Page 25 of The One I Want
“We could have caught up over a beer. That would have been better.”
We set the bed frame down so we can start moving the mattress and headboard onto it. “So what’s new? You know, since we’re catching up.”
I see him try to hold back a smile, poorly.
“What’s her name?”
“What do you mean, what's her name?”
“Oh little brother,” I say as I connect the headboard to the frame. “I might have been out of the dating game for the past fifteen years, but I don’t think the look a man gets when a woman is kicking his ass ever changes.”
Luke shakes his head. “It’s nothing.”
His mouth is saying one thing, but his smile is saying something else. Which is interesting. Luke has never been shy about his exploits.
“Fine. Let me know when that changes. I’d like to meet the woman who has my brother smiling like that.”
I hear a gasp behind us. I turn to see my mother standing in the doorway, holding one hand over her heart, and the other over her mouth.
“There’s a woman? Luke Michael! Why didn’t you tell me?”
I hold in a laugh as my brother whips around to stare at me with bugged out eyes. “Take it easy on him, Mom. He’s had a rough day moving furniture.”
Luke walks past me and slaps me on the back. “Thanks, man.”
I laugh as Luke walks out. “Hey Mom,” I say, walking over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “What are you doing here? Kids downstairs?”
If I were to tell you a million things about my mother, all but one of them would be how and why she’s the best person in the world. The one thing that isn’t positive? She can’t lie for anything. Some say that’s a good thing. The problem is that you can read it on her face, so when she’s trying to be sneaky, you know immediately something’s up.
And right now? Something is very up.
“Where are the kids, Ma?”
“They aren’t here.”
“What? Where are they? How could you leave them alone?”
She crosses her arms. “Do you really think I would leave my grandbabies alone?”
“Well, they aren’t here! Everyone who could watch them is here. And despite the fact that she runs the household, Emerson cannot watch both kids alone. So tell me, Ma, where are my children?”
“With Betsy.”
I feel my eyes start to pop out of my head. “Betsy?”
Betsy? I know I should be thinking about if she’s able to handle the three kids, but for some reason, all I can think about is her damn smile. The smile that kept me up too many nights for my liking.
I start to storm out of the room, but Mom steps in front of me.
“Don’t go flyin’ off the handle and stomping out of here like you have a rocket up your behind. They’re just fine.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I have a sense about these things. Plus, Emerson’s there.”
“That’s all well and good, but Mom, still, you can’t leave the kids with her.”
“And why not? What’s the matter with Betsy? Or my judgment, for that matter?”
