“Yeah. I wondered if I was teaching you the right things. It was a wild and crazy ride but it was the best years of my life. Being with the woman I love and raising our children.”
“Thanks, Daddy. Everything I’ve accomplished in my life, I owe that to you.”
“I’m proud of each and every one of you. Just like you will be proud of Jake.”
Seth smiled at his dad.
“So, did Ethan give you a hard sell at lunch?”
Seth exhaled. “You know Ethan, he didn’t say anything. That said it all.”
John Jacob gave Seth a hard look. “What do you want, son?”
“I’ve been thinking about retiring soon. I want to spend as much time as I can with Morgan and our kids.” Seth tipped his hat back.
“Kids? Do I hear a plural?”
“We negotiated. Five kids or until Morgan gets a girl.”
John Jacob slapped him on the back. “It’s a nice change of pace, a young couple who actually want to have more than two kids. I welcome all the grandkids you can give me.”
“And I want all of that to happen here, on the ranch. Sooner than later. I think the Tomcats can help me do that.”
“Then you know what you have to do.”
* * *
Morgan stared at the directions on the back of the box of grits, trying to decide if she should cook the entire contents. Knowing how much the Blake men could eat, the last thing she wanted to do was run out of food. Seth joked with her at home that she only cooked just enough for one meal, and he liked to go back and nibble on leftovers until the next meal was ready. She’d already put the bacon on the griddle, mixed the batter for the pancakes, and started the coffeemaker.
She reached for her coffee, hoping the caffeine would push her brains cells along. The sound of yawning coming from the living room brought her out of her cooking stupor.
“Hey, Morgan.” Tyler gave her a lazy smile.
“Good morning, Tyler. Want some coffee?” She held up a mug.
Tyler took a seat at the kitchen table. “I would love some.”
“Let’s see, you take it with cream and two sugars.”
“I’m impressed. You remembered.”
Morgan smiled and prepared his coffee. “Of course I did. I had your mug ready. I remember you being an early riser.”
Tyler accepted the brew with a wink and a grin. “Seth still asleep?”
“No, he went out a little while ago. I think to see J.J.” She took the bacon off the griddle.
“J.J. was missed last night. Eden probably wouldn’t let him out.” Tyler chuckled.
Morgan scrunched her nose at him. “Why is Eden such a sore spot with everyone?”
“Eden is the exact opposite of you. She’s selfish, materialistic, mean as a lion with a splinter stuck in its paw, and she lives to spend my brother’s money.”
“Then why did J.J. marry her?”
“The phrase starts with the letter p and ends with whipped.”
Morgan giggled. “Tyler!”
Tyler shrugged and scratched at his five o’clock shadow. “Sorry to be so blunt, but that’s how I see it.”
“And what about you? Ever have a woman lead you around by the nose?”
“Hell no.” Tyler snorted. “I have an undefeated record in the game of love.”
Morgan cleaned the griddle and began pouring the pancake batter. “And you’re very proud of that.”
“I’m sure Seth and my momma have told you I am the odd ball. I don’t commit to work or women.” He folded his arms over his chest.
“I’ve heard choice words from both of them. They worry about you.”
“I know.” He sighed.
“Seth told me you thought about driving a racecar.”
“It was a thought. A buddy of mine races. I’ve spent some time behind the wheel. It’s exhilarating.”
“Looking for a rush?” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Something like that.” He grinned.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Just be safe. I’m sure Jake would be very upset if something happened to his Uncle Tyler.” Morgan hoped a little guilt would make him think carefully about career decisions.
Morgan retrieved the last pancake from the griddle. She picked up the box of grits again and studied the instructions for a minute. But Tyler huffed and walked over to the stove and took it out of her hands. He filled a pot with water and turned on the fire. Morgan blinked. Standing next to Tyler sometimes felt like she was standing next to Seth. The physical similarities were there, but when one of them opened their mouths, it was no mistaking which Blake was her husband.
“Were you and my friend Michelle flirting at the Super Bowl?” She glared at him.
Tyler smiled, his eyes crinkling. “We were feeling each other out.”
“Just out and not up, right?”
Tyler howled. “I hate to tell you, Morgan, but your water breaking was a bit of a mood killer. Thanks to you I didn’t want to have sex for a month after Jake was born.”
Morgan crossed her arms and gave him a steady look. “I can get nosey when I care about people. And I care about both of you.”
He hugged her with one arm. “Of course you do. Tell you what. If Michelle and I pick up the flirting where we left off, I promise I will think before I do anything.”
“Don’t you hate having another sister-in-law?” Morgan patted him on the back.
“Actually, I like having an interactive sister-in-law. Eden and I stay far away from each other. And unlike her relationship with J.J., you’ve made Seth a happy man. You two make me believe marriage isn’t a constant struggle.”
“Do you think you will get married one day?”
Tyler’s eyes widened. “Baby steps, Morgan. Baby steps.”
Tyler and Morgan laughed.
He made the grits and poured them into a giant serving bowl while she set the table. Channing was the next person to come down, followed by Tate. There was no surprise at all that Jake was bathed and dressed when Teri-Lyn brought him downstairs. Morgan sent a text to Seth telling him they were eating breakfast, and she would save him some food. She placed Jake in his high chair but let Teri-Lyn feed him. Morgan looked around the table at the Blakes, knowing it would make Seth extremely happy to live in Texas full time. She wished she felt that same happiness instead of being wrought with conflict over a no-win situation. Tyler’s comments about Eden echoed in her mind. It seemed the root of J.J.’s unhappiness was his constant appeasement to his wife. If Morgan made a big deal about moving so soon to Texas, would Seth give in to her to make her happy? And at what cost to his heart and his career? Resentment had a way of sneaking in when no one was looking.
* * *
Hung over and stuffed from a big breakfast, Seth and the boys made their way to the Bright Star. After assessing the damage Seth sent Channing and Tyler off to the hardware store for supplies. The Winterbournes arrived on time as well, and Caine was kind enough to bring coffee for everyone. Seth and Tate opted to see Caine take the first sip before they’d drink. Caine uttered a curse and took a walk around and then out the door to appraise the outside.
Once all of the repair work was singled out, the crew of eight men began to work. Channing was the first to break the ice with one of the cousins, and slowly but surely a friendly dialogue had started. They even came up with a few ideas to spruce up the place, like a new railing for the outside and replacing a few of the planks on the handicap access ramp. Someone found a ladder, and Tyler and Peter Winterbourne whitewashed the Bright Star sign.
Seth offered to go for a food run so the cook wouldn’t have to fire up the oven while they were working on repairs. He got the shock of his life when Caine volunteered to go with him.
“I’ll help you with the food. It’s only fair we split the bill,” Caine said.
“Sure.” Seth looked at Tate, who nodded in response.
They picked up some barbeque from a popular restaurant. While waiting for the order, Seth a
nd Caine took a seat at a table.
“You out of the military for good?” Seth sipped on the beer Caine had bought him while they waited.
“My family would like that. But I think there’s still some good I can do over there,” Caine said.
“I hear that. I always admired your dedication to the military.”
“Well, I’ve always excelled at stirring up trouble.” Caine smirked.
“Don’t I know it.”
Caine shifted in his seat. “Listen, you know I had to come and clean your clock, right?”
“Did you really?” Seth looked him in the eye.
“My baby sister called me up last year crying because you didn’t love her anymore. I know she’s a grown woman, and she knows what mistakes she made. Still, it does something to my heart when she hurts. So, I decided to hurt you as much as she was hurting.”
“That doesn’t exactly sound rational.”
“You have a family now. Wait until you have a daughter. I’m expecting to see you on the news, often.” Caine laughed.
“Probably.” Seth laughed too.
The order was ready so they headed back to the bar. The Dirty Rascals were playing a set for Tate, who had apologized for the ruckus cutting their performance short. Everyone was in a good mood as they took a break for lunch.
“Everything OK with Caine?” Tate said as he heaped coleslaw onto his plate.
“Yeah. Penny cried. He reacted. He told me to wait until I have a daughter to see his side.”
Seth and Tate looked at each other for a while.
Tate finally said, “We’re going to need to build a moat around the ranch.”
“Exactly. How did it go with the Dirty Rascals?”
“I like their sound. I’m going to make a few calls to my manager,” Tate said. “Man, I love coming home.”
Seth patted Tate on the back. “Me too.”
* * *
That evening Bo and John Jacob tended the grill while the brothers kicked back, drinking beers and talking about all the hard work they’d done for the Bright Star, which looked better than it had in years. With Channing’s help Morgan had the projector set up and aimed at the broad wall on the side of the house as a mock screen. When the sun began to set, she turned it on and sent everyone back in time. The Blake boys appeared on screen. They were a handsome brood of rowdy, hyperactive boys. She immediately knew which one was Seth; those eyes popped right off the wall at her. They were the eyes of her son, filled with kindness and sincerity.
It was easy to see the pattern: Seth followed J.J., Tyler followed Seth, and Channing followed Tyler. Tate popped up from time to time, meshed in the middle. He was part of the family back then as he was now. Morgan noticed a few shots of Teri-Lyn giving him hugs. It seemed to do young Tate a world of good to get affection from her. The love, friendship, and closeness they all shared now was years in the making. Morgan glanced over at Seth, who was smiling and laughing while giving commentary to Jake.
She loaded the next reel, marked S.J.’s Greatest Hits. As soon as the footage started, Seth’s fresh face appeared on the screen. He looked about twelve, his hair styled in a shaggy bob, and he was just developing that legendary million-dollar smile. The football game began, and she could see how much of a natural he’d been on the field even back then. There was no hesitation when he played. When he had the ball, all that mattered was the execution leading to the next play. His reflexes hadn’t changed. He still had a lightning speed precision that surprised her on many occasions.
He’d won that game. Seth took off his helmet and ran toward the camera to talk to John Jacob. Teri-Lyn took over the filming and zoomed in on father giving his son a pep talk. Morgan wished she could hear what he’d said, because little Seth smiled and rejoined the team. The reel continued for a while with shots of the boys playing on the now empty field as the sun was setting. The last shot was of a little Tyler and Channing holding up a homemade sign that said Texas Tomkats. Morgan laughed at the misspelling and at how the boys were barely big enough to hold it up before falling on the grass. Seth rubbed them both on the head, and the reel ran out as the boys were walking off the field.
Jake’s applause at the end of the movie tugged at her heart. He was cheering for his dad. She asked Channing to load the next reel while she retrieved some more food from the house.
“Woman, what are you doing?” Seth leaned against the doorframe.
“Just getting some more potato salad. Tyler confiscated the bowl I put out and won’t let anyone near it.” Morgan took the dish out of the refrigerator.
“Can I help?” Seth sauntered over to the sink.
“Want to tell me what’s on your mind?” She smiled.
Seth ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been concerned about global warming. The polar ice caps are melting at a rate of—”
Morgan threw a kitchen towel at him. “What a smart ass. How about what you were thinking when you had Jake in your arms a few minutes ago? You were pointing to something in the home movie.”
“I was just telling him about some boyhood escapades. Stories his Momma won’t want me telling him.” Seth looked at her for the longest time before he asked, “How would you feel about me joining the Tomcats next year?”
She took a deep breath. “I want you to do whatever makes you happy.”
“And I want to make you happy.” Seth came over and took her into his arms.
Morgan rested her head on his chest and took a breath. “It’s sooner than we talked about. I thought we would have more time.”
“I know. And I know it’s a lot to ask, taking you away from your life in Philadelphia.”
Morgan’s eyes teared up. “You and Jake are my life.”
“Maybe there’s a way we can split the time like we do when we come here. Or if you want, you could stay in Philadelphia and—”
“I don’t want a part time marriage. That wouldn’t be fair to Jake or to us.” She sniffed.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” Seth said quietly.
She looked up at him, wiping away her tears. “Some things can’t be fixed. Sometimes we have to make decisions and accept the consequences of those decisions. If you have a chance to follow your dream, you have to try.”
Chapter Seven
As soon as they touched down in Philly, life for the Blakes resumed full speed. The talk they’d had at the ranch had lit a fire under Seth. He made an appointment with his agent, Luke, for the following day to develop a game plan for his future. Going home had given him the clarity he needed to move forward. He was taking his father’s advice and going with instincts that had never failed him so far. Morgan insisted that she agreed with his decision, but he saw the look of sadness in her eyes.
He wanted to kick himself for suggesting they have a long distance relationship. It would kill him if he didn’t wake up and see his wife and son in the morning. She was right; being apart was never good for a marriage, no matter what the intentions were. For the first time in his professional career, he had to think about someone other than himself. It was scary taking a gamble when the woman he loved seemed so conflicted about it.
He’d sworn to himself that his career would never get in the way of his marriage or her happiness, and here he was turning her life upside down. He was going to chase a lifelong dream and hope he didn’t jeopardize his future with Morgan.
* * *
Morgan’s heart did a happy flip to see the teen book club meeting for the fifth time. Avery and her friends loved spending time at the bookstore. Michelle’s enthusiasm didn’t wane when the club got underway, and she was officially the facilitator of the group. Morgan spied the signup sheet and saw five new names.
She cleaned the café tables and straightened the magazine racks, anything that would keep her busy while she waited for Seth and Jake to pick her up.
“Hi, handsome.” Morgan beamed as Seth and Jake entered the bookstore.
“Hey, baby.” Seth kissed her.
Mor
gan shook her head. “I was talking to my son.”
Seth laughed. “What, I’m just an afterthought now?”
Jake lurched at Morgan, but she caught him just in time. She hugged him close and looked back up at Seth. “What have you two been doing today?”
“Went shopping for your dad and Sydney’s anniversary present. We found some nice things, and Jake and I got new suits for their party.”
“Aw.” Morgan smiled. “My baby’s first suit. I bet its precious on him.”
“It comes with a little tie, which I don’t think he’ll keep on, but he will make a grand entrance.” Seth rubbed Jake’s head.
“Well, if anyone can teach him how to do that, it’s you. I like it when you wear a suit.” Morgan eyed him up and down. He had a great sense of style. Today he looked like a catalogue model dressed in jeans, a nice pair of brown shoes, a scarf dangling around his neck, and a khaki jacket. He often found complementary clothes for Jake to match his wardrobe color scheme. No one believed her when she said she wasn’t responsible for father and son wearing matching clothes.
The book club meeting in the cafe was ending. Michelle closed with a few notes about the book and the girls were busy packing up their things. Avery looked up, spotted Seth, and came over.
“Hi, Uncle Seth.” Avery smiled, showing off her braces.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Seth winked at her. “How was the book club meeting?”
“It was great.” Avery blushed, then turned to Morgan with her cell phone. “Aunt Morgan, my dad is on the phone.”
“Hey, Robert.” Morgan chatted with her brother for a few minutes. “Not a problem at all.” She hung up and turned to Avery. “Avery, you will be spending the night with us. Your dad got a lead on a case he’s working on and your mom will be back tomorrow from her work retreat.”
Avery jumped up, her eyes wide with excitement. “Cool!” But then she frowned. “Dad was supposed to drop off three of my friends.”
“Babe, Avery and I can drop off her friends. I’ll leave Jake with you. When I come back the four of us can go to dinner. Avery, you choose the cuisine.” Seth smiled.
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