Page 79 of Carry Me Home
I smoothed down her braid. “How was the cabin?”
“It was great. We saw so many frogs.”
I met Claire’s gaze over Maya’s head and she grinned.Told you so, she mouthed.
“There were no fireworks, but we did sparklers.” Maya looked up at me with her pretty mismatched eyes. “Did you get to see the fireworks, Mom?”
“I sure did.”Boy, did I see fireworks. My cheeks flushed.
“Good. I know you like fireworks, but I don’t,” she stated matter-of-factly.
I brushed over her hair again, wanting to kiss her but knowing she wouldn’t like it. “You don’t have to feel bad about that. I love watchingHamiltonwith you.”
Maya blinked at me. “I don’t feel bad.”
Kids. Always the center of their own universe. I laughed. “Well, good. I had a great time this year at the parade, and I’m so glad you had fun with your aunts.”
Nisha lifted Maya’s suitcase from the trunk. “We’re happy to have her anytime. We had a blast.”
“Jack!” Maya yelled right in my face. I turned and saw him round the back of the house at a jog. She pushed away from me and made a beeline for him.
“Hey, scamp.” His face split in a wide grin. “I thought I heard a car pull up.”
She hurled herself forward and then stopped short right at his toes, looking up at him uncertainly. “Do you want a hug?”
The soft look on his face made my chest crack open. “Absolutely, I do.”
Her arms went around his waist and his went loosely around her shoulders. He hunched down and whispered something in her ear that made her whole face light up.
“Oh, Janie.” Chloe’s sympathetic squeeze on my arm made me jolt. I had been so wrapped up in the two of them that her existence had faded away.
But she hadn’t missed a damn thing.
“You’re in so much trouble, my love.”
Didn’t I know it.
32
JACK
Jeremiah
You got an onboard date yet?
Jack
About that. I really appreciate the offer, but I’m staying put in Aspen Springs.
Jeremiah
Making the manny position permanent? Still don’t know how to wrap my mind around that.
Jack
Nah, she goes back to school in September, so she won’t need a full-time babysitter past summer.
Jeremiah
