Page 18 of Candy Coated Curves

RONI

Summer…

My backyard is filled with the smoky scent of grilling meat. It’s hot as a thousand suns out here, but bearable because my husband has made this an oasis for us.

“I can’t believe Nash built you a pool,” my sister Jackie says. She’s got a hand on her pregnant belly and is rocking a large pair of bright orange sunglasses. “Luca!” she hollers at her own husband.

He looks up from where he stands over by the grill next to Nash. They’re each holding a pair of tongs, which makes no sense when only one man can flip burgers at a time. Must be a guy thing.

“What are they even doing over there? Dueling barbecue?” I ask.

Jackie snorts.

“Yeah, baby doll?” Luca asks.

“Why haven’t you built me a pool?”

He glances at his brother-in-law, and they exchange something we can’t hear from where we are lounging on our pool floats.

“You want a pool?” he asks.

“Yeah. Look how nice this is. I mean their yard is humongous I realize, and ours is tiny. But still. It’s like a resort back here, Ron, you realize that?”

I glance over at Nash and blow him a kiss. The silvery-grey in his beard and at his temples shines in the sunlight and he looks so handsome. “I know. It’s perfect.” Nash’s house—our house—is on a bigger piece of land at the edge of town. It’s a little more of a drive to get to work now, but it’s so quiet and beautiful out here. I can drink coffee on the back porch and watch the deer and other wildlife wander around on our property.

“You can have their pool,” Luca says.

“Oh geez, thanks.” Jackie rolls her eyes so exaggeratedly, I can somehow still see the movement behind her enormous glasses.

“No, crazy lady,” Luca says playfully.

Their romance is one built on banter and sniping at each other. But they’re crazy in love. That man would do anything for my sister, so I, of course, adore him.

“I mean, you can share their pool. We bought the property behind theirs so our yards will back up to each other,” Luca says.

Jackie sits up so quickly she flips herself off her float. She stands up sputtering, her hair a wall of wet, black silk hanging in her face. “What are you talking about?”

I know what’s going on. The guys had been working on this surprise behind both of our backs, but I found them out there in the woods one day and well, that’s just weird. So I knew they were plotting something and I was just hoping they weren’t burying a body back there together. I mean I’m all for our guys bonding, but I draw the line at criminal behavior. Though I suppose a former FBI agent is the best person to have on your side if you do want to try your hand at a life of crime.

What am I even thinking? There was no crime. No body. Just plans to build Jackie and Luca a house so that it backed up to mine and Nash’s. This is my big family. Jackie is pregnant and due soon.

After Nash and I got married, we decided to wait a little while because I realized I wasn’t actually in such a hurry. But babies have a tendency of coming when they want, despite your best plans. And we weren’t really doing all that much to try to prevent it. I’m not very far along, but far enough that the doctor was able to tell me that she heard two strong heartbeats in there.

Twins.

The thought of my kids and Jackie’s kids all growing up on a big chunk of land together just fills me with so much joy, it leaks out my eyes. Okay, I’m crying. Whatever.

The men set down their tongs and walk over to the pool. Luca helps Jackie right herself back on her float. She’s crying too.

She points at me. “Did you know about this?”

I nod. “Only recently though. They’ve been planning it for months.”

“Since before the pool,” Nash says. “The pool is on our side. Their side will get the playscape.”

“Oh my God.” Jackie visibly swallows and I swear to God I see tears in her eyes.

My sister acts so tough and sassy, but beneath that, she is pure fluff. I’m just glad Luca finally broke through her hand candy shell.

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