Page 27 of Heart to Heart

“Sometimes I wish I had a big family like this growing up,” I mused.

“I get it, I feel the same way sometimes. But neither one of us is alone—we have each other. And let’s face it, we have the Barretts too. Try to miss Sunday dinner and see what happens.” Luke slapped me on the shoulder, then bent to grab the broom to sweep out the remains of the wall we’d just torn down.

“Good point.” The Barrett family was nosy and always up in each other’s business, but that’s what made them great. The way they always rallied around each other was a beautiful thing and the fact that they’d taken me in like one of their own was something I’d always be grateful for.

A few hours later, after going home to clean up and change, I was pulling into the long winding driveway to the Barrett family property. Like Luke, they lived in the country. Their home was a massive white ranch house that had been added onto over the years to the point it sprawled awkwardly in every direction, but still managed to be cozy and homey despite its size. The driveway was paved in old brick and wound around over the fifty or so acres they owned. I cruised up to a low fence that edged what could be considered a backyard amidst the vast property and parked. I got out of my truck and headed for the house, smiling as a bubble popped on my forehead and I heard kids talking on the other side of the fence.

“She’s not a real grown up.” It was Dylan’s voice.

A peek over the fence showed Holly sitting cross legged on the lawn surrounded by the little kids of the family ranging in age from kindergarten to about second grade. I stopped with a grin and stood there listening and wishing I could have had a childhood as simple as this. Blowing bubbles without a care in the world.

“I think you’re a secret kid, Aunt Holly,” Maddie, Rose’s stepdaughter lisped in her cute little girl voice.

“No she’s not,” Mikey, her older brother scoffed. “She’s too big to be a kid.”

“Oh yeah?” Holly’s sweet voice rang out. “What if I am? What if I didn’t want to grow up so I went on adventures all over the world instead?”

“That does sound amazing,” Mikey grudgingly agreed. “I guess you can hang out with us. You brought bubbles and Skittles and that was pretty cool. But you’re not a kid.”

“Thanks, Mikey.”

“Well, I still can’t beat her at Mario Kart, and I’ve beat every adult in this family ’cept for her,” Mark said. He was the son of Asher, the eldest of the Barrett siblings.

“She steals all the Peeps at easter. Every year, no Peeps for the rest of us,” Mara, Mark’s sister added. “Kids steal candy. Adults can buy it at the store.”

Holly laughed as they began listing all the evidence proving she was a big kid.

“Good, ’cause Peeps are ’scusting.”

“Disgusting, Dylan?” Holly pulled him onto her lap and tickled him. “More like delicious.”

“Ew. No, they make my tummy mad.” He laughed as she let him go.

“They make mine mad too,” Holly conceded. “But it’s worth it, especially for the purple ones.”

“Did you sit at the kids table for breakfast because you don’t have a husband?”

“Ouch.” Holly burst out laughing. “That was way harsh, Mikey.”

He shrugged a shoulder with a hilariously jaded grin. “I keep it real.”

“I guess I can respect that. But maybe I sat with you guys because I like you. You’re more fun to talk to. No talking politics, no relationship stuff, no one trying to fix me up or ask me why I’m not dating anyone. Plus, you had tiny pancakes at your table and my mom gave you sprinkles to put on top. So, how about that?”

“Well.” Maddie peered up at her. “Why don’t you have a boyfriend? You’re really pretty and I like your hair. You’re funny, too—”

Mikey cut her off. “She’s even scared of the dark like you, Maddie.”

“How did you know that?” Holly asked him.

“The last time we all spent the night here, when you first came back, your light was on all night.”

“You’re very observant.”

“My dad says I’m nosy. When I grow up, I want to be a police detective like him.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I think you’d be great at it.”

“We’re not your real niece and nephew, you know.” Mikey was testing her. It reminded me of the way I had been with my grandmother when she first took me in after my mom died. Hesitant and suspicious, even though deep down I had known better.

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