Page 40 of Family Forever
Dylan stood with Luke in his arms. Marissa surfaced in the living room and pulled the cushions from the couch, opened up the sofa sleeper and pulled the sheet back. Bending over, Dylan set Luke on the mattress, the kid never stirred, not even when Dylan, then Marissa, kissed him on the forehead and wished him a good night. Before he could even grab the blanket, Aunt Mitzi’s hands were gripping it and flinging it over his little brother.
She smiled warmly at the child. Tears glistened in her eyes. “He’s such a good boy.”
“He is, he’s such a joy to be around. They all are,” Marissa said as she reached over and squeezed his Aunt Mitzi’s shoulder.
Mitzi’s gaze bounced from Luke to Marissa and then zoned in on Dylan. “It’s good upbringing.”
“I do believe it is,” Marissa added.
Both women’s intense gazes bore into him. His cheeks heated. The two women he cared about most on this earth had just paid him the nicest compliment ever, yet he felt both apprehensive and embarrassed.
“You look tired, Dylan, but do you think you can stay awake a few more minutes to spend with your dear old aunt here.”
“I guess I’ll turn in,” Marissa stated, evidently picking up on the hint. She leaned toward his aunt. “Good night, Aunt Mitzi. Thank you for a wonderful day of shopping and buying me those sweaters. And also for teaching me how to pressure cook the venison. That was really nice of you.”
“My pleasure, dear. Rest well.”
Dylan followed his aunt into the kitchen, poured her a glass of wine, and pulled a beer from the fridge for himself. They sat at the kitchen table across from one another.
“I’m so glad you and Uncle Bob, and the girls were able to join us for Thanksgiving. And thanks for taking care of the venison today. That was a big help.”
“I’m happy to do it. I just wish we lived closer to you and the boys so I could help you out more. Not that you need it though. I see you have everything under control here. And for the record, I meant what I said in the living room a moment ago. You are doing a wonderful job with the boys.” She took a sip of her wine and leaned back in her chair. “And I see you even found some time to take on a little bit extra.”
He knew by her sly smile what she meant. How did she always know him so well? It's like she had a sixth sense when it came to him. “Well, I needed a nanny and someone to help with the household duties, and Marissa happened to need a place to live, so it worked out for both of us, all of us.”
“The boys seem to like her.”
“They do, especially the younger ones. They’ve really taken to her.”
His aunt slowly raised her wine glass to her lips while keeping her gaze fixed on him. A tinge of sass lit up her light brown eyes. She swished the liquid around in her mouth before swallowing, buying more time to conjure up her next statement he presumed. He also presumed she was on to him and was about to call him on it, no doubt.
“I have a feeling the eldest Jacobs brother may have taken to her as well, and she to him.”
A series of lies ran through his head but he knew it was of no use to use any of them to deny his feelings for Marissa, his aunt would see through him, she always did. His gaze landed on the floor.
His aunt’s warm hand covered his as it rested on the tabletop.
“Look at me, Dylan.”
He drew in a slow deep breath and met his aunt’s sweet, loving gaze.
“She’s not Tracy. Not every woman is going to feel the same way Tracy did, or this Lora, Marissa told me about. I understand that not every woman is cut out for this kind of life, both the farming and the large, ready-made family. But I see how Marissa looks at you. She’s a woman in love, and as for your brothers, she thinks the world of them as well.”
Dylan struggled for words. Deep down he hoped his aunt was right. He felt she was, yet apprehension still haunted him. His silence urged her to continue.
“She’s a nice girl, Dylan Jacobs, you may not want to be so quick to assume it won’t work out and toss this one back.” His aunt leaned back in her chair and took another sip of her wine. “So, what’s the real problem here?”
Her penetrating gaze stayed on him as she waited for some sort of response. He was tired of holding everything inside and he wanted to tell her, yet he didn’t. He had shared his feelings with his grandfather, and though the man couldn’t speak, Dylan knew what he thought, and he had a feeling he was going to get the same advice from his aunt, only this time verbally. But why should that surprise him, they were father and daughter.
He cleared his throat. “Part of it is that she’s so young, and I really don’t know if someone her age fully understands what they’d be getting into, entering a situation such as mine. I’m afraid after a while she'll come to realize how difficult it can be, and she’ll…” Dylan paused and kept his gaze on his aunt.
“Leave because it’s not really her family, her responsibility.”
He nodded. “It would be one thing to leave me, but to leave them, especially Luke, Nate and Braden. It would kill me for them to suffer another loss.” Dylan swallowed hard. “Or what would be even worse, is that she’d stay and grow to resent me and them.”
His aunt nodded. “I understand your concerns, but have you considered that maybe her love for you and your brothers is so strong she would welcome with open arms the challenges that come with a large, ready-made family? Actually, I believe she’s already made her choice. And just for the record, every family has its challenges, even those that may seem perfect to others.”
“I know, it’s just that I want so much for her to enjoy these years, finish college, and have the carefree life people do at that age.”
