She might not have, but I understood only too well. “He’s still young. I was pretty cocky at that age too.”
“Yes, and there’s nothing wrong with a little cockiness per se, but there needs to be something else—responsibility, accountability, and kindness. But then again, I don’t suppose I’ve set such a good example with Carter.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. Matty has his quirks too.”
“He’s way too serious.”
“We have to hope they’ll get it right. We did the best we could at that time.”
She clicked her tongue. “Why does this feel like a parent support group meeting?”
I chuckled. “Hardly a group. It’s just the two of us.”
“Frankly, I can’t blame Ozzie for stalling the wedding. I should call Carter again and put my foot down. How does he expect to get married when he’s not here? Your son is so inconsiderate.”
She turned on her heels, and I sighed. I should have told her to expect to be served, but I didn’t want to deal with it at that moment.
“Hey, how’s babysitting?” I entered the living room. Ozzie had Ivy on his lap, helping her to drink water from her bottlewhile she rubbed paint into his skin. “That’s going to take some scrubbing to get off.”
“But it’s worth it. She’s so sweet.” He smiled. “How much time do you think I have to stash us away in your truck and leave town before Hudson finishes work?”
Laughing, I lowered myself next to him, cupped the back of his head, and kissed his temple. “Am I included in this scheme of yours?”
“Of course. You have to drive the getaway truck, since you know this place better than me.”
“That’sthe only reason you would want me around?”
He made his eyes go big and raised his eyebrows. “Why else? Isn’t that reason enough?”
“You know da-darn well it isn’t.” A glance around showed we were alone, so I kissed him. A tiny hand in my chest shoved me away, and we broke into laughter as Ivy spat out the teat of the bottle and glared at me. “Mine! Mine!” She spread her arms wide and cuddled Ozzie.
“All right, all right, you can have him. But only for now.”
“I should get her cleaned up.” Ozzie got to his feet, and I rose as well. “By the way, you left so early this morning. What was that about?”
“I had to see my lawyer. She’s out of town, so it’s a bit of a drive.”
He frowned. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about it. I’m going to head out to join the others. You need anything, call me.”
I brushed my fingers across Ozzie’s cheeks, which I got away with, since Ivy was distracted. I sneaked in for a kiss, and she tilted her head and pursed her lips. Chuckling, I pulled away with a single promise. “Later.”
28
OZZIE
If I’d known little kids were all the exercise I needed, I might have gotten one years ago. I sat back against the couch and rubbed my lower back. Later I would have to sneak into Gray’s room and ask him to give me a massage. Caring for a small child like Ivy, who was so vibrant, meant bending down constantly, lifting her, carrying her around, and then bending again. Added to me being up for most of the night in Gray’s bed, it was a recipe for a worn-out body.
Yet these past couple of days, taking care of the little girl brought a light into my life. Ivy’s laughter never failed to make me smile. In such a short time, I’d come to care for her as if she were my own, so it was a bummer every evening Hudson picked her up. Ivy was content to spend the day with me. She was a bit possessive about not wanting anyone else to touch me, which I found sweet and endearing, but as soon as she saw her father, she would run to him with her arms wide open. Hudson would scoop her up in one swift motion, his tired eyes lighting up with a father’s love. From afar, I would watch their reunion, a tight knot forming in my throat.
I wanted to be someone’s destination too.
I watched her for a few minutes, ensuring she had fallen asleep. Satisfied that she was down for the count, I rose to my feet and stretched. With one last glance over my shoulder, I hurried to use the bathroom, then went to the kitchen.
“Someone’s enjoying babysitting.” Gertie kneaded dough on the counter, her wrinkled hands moving in a rhythmic motion.
“What’s not to like? Ivy’s a sweetheart.” I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, unscrewed the cap, and took a long gulp.
