“Let go and let God,” Effy Lou said, not sounding thrilled with the idea.
Ten nodded. “I promise Ronan and I will do what we can for Spencer, but let’s face it, the rest is up to him.”
“I’ll go have a think on that.” Effy Lou offered Tennyson a smile. “Do you mind if I visit with Miss Everly again tonight?”
“Not one bit,” Ten agreed. “Just don’t keep her up too late. She’s learning how to add without counting on her fingers and if she’s anything like me, she’s going to need all the help she can get, which includes plenty of sleep.”
“You know, maybe it’s not Spencer’s life that was supposed to change, but mine. Ever since I met you, your family and Bertha Craig, things feel different. I feel different.”
“You don’t say.” Ten burst out laughing at the shocked look on Effy Lou’s face. “How has it felt to stop swimming against the tide?”
“Not half bad.” Effy Lou shook her head, as if she couldn’t believe she’d been so blind. “I’ll check in with you later, Ten. Thanks for everything.”
“Just one more thing before you go?”
“I promise I’ll stop haunting Spencer. Hand to God.” Effy Lou threw up her right hand and vanished.
With all this talk of God, Ten felt like he was back in the first pew of the Union Chapel Calvary Baptist Church, but if that’s what it took to help Effy Lou and Spencer, then it was worth it to dust off some of his Sunday School lessons.
15
Ronan
After the meeting with Franklin Heywood wrapped up, Ronan headed for the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner. He got the kids’ favorite dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, frozen crinkle-cut fries, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing and mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert, which was Spencer’s favorite.
Ronan knew that Tennyson would have brought Spencer home for dinner and seeing the lost look on his face after hearing what the lawyer had to say, Ronan decided to take a cue from his husband. “Are you sure you’re good with nugs and fries?” he asked Spencer as he spread tin foil on the baking sheet.
“I’m sure. I love chicken nuggets. Mom used to make them for me all the time.” Spencer wore a wistful look on his face.
Ronan was about to ask about Spencer’s parents when the front door opened and Everly called out for him. “We’re in the kitchen!”
Pounding footsteps ran into the kitchen. It was Everly and Ezra “Hi, Spencer! I’m Everly. It’s nice to meet you.” She held out her hand for him to shake, while her little brother ran for the fridge and jumped up to yank the handle.
Looking taken aback, Spencer offered his hand. “How did you know my name?”
“I’ve got gifts like my Daddy. I spoke to Aunt Effy Lou last night. She’s a hot ticket.” Everly grinned brightly.
Spencer barked a surprised laugh.
“We’re gonna talk about that later, little miss.” Ten said before brushing a kiss against Ronan’s cheek. He went to the fridge and grabbed two juice pouches. He handed one to Ezra, who ran back into the living room and the second to his daughter.
Everly offered Tennyson a sweet smile before turning back to Spencer. “Aunt Effy might be a hard ass, but she loves you a lot.” Giggling, she hightailed it out of the kitchen.
“Hard ass is one way to put it,” Spencer said, throwing himself into a chair at the kitchen table.
“We’re gonna have to have another chat with her about appropriate words,” Ten said, looking as if he wasn’t looking forward to that conversation again.
“Yeah, well, after hearing Effy Lou’s will, I can honestly tell you that ‘hard ass’ is the most appropriate word possible.” Ronan would never tell Ten, but it tickled him to hear his six-year-old say bad words in situations thatwouldn’t get him into trouble.
“What happened?” Ten asked. “When I spoke to Effy Lou a little earlier, she didn’t tell me what was in the will, just that she hoped it would help Spencer to straighten up and fly right.”
“That sounds like my aunt.” Spencer turned to Ronan. “Can I have a juice pouch too?”
“Sure, I’ll get it for you.” Ten walked to the fridge and grabbed what Spencer asked for. He pulled the straw from the wrapper and punched it into the pouch before setting it down in front of him.
After taking a long sip, Spencer sat up straighter, as if the sicky-sweet juice had somehow revived him. “Aunt Effy Lou left me everything, which wasn’t a surprise. I’m her only living relative, but Ronan was kind enough to point out that she could have left her money to a hospital or a cat charity. What was a surprise is that I have to complete three tasks before I can get the money and the deed to the house.”
“What kind of tasks?” Ten asked.
