An awkward silence overfell us for a beat; even Jake seemed to understand something was amiss because he shared in the quiet while he continued eating. Then suddenly he loudly announced, “I done, Mama!”
She looked at his empty plate.
“Good job, baby! You ate all your dinner!”
“Can we have p-u-d-d-i-n-g now?” Brittany asked hopefully. “I’ll make it.”
“It’s okay with me if it’s okay with Ms. Kelly.”
Gretchen nodded her head. “Thanks, Brittany,” then asked Jake as she cleared his plate, “Do you want some pudding?”
The little boy’s eyes lit up, and he bounced in his seat while echoing, “Poo-ding!”
Brittany got up and headed toward the pantry, and I called out, “He likes vanilla!”
Gretchen’s snapped her head to stare at me.
“You remembered that?”
“Of course.” I winked at her. “And I think we even have bubble bath for when he’s done.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I promise, no naked time though.”
My mind immediately went to naked time withher.
What a shame.
Her brows furrowed as she exclaimed, “What did you say?”
Shit, did I say that out loud?I needed to back pedal—fast.
“He seemed to have so much fun streaking through your house. You said so yourself, it’s just somethinglittle kids do.”
“I’m trying to teach him there’s a time and a place for everything, and this is not an appropriate time nor place to do that.”
“Why not? I want you to feel at home here.”
“You do?”
I answered without hesitation, “Yeah, I do,” and found I meant it.
I noticed my daughter pouring milk into a mixing bowl with a big smirk.
Aw, crap.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Gretchen
I think having Brittany around curbed Jake’s zest to go streaking through the house after his bath. My little boy might be experiencing his first crush.
When he was dressed in his pajamas, we went to the basement and the giant playroom Beau had mentioned when he invited me to stay at his brother’s house—without Gabe’s permission, I was certain.
Brittany lay on the couch watching a movie, and she suggested Jake watch it with her. He didn’t hesitate to crawl up next to her and use her for a pillow.
And she was such a good sport. I wanted to hug her for how kind she’d been to my son.
Gabe appeared at the bottom of the stairs holding a bottle of white wine, his brows raised in an unspoken question.
