Page 20 of Forbidden Love

“Did you play softball?” Maggie asked me.

“It was my favorite sport, but I played soccer and basketball too.”

“I want to play,” Delaney said.

“Should we sign you up for spring?” Natalie asked her.

Delaney’s tongue darted between her lips as she concentrated on coloring the leaves that covered the castle. “Can Mac coach?”

“We’ll see,” Natalie said.

“I bet Sam and Tyler would help,” Alice offered.

This is how I’d always wanted my family to operate. If one person participated in something, everyone pitched in to help. Everyone was interested in what others were doing and showed up at games to support them.

By the time I was in sports, my brothers were preoccupied with high school and, eventually, went away to college. My parents were always too busy with the resort.

I could imagine that if the brothers coached Delaney’s team, the whole family would show up at games to watch. It was funny how I’d come from a large family, and everyone assumed we were close, but there was this divide between us.

My brothers were this tight-knit group that no one could penetrate, and I think my parents let it go.

Tyler’s father came inside with a platter of barbecued chicken, and Tyler followed with a bowl of grilled veggies. It smelled amazing.

We got up and helped Miranda set the large table that overlooked the backyard. I couldn’t help but wonder what the men had been talking about. Were they giving Tyler a hard time for inviting me here?

Tyler and I sat next to each other, with the length of Tyler’s leg pressed against mine.

My pulse pounded in my ear as the food was passed around. I quickly learned that teasing was usual among the brothers. Natalie and Alice watched with amusement but didn’t get in between them.

Occasionally, Miranda would scold them like they were little boys, but for the most part, their energy was high. I ate my chicken, veggies, and potato while allowing the conversation to flow over and around me. This was what I’d missed growing up. Large family dinners where we shared about our days. Everyone was too busy with various sports and activities, and my parents were busy with work.

The Fletchers were a cohesive group, and the room was filled with love.

After dinner, we helped clean up. When Maggie suggested s’mores, Mac grabbed the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers while his father grabbed the skewers. I stuck around the kitchen with Miranda, Alice, and Natalie while Miranda made a quick batch of hot chocolate.

She placed small bowls on a serving platter, and we helped her fill them with candy cane shavings and miniature marshmallows. When the mugs were full, I helped carry them outside to the patio table.

The view was similar to Mac’s. He must live nearby. There was a playground in the yard, obviously new, meant for their grandchildren.

Everyone grabbed a hot chocolate from the table, doctoring them with their favorite fixings before gathering around the fire. Wooden Adirondack chairs were placed in a circle, but Maggie and Delaney grabbed the skewers and placed large marshmallows on the ends.

Tyler helped Maggie with hers, guiding her to the fire to keep a steady hand on hers. Each time she got too close, he drew her back. He squatted next to her, talking softly to her, while her eyes flitted between him and the fire.

It reminded me of the time I went to Mac’s house with the girls, and Maggie was sitting in his lap. He loved his niece.

“Is there anything you need to tell us?” Natalie asked as she and Alice flanked me a few feet away from the warm fire.

“No.” But I couldn’t take my eyes off Tyler. He lifted Maggie’s skewer out of the fire and blew the flames until they were out. Then he helped her place the blackened marshmallows between two graham crackers and a square of chocolate.

“He’s sweet with Maggie,” I said to them.

“There’s nothing sexier than a man with a kid,” Natalie said.

Alice and I both looked at her, and she shrugged. “What? It’s true.”

We were childhood friends, but she moved away for college, got pregnant with Delaney, and married the father, Carter, soon after. She recently moved back as a single mother, renovating a B&B in town. Mac had been the foreman on her project.

“I have to agree,” I said, still watching as Tyler licked a glob of marshmallow off Maggie’s fingers.

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