“How so?”
“You’re as different as night and day, but so close you’re almost like blood. Kinda like me and Boz.”
“His tan’s better than yours, though,” I state.
“You’re obviously in a good mood,” he replies, pouring syrup over his pancakes.
“Someone I know had a hand in that.” Who knew a few orgasms would be such a mood enhancer? I sure as hell didn’t!
Hale
Addy’s got the boys and a cart off grabbing eggs and butter while I meander with a second cart to grab the heavy flour and sugar bags she needs when I hear a voice say, “She’s a cold fish.”
Turning, I see her ex, a kid strapped to his chest. “Excuse me?” Even though I heard him clearly, I wanna see if he’s gonna put his foot in his mouth further.
“She’s a cold fish. Frigid,” he explains.
“Not sure we’re talking about the same woman,” I state. Although I’m itching to punch him in the mouth, I won’t because he’s got a child. “She’s kind, warm, generous and very loving.”
“She’s got you fooled then,” he sneers.
“Hardly. Besides, what business is it of yours?” I ask. I’m replaying what she told me the night before and getting pissed off. “If she was what you said, it was your job as her husband to show her differently. Something I know for a fact you couldn’t be bothered to do. Your loss is my gain, asshole.”
The look on his face is priceless, especially when she comes walking up to me and it’s obvious that something is… different about her. “Oh, hey, Branson, what’re you doing here?” she asks, leaning into me. I kiss her head and secretly flip him off when I see his reaction to hers.
“Just picking some things up for the restaurant.”
“That’s cool. Hale, I think we’ve got everything, including the stuff to make a certain little girl some unicorn cupcakes.”
“Sounds good to me, let’s head out,” I reply. “You think Caroline will mind if we stay at your house tonight?” Her startled eyes have me grinning, even as I keep mine on his, gauging his reaction. When it hits him that he’s the one who fucked up, I do a mental fist pump. She’s mine now, fucker!
“I don’t think so but should we with the boys around?” she questions as we make our way to the register.
“Should we what?” I tease, whispering in her ear.
“Sleep in the same bed!”
“Well, it’s probably not appropriate for us to be out on the deck again, given that they’re nine, but it should be okay.”
Once we’re back at her house, she heads into the kitchen with two little boys in tow. “Miss Addy?” JD asks.
“Yes, JD?”
“Can we have some lemonade? Is it from scratch?”
“Yes you can and yes it is. Will you pour me one as well and check with your dad to see what he’d like to drink?”
“Dad? Whatcha want to drink?” he asks me.
“Lemonade’s fine. Addy? Gonna go get some stuff for a low country boil if that’s okay? Can put it out on the grill.”
“I might have most of the stuff, so check the freezer first, okay?” she replies.
“It’s better fresh, sweetheart. I’ll be back shortly.” I walk over and kiss her, not caring that both boys are watching. “You two do whatever she says, y’hear?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Yes, Uncle Hale.”
I grab my keys and head out the door. I’ve got another stop to make first.
15
Addy
With the music playing, I soon get the cookie dough made up for both peanut butter cookies, as well as snickerdoodles, then set the boys to work while I mix up the muffins for the Sunday school order. Once those are baking, I pull the cakes I had defrosted and set about getting them frosted.
“How are y’all doing over there?” I ask.
“Good. Miss Addy? Can I ask you a question?” JD inquires.
“Sure, honey, you can ask me anything.”
“Are you gonna marry my dad?” Well, color me shocked.
“Um, well, he hasn’t asked me, so I can’t really answer that one,” I admit.
“Well, if he does ask, will you?” He’s persistent, I’ll give him that one.
“Hmm, I can’t honestly tell you because we haven’t been dating that long. I’ll tell you this, though, if he should, down the road, I’ll probably say yes.”
“Alright! I’m glad. I want you to be my mom.” I’m glad my back is to him because I find myself tearing up at his innocent words.
“There’s nothing I’d love more, JD, and that’s the truth. So, do we have any trays ready to go into the oven?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
We continue working together while I wonder just what is taking Hale so long. I’m trying not to worry, but after his accident, any time I think he’s gone longer than he should be, I get anxious.
“Do you guys want me to fix some sandwiches?” I ask after the muffins and cookies come out of the oven.
“Yes, please. We can help,” Johnny says, going to the fridge and pulling out the cold cuts.
With little help from me, they set about putting together some pretty impressive sandwiches and I tell them so. “How should we decorate Rosie’s cupcakes?” I question once we’ve sat down.
“She does like unicorns. Can you decorate them like that?”
“Don’t see why not.” I pull out my phone and do a google search until I find something I can create. “Let me get these baking so we can decorate them once they’re cool, okay?”
“I’m having fun,” JD admits, eating a pickle.
“Me too,” Johnny states.
“I’m glad. I like having help in the kitchen.”
“Got room for a big guy?” Hale asks, coming in with bags on both arms.
“Absolutely. Do you want something to eat?”
“I could go for a sandwich,” he says. The boys jump up to make him a sandwich while I help unload what he’s bought.
“You were gone awhile,” I whisper, not wanting the boys to know how worried I was.
“Sorry, pretty girl, I had something I needed to buy before I hit the grocery store.”
“What?”
“Nuh uh, you’re gonna have to wait for it. Now, let me eat and I’ll get started prepping everything for the low country boil.”
I laugh and leave him to eat so I can get Rosie’s cupcakes made. “The kitchen smells really good,” JD says. “Dad, we’re gonna decorate the cupcakes with unicorns for Rosie!”
“She’ll like those,” he says. “You wanna give Marvie a call and see if she and Boz want to come over for dinner?”
“I can do that,” I reply. Grabbing my phone, I head out to the back deck and give Marvie a call.
“Hey, girl, how do you feel about coming over for some low country boil tonight? You and Boz?” I ask when she picks up.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Margaritas?” she questions.
“Got the fixings so sure,” I reply. “Just come on when you’ve closed the diner, okay?”
“See you. Oh, and you definitely need to fill me in on what’s happening between you and Hale. I know something’s different.”
“We did it,” I whisper into the phone. “And, Marvie? It was more than I ever thought it could be.”
Her scream has me pulling the phone away from my ear. “I knew that stupid asshole wasn’t taking care of you!”
“No, he sure wasn’t.”
“I can’t tell you how happy I am for you. See you in a little while.”
“Be careful.”
As I hang up, Hale comes out and walks over to me. Pulling me into his arms, he says, “So, how’ve the boys been?”
“Good. We’ve had a lot of fun.”
“I’m glad.” His lips capture mine and I find myself drowning in all that is him once again. “Addy, I’ve got something I wanna tell you.” My heart plummets until I see the look on his face.
“What… wh
at is it?” I hate the way I sound so scared, but I can’t help it. Those words are as bad as when someone says, ‘can we talk?’ and I hate hearing that too.
“I love you, sweetheart. I don’t want to go another minute without telling you. You don’t have to say anything right now, I just had to let you know how I feel.”
My heart is soaring so high I feel as though my feet have left the ground. “I love you too, Hale. I never realized what it encompassed until you. It’s not one little thing, either, it’s everything about you.”
He drops to his knee and I feel my heartbeat ramp up even further. “Adelaide Overstreet, will you be my wife? Allow me to love and cherish you for the rest of our lives? Help me raise JD to be a productive member of society?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll marry you!” Tears are streaming down my face, but they’re happy ones because I never thought I’d ever fall in love again, much less find someone who’d want to marry me!
He slips a ring on my finger and I gasp when I see it. An infinity symbol, encrusted with diamonds, is the band, and the princess cut diamond that sits front and center shines with a brilliance that rivals my smile. “I hope you like it. This is the stop I made before I hit the grocery store.”
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You’re sure it’s not too soon for this?” I question, suddenly nervous that everything seems to be moving so fast.
“Nope. We love one another, get along quite well inside and outside of bed,” he gives me a wink before continuing, “and I don’t want to waste any more time.”
“Did you mention this to JD?”
“No, why?” I quickly fill him in on what JD asked earlier and he starts to laugh.
“He’s going to be over the moon,” he says.
“Yeah, I believe so. Wait until Marvie finds out! They’re coming for dinner, by the way.”
“Good. Now, kiss me, woman, so I can get busy slaving over a hot grill.”
I kiss him, reveling in the fact that somehow, we found one another. My heart is full.
Hale
“JD, you got a minute?” I ask as I go back into the kitchen, Addy right behind me.
“Sure, Dad, what’s up?”
“Come help me outside for a few.”
“Okay.” He follows me outside and sits down on the swing next to me. I grin, thinking of the night before, with the woman I love in my arms.
“So, I figured I’d tell my favorite son that I’ve asked Addy to marry me. How do you feel about that?” I ask.
“What? Really? Oh my God, I’m so excited! When are you getting married? Do I get to wear a tux?” I swear, I don’t know where this kid comes up with some of the stuff he does.
“We haven’t set a date and I guess what you wear depends on what Addy wants.”
“I’m going to go ask her because we’ve gotta plan!” he shouts, standing up and running back into the house. Shaking my head, I go over to the grill and get it warming.
Once I’ve got that going, I head back into the house only to find my son, his arms around her waist, crying. When I go to say something, she shakes her head at me and mouths, ‘I’ve got this.’
“Johnny, you wanna help me shuck this corn?” I ask, pulling the fresh corn out of the bag. The farmer’s market was still open, so I was able to get the stuff I wanted from one of my favorite vendors.
“Sure. I like being able to do this kind of stuff, Uncle Hale,” he admits, sitting at the table.
“Did you wash your hands after you ate?” I question.
“Oops, no, be right back,” he replies. A few minutes later, he’s back and he grabs one of the ears and starts peeling it.
“Be sure to get all the strings,” I remind him.
“I know. Mom tells me that all the time,” he says with a grin. “She says if she wanted to floss her teeth, she’d use the things she buys at the store.”
I chuckle because that sounds exactly like something Caroline would say. “She’s always been like that,” I admit.
“She says you’re the reason she survived growing up,” he says, his voice quiet. This isn’t necessarily a conversation I wanna have with my nine-year-old nephew, but it’s needed.
“Our parents weren’t like yours, Johnny. Not by a longshot. Our father was very cruel to us and it was my job to protect my sister. It’s why your parents don’t really spank you or Rosie because our father took it too far.”
“That’s why we don’t see your dad, just Grandma and Grandpa Joe, right?” he asks, concentrating on getting all the tiny strands from the ear he’s working on.
“Yep. I know you don’t see Grandma and Grandpa Joe that much, but your other grandparents are good people, and you’ve got a lot of others who love you and your sister very much.”
“I know. We’re lucky,” he says.
When JD comes over and leans against me, I look at him and ask, “You okay, bud?”
“Yeah, Dad. Just really happy. I didn’t mean to cry.”
“Sometimes, our emotions overflow. Nothing wrong with that at all.”
Soon, the food’s ready to go on the grill and I find myself helping Addy clean up the last of the baking. The boys are watching a movie, so I pull her into my arms. “So what happened earlier?”
“He came barreling in, wrapped his arms around me then promptly burst into tears. Took me a bit, but he finally said he’d been praying for a mom for a long time and he was glad it was going to be me,” she states, her eyes filling with tears.
“I think he’s loved you from the moment he met you,” I admit. “Can’t believe my closest competition is a nine-year-old.”
Her giggles soon have me laughing. “What I feel for you is not even in the same realm as what I feel for that little boy.”
“I know, baby. Now, let’s go watch something with the boys. Supper’s on the grill, but it’s on low and should be done around the time that Boz and Marvie get here. Do you need to do anything else?”
“Nope, I already got the stuff for margaritas ready at Marvie’s request, all the cakes are done and ready to be delivered on Monday, Rosie’s cupcakes are in a special box, and the boys split up the cookies. Let’s go chill.”
“After you,” I tell her.
“You just wanna watch me walk,” she teases, looking over her shoulder.
“Absolutely.”
16
Addy
“What is that?” Marvie asks, pointing to my finger. “You didn’t say a word about that when we talked earlier.”
“Um, maybe because it happened after we got off the phone?” I reply, holding out my hand.
“He done good,” she says, her improper English making me giggle.
“Looks like you need to let Boz off the hook now, missy,” I tell her. We’re on our first pitcher of margaritas, Boz having come in and getting those sorted when they arrived.
“Yeah, yeah, I suppose I will. Hey, Boz?” she calls out.
He walks over to where we’re sitting on the porch swing. “What’s up, babe?” he asks.
“Yes,” she says. I glance at her to see her staring intently at him.
“It’s about damn time,” he replies, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring box. “I’ve been waiting forever.”
He slips the ring on her finger and she reaches up, winding her arms around his neck, so she can kiss him. I feel the tears gathering because I know the long road they’ve had in their relationship. “Love you, baby,” he whispers.
“Love you more. Thank you for being patient, Boz,” she whispers back.
“I’d walk to the ends of the earth for you, woman,” he growls out.
Her laughter at his words soon has me giggling. I’m not sure if it’s the alcohol, the magic that seems to permeate the air, or what, but I’m ridiculously happy right now, out here with all my people.
“Dinner’s ready,” Hale calls out. “Boys, grab the plates and let’s get the ladies served first.”
Soon, we all have plates and are eatin
g some of the best low country boil I’ve ever had. “Hale, this is really good,” I say. He’s got the right mix of spices and where some I’ve eaten is too hot, this is just right.
“Thank you. Marvie’s mom gave me the recipe years ago when I asked.”
“She was a helluva cook, that’s for sure,” I admit. “Between her and Grammy, there’s not much I can’t make.”
“She loved you, Addy,” Marvie says. “You were one of hers too, y’know.”
“I know and I’m so grateful she felt that way. Grammy was awesome, but she was older and not as in tune with the times, so to speak.”
“Ha, yeah, remember when she found you those rompers that year?”
“Good grief, yes. It took your mom talking to her before I was able to stop wearing them!”
“So, Miss Addy, when are you gonna marry my dad?”
I glance at Hale and shrug. “Not sure, little man, we haven’t really talked about it yet. You got any particular time frame?”
“Tomorrow?” he asks hopefully.
“Afraid it’ll take a bit longer than that,” I tell him.
“We’re gonna have a double wedding,” Marvie says.
“We are?” I ask her.
“Hell yeah we are. Can’t think of anything I want more than to marry the love of my life next to my best friend.”
“Is… is that okay with you guys?” I ask Hale and Boz. I mean, it is their wedding too.
“Absolutely,” they both state.
“Then we’ll look at the calendar and figure out a date, how’s that, JD?” Marvie questions.
“That works for me!”
“You boys done eating?” Hale asks. I laugh because they’ve already plowed through two helpings and are sitting there, rubbing their bellies.
“Yes, sir.”
“I guess since you guys had seconds, you won’t be interested in any cake or ice cream,” I tease.
“Plenty of room, Miss Addy,” Johnny says, his voice so serious I can’t help but laugh once again.
Hale’s Song: A single dad contemporary romance Page 10