I chuckled at his last words. Threaten little boys with being stuck with their teenage sister. That was low.
Simon and Steven looked at one another with wide eyes, glanced at me and then Gabe. They grouped and started whispering. After a moment, they looked at me.
“Mom,” Simon stated with authority, “You really don’t weigh as much as dad and dad always said that weight was important to not lose your kite and get it high.”
“We don’t want you to get blown away,” added Steven softly.
“Boys,” I broke in laughing gently, “I’m sure Gabe’s being overdramatic about me being blown away. Although you are correct. Thankfully, I don’t weigh as much as your dad.”
“Still,” Simon continued, “Maybe it would be better if Mr. Gabe helped us get the kite up.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Steven asked hesitantly.
I looked at Gabe, who had on his poker face. I narrowed my gaze. “You two sure about this?”
Both nodded. “If you’re okay with it,” Steven added quickly.
I gave a brisk nod. “I’m okay. Why don’t you three take it for a spin? I’ll watch it go up.”
The twins grinned and raced back toward the kite C.C. held. Gabe looked at me with a grin.
I matched it. “So you think you’re pretty smart. Next thing I know, you’ll be angling for lunch as repayment.”
“Flying a kite can give a man a terrible hunger.” He paused. “But it depends.”
“On what?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
“Did Jane make chocolate?” Gabe asked with a grin.
I almost threw my homemade chicken salad at him. “Did Jane make chocolate? What am I, the cook’s assistant,” I asked, even though I knew he was intentionally pushing my buttons.
“Yes, Jane made chocolate,” Jane said coming around the corner and setting a pan on the tailgate. “I have a few more things and Johanna’s bringing some stuff too. I’ll be right back,” she said with a grin. “It’s good to see you, Gabe.” Jane disappeared back around the side of the vehicle.
I looked back. “So, that’s a yes?”
He grinned. “That’s a yes.”
Gabe turned and headed in the boys’ direction without another word, leaving me to sit and watch the waving colors in the air. A minute later, Jane and Johanna slid down on either side of me on the blanket. We all watched the red bird with blue tips take flight and rise in the sky with the lone man and two boys holding it back tightly.
I blinked back tears. Jane and Johanna said nothing. They just each wrapped an arm around me. They didn’t have to say anything. They were there, and that was enough.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenny Rebecca Keech was born in Belhaven, North Carolina in 1973. She spent her childhood around the local farming community of Terra Ceia, frequenting such historic places such as Bath: a haunt of the pirate Blackbeard, Kitty Hawk: the Wright brothers' first place of flight, the beautiful Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound area many times. While she has traversed many areas of the state, she now resides once more along the southeastern coast of North Carolina in Wilmington. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and enjoys the water, hiking the mountains of North Carolina, white water rafting and horseback riding.
Visit my facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Rebecca-Keech or if you want to enjoy more of the flavor of my writing, try my blog at http://www.jenrekee.wordpress.com .
When No One Was Looking (Sophie McGuire Mysteries) Page 24