Page 55 of That Time in Venice
Chapter20
Anika didn’t havethat heart to heart with Reed. She kept putting it off and putting it off, and the next thing she knew, it was Sunday afternoon and she was standing in hiscousin’syard.
The Stewart men were a good-looking lot. She didn’t know what they were eating up in Oklahoma, but it resulted in three very handsome men, all with dark hair and greatphysiques.
Reed was in what appeared to be an intense conversation with Ransom, the eldest and chef of a local restaurant. He was currently busy at the outdoor kitchen cooking up a meal for the entire crew gathered in his backyard. Earlier the men had played a game of flag football, with the children participating and getting in the way with their utter disregard for the rules. They threw themselves on the grass and rolled around, and eventually the rules were abandoned altogether. At some point Reed lifted Ryan’s son, Ryker, in the air with the ball, and they called themselves the champs. An argument ensued. She still didn’t know who had won the game and was pretty sure neither didanyoneelse.
The rest of the group consisted of Ransom’s younger brother Ryan, in the process of blowing up an inflatable movie screen for the animated film they planned to show later. His youngest son, almost two, played with colorful plastic toys near his feet. Shawna, Ryan’s wife, lounged in a chair on the lawn, dividing her attention between talking to her husband and watching her older son and daughter jump on the trampoline withBrielle.
“Hi, there. Welcome to our home.” Sophie, Ransom’s wife, approached Anika, who lingered at the refreshments table, sipping from a glass oflemonade.
Sophie had amber-toned skin and wore her thick hair in a loose bun on her head. “Sorry I couldn’t meet you earlier, but I was on the phone and then had to feed mylittleguy.”
“How old isyourson?”
“Only a few months. I’m still getting used to being a mommy.” Shebeamed.
“You must be exhausted,” Anika saidpolitely.
“He’s a handful, and I am exhausted, but it’s a good kind ofexhausted.”
Every mother said the same thing. No matter if they stayed up all night and struggled the next day from lack of sleep. No matter if there didn’t seem to be enough minutes in the day to work, engage with their partner, and handle the burping, feeding, and changing of diapers. They all made it sound as if being exhausted and lacking time and energy was the bestfeelingever.
Sophie poured herself a glass of tea and took a sip. “Mmm, this is good. Speaking of handfuls, Ransom told me about your experience with Brielle and how you saved Reedoneday.”
“Oh, it was nothing.” She brushed away thepraise.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’ve never seen one of her tantrums, but I’ve heard they can be quite…energetic, and she’s hard to handle in thatstate.”
“Brielle is a sweet little girl and except for the tantrum, well-behaved,”Anikasaid.
“Do you have kids ofyourown?”
It was a simple question and one that she’d been asked before. Anika usually had a quick, simple answer: No. But today of all days, being asked that amongst this close-knit family, with everyone playing and laughing together, the reality of her situationhithome.
At eighteen years old, she’d been in agony from cysts that had taken over her ovaries. Three different doctors came to the same conclusion: she needed to have her ovaries removed. So no, not only did she not have children, she nevercould.
She turned away from Sophie for a moment so the other woman couldn’t see the pain that crossed her face. Tossing a crumpled napkin in the nearby trash, she said, “No kidsforme.”
“I don’t blame you. There’s no rush. Enjoy your freedom while you can.” Sophie laughed. “I love my little bear, but life has certainly changed with himaround.”
“Come and get it!” Ransom called. He and Reed carried trays of grilled meat and sides from the kitchen. Screaming children scampered toward the wooden table andbenches.
“Bon appétit,”Sophiesaid.
Anika sat next to Ransom, while Ryan, Sophie, and Reed sat on the other side of the table, with Sophie in the middle. Shawna sat with the children at the other table, holding her youngest onherlap.
“So my loser cousin said you guys met back in college?” Ransom inclined his head at Reed and reached for a piece of bread, deliciously pungent with garlic butter soakedintoit.
“I can hear you,”Reedsaid.
“Honey, be nice,” Sophie said to herhusband.
Ransom grinned without remorse and bit into thebread.
“We worked at the dining hall on campus,” Anikareplied.
“And she couldn’t keep her eyes off me,” Reedadded.
