Fitzgibbon had arranged two long glass tables end to end, with the kids all sitting together at the far side. He handed out drinks while Jude slapped meat on each plate. Ten was around to help as the pasta salad and green salads were passed around. He was making sure all of the kids had at least some vegetables.
“I’d like to raise a toast,” Ronan said, getting to his feet once everyone had been served. He held his can of ginger ale up high. “We always say that family is everything, and it’s our absolute honor to have River, Barb, Baby Delta, and Brooke here with us tonight. To family!”
“To family!” Everyone chorused back.
Ronan’s eyes were on the kids as he sat back down. They were all talking and laughing together. He could hear Baby Bertha telling knock-knock jokes. He looked like he wanted to join in.
“Don’t you dare,” Ten cautioned.
“Don’t I dare what?” Ronan frowned before setting his napkin in his lap. “I know some really good jokes.”
“Not kid-friendly ones.” Ten rolled his eyes.
Ronan did know some good jokes, none of which he wanted his kids repeating to their friends or their first-grade teacher. They’d had enough parent/teacher meetings last year, thanks in part to language he’d passed on to Everly. He was hoping there wouldn’t be as great a need in the fall.
“Everly told us there was going to be a sleepover tonight,” River said. “How is that going to work?”
“All the kids will stay at our house. We’ll watch movies and make s’mores in the backyard. Usually, Aurora and Everly share her bed, and Wolf sleeps on an air mattress on the floor. But with all of the kids staying, we’ll put the girls in Everly’s room and the boys with Ezra. Tomorrow morning, we’ll make a big pancake breakfast that everyone usually comes to. You’re invited unless the two of you want to sleep in.” Ten waggled his eyebrows at River and Barb.
Barb started to giggle. “As much as I appreciate the thought—” She paused and kissed her husband. “—I don’t think we’ll be engaging in extracurricular activities in my mother-in-law’s spare bedroom.”
“Do you, boo,” Kaye said on a laugh. “Once I take my hearing aids out for the night, I can’t hear much.”
River’s eyes widened. He laughed along with the others.
“You’ve really loosened up, Mom,” Ten said.
Ronan agreed with his husband wholeheartedly. He remembered when Kaye came to stay with them for the first time. They’d had to get it on in the shower so she wouldn’t hear them. After the awkwardness of the first time, they’d put booty calls on the shelf until Kaye had gone back to Kansas. Even now, with the new and improved Kaye, he couldn’t imagine boning his husband with his mother-in-law in the house.
“Life is short, Tenny. We’ve got to take our happiness wherever we can.” She held her drink up in a silent toast.
Ronan would absolutely drink to that. He grabbed his knife and sliced into his steak. It was a perfect medium rare.
“What’s on tap for tomorrow?” River asked.
Ten leaned over to River. “Well, we were thinking of going to the amusement park, but I don’t want to say anything out loud until we’re all in agreement. I don’t want the kids to get hyped up and then have to disappoint them.”
“Weather’s supposed to be great with clear skies and temps in the eighties.” Ronan sounded like his favorite meteorologist.
“Sounds good to me. Being pregnant means I won’t be able to do much, but I can stay with the kids if you all want to do the bigger rides.” Barb patted her bump.
“Jude, are you in?” Ronan pointed to him with his knife.
“Yup. I can’t wait to tame the V-I-P-E-R!” Excitement shone in his dark eyes.
“Me too, Jude,” Kaye said.
“Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Mother Grimm?” Kaye hated it when Ronan called her that.
“Weren’t you the one who said I had a lot of life left in me? Thanks to you and Eagle, I’m going to live each day to the fullest.” Kaye winked at Ronan and asked Fitz to pass her the pasta salad. “Oh, and by the way, I’m going to Vegas with him in August before the kids go back to school.”
Ronan’s mouth fell open. Looking around the table, he noticed Ten and Cope wearing similar looks. “Vegas? You’re going toSinCity?” Was this really happening, or was Ronan going to wake up in his bed and realize this conversation was all a dream?
Kaye raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Ronan. I’m going to Vegas. Eagle taught me how to play blackjack when we were in Arizona. He’s never been either, and we thought it would be fun to check it out. Who knows, maybe I’ll come back loaded?”
“Or married and not knowing your last name, like that Carrie Underwood song.” Jude laughed. “Don’t forget, Kaye, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!”
If there was one person who’d be on board with this whole thing, it would be Jude. Ronan had seen a huge change in his friend when he and his childhood bullies made amends. It was like Jude had a new lease on life, and now, so did Kaye.
