. ‘Mom’ has a nice ring to it.”
News the entire office had been waiting for. The failed fertility treatments hadn’t been a secret. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you. You should get to the gym. Melanie and Abbie are already downstairs.”
Chris opted to run down the stairs to the private gym and training area. To his surprise, Abbie was sparring with a man in safety gear. Her next move landed him on the mat.
“You lose.”
“You cheated.” The man removed his red foam sparring helmet. Judging by his facial features, he was obviously a Hastings, possibly a cousin, but one Chris hadn’t met.
Abbie captured the man in a headlock and tousled the man’s hair. “Oh, baby brother, that California living has made you soft. Sure you can’t stay for class?”
“No. My princess awaits.” He nodded at Chris. “It looks like you have help.”
Abbie turned. “Johnson, right?”
Chris nodded.
“This is my brother, Andrew. He is too chicken to stick around for class.”
“Careful, sis, or I’ll give your boys sugar-coated sugar-bomb cereal for breakfast.” The threat against Abbie’s triplets was probably idle, but he’d seen the three-year-olds in action when Candace had taken her own son, Peter, for a playdate. Sugar was the last thing those bundles of energy needed. Andrew extended his hand. “Nice to meet you. In case no one has told you, watch out for my sister.”
“Ha ha.” Abbie launched a roundhouse kick to Andrew’s posterior that lacked any force.
“Pardon my kids. I thought now that they had children of their own, they would all grow up. Obviously, I was wrong.” Smile lines crinkled at the corner of Melanie Hastings’ eyes. “We met last summer.”
“Yes, we did.”
“ZoElle gave me strict instructions that there is one student in this class whom you are not to help or touch. I assume you know who I am talking about?”
The condition was news to Chris. “Since I only know one person, yes.”
“Good. I’ll try to not make it obvious. Alex will also assist this afternoon.”
After Alan, Alex was the only other Hastings brother to work full time. Even so, his presence was unexpected.
“Have you ever helped with one of these classes before?” asked Abbie.
“Last spring.”
“The class is pretty basic. We will demonstrate various scenarios and the students will practice on the sparring dummies. I’ll ask you to do things like steal my purse, etc. Got it?”
“Okay.”
“You should pad up,” said Melanie. “Abbie doesn’t go easy.”
“Sure?” The question in his voice contradicted the answer. The rumors couldn’t be true. Her brother must have let her win the sparring match he’d witnessed.
* * *
“In review, what is your goal?”
