“You know, mine said, you will get something unexpected—in bed.”
Candace took the opportunity to straddle Jameson. Jameson smiled. Candace leaned in and kissed Jameson passionately. She pulled back and grinned. “Well, for once your fortune was on the money.”
“Yeah?”
Candace nodded. “It’s called sleep,” she said, placing a kiss on Jameson’s lips, and flopping back into Jameson’s arms.
“And, you call me a lunatic?”
“If the fortune fits.”
Jameson laughed. Sleep it is.
***
“Spencer, slow down!” Marianne laughed.
Michelle spun on her heels and caught sight of her nephew barreling toward her. “Hey, little man!” she called out to him.
“Aunt Shell!” he ran to her.
“What have you been up to?” Michelle lifted him.
“Scott showed me bones!”
Michelle looked over Spencer’s shoulder at Marianne who was approaching with Maddie clinging to her.
Marianne smiled. “Scott took Spencer to The Nature Center to see the fossils.”
“Ohhh,” Michelle replied. “I’ll bet that was cool, huh?”
“Yep,” Spencer replied. “We got nuggets.”
“I’ll bet you did,” Michelle chuckled and put Spencer back on his feet.
“Where’s Coop?” Spencer asked.
“Coop is with Jay Jay and Nana,” Michelle explained. “He’ll be here soon.”
“”Kay,” Spencer said, and promptly took off running for the house.
“Where are you going?” Michelle called after him.
“Get my bones to show Coop!”
Marianne shook her head and jostled Maddie on her hip. “He’s a little excited. I think he missed Cooper.”
Michelle smiled at her older sister. “Sounds to me like he had plenty of company.”
Marianne blushed.
“Oh, boy,” Michelle surmised the situation. “Don’t tell me you will be next.”
“What?”
“Um-hum,” Michelle grinned.
“No,” Marianne put her sister’s thought to rest.
“Oh, so you and Scott are just friends?” Michelle teased.
Marianne sighed. “I didn’t say that.”
Michelle nodded and pointed to the patio. “Feel like a beer?”
“Shell, you have a ton to…”
Michelle grabbed her sister’s arm. “I’d rather have a beer with my sister right now.”
Marianne smiled gratefully. “Let me get Maddie’s play yard.”
“I’ll get the beer,” Michelle promised. “Meet you back here in five.”
Marianne nodded and headed off.
Michelle watched her go. JD is gonna flip.
***
Jameson stood by the counter smiling at the display unfolding before her eyes. Cooper was regaling Candace with his story about walking Melanie down the aisle. His determination and pride were evident, and Jameson was enjoying the expression on Candace’s face.
“Me and Jonah gotta do it, Mommy,” Cooper said.
Candace smiled. “You're a wonderful brother,” she praised him.
“Yep. Grandma gots me a tie too.”
“She did?”
“Yep. It’s blue!”
“Imagine that,” Candace pursed her lips in amusement.
Cooper loved blue. Candace and Jameson had determined his love of the color stemmed from his affection for the genie in Disney’s Aladdin. It didn’t matter where they went or what they shopped for; Cooper always wanted blue if it was an option. That included blue snow cones, blue ice cream, blue T-shirts—blue, blue, blue. It hadn’t occurred to her until Cooper mentioned his tie why Michelle and Melanie had chosen a blue theme for their wedding—Cooper.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and get your backpack,” Jameson suggested to Cooper. “I’ll bet Spencer is home by now,” she told him.
Cooper grinned from ear to ear and took off running.
“And, he’s off!” Jameson chuckled. She looked at Candace curiously, attempting to discern what was running through her wife’s mind.
“What are you thinking?” Jameson asked.
Candace smiled. “I was thinking that my kids never cease to amaze me.”
“Cooper is so proud,” Jameson replied.
Candace nodded. “I didn’t even think about it until just now.”
“Think about what?”
“Why Shell was adamant about having blue flowers, blue table settings, blue accents,” Candace said.
“Cooper,” Jameson shook her head in awe.
Candace’s kids could make Jameson dizzy from time to time. She still struggled now and again to understand her place in their lives. Jameson had grown to love each of them. She’d not given any thought to the details of Melanie and Michelle’s wedding. Jameson did what she always did—she tried to support their plans quietly unless she was asked for an opinion. She offered help when she could, and she made herself available to listen. One thing Jameson was grateful for, Candace’s three older children had embraced Cooper with open arms. He adored each of them, and Jameson was positive that Marianne, Shell, and Jonah would move heaven and earth to make their little brother happy.
Jameson kissed Candace on the cheek. “Are you surprised?”
“No,” Candace said. “I’ve been moving so fast lately; I haven’t taken enough time to pay attention.”
“Don’t do that to yourself.”
“What?”
“You know what,” Jameson said. “Candace, I didn’t give any of it a second thought either.”
“I just wonder what else I’ve missed.”
“You can’t be there for everything.”
Candace shook her head and looked down in despair.
Jameson lifted Candace’s face gently. “Stop this.”
“I miss them, Jameson.”
“I know.”
Candace shook her head again.
“I see where this is going,” Jameson said. Candace looked up. “Well, I do,” Jameson smiled. “Candace, you can’t be there for everything, and you can’t notice everything either. Stop beating yourself up.”
“Jameson, how did I miss that? I don’t miss those things. I didn’t even know Marianne was away.”
“Because she didn’t call you,” Jameson said. “Did you know everything Marianne was doing when she was in Texas?”
“No, but…”
“Or how about when Shell was in Boston?”
“That’s not…”
“It is the point,” Jameson said. “You are trying to talk yourself out of doing something you want to do. Don’t make the reason some guilt trip.”
“I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty.”
“Yes, you are,” Jameson disagreed. “Yourself, and it’s working.”
Candace groaned.
Jameson knelt in front of her wife and looked in her eyes. “Don’t do this.”
“Jameson, I just…”
Jameson smiled. “Candace, listen to me; please?”
Candace nodded.
“You’re making yourself feel guilty when you haven’t done anything wrong—and, before you protest, hear me out. If you approach it like this with the kids, they will feel guilty, even if that isn’t what you intend.”
“I’m not…”
“I know that. They love you. You forget that sometimes,” Jameson said. “They are so proud of you—all of them. The last thing any of them want is for you to hold back because of them.”
“You know that this family is the most important thing to me.”
“I do know. They know that,” Jameson said. “They do know it,” she repeated. “Cooper knows that too. We all do. But, Candace, the kids are just like me.”
“Is that so?”
“In the way that they are incredibly proud of you—yes. If you decide not to run for office, it can’t be because of any of us. It has to be because it isn’t wh
at you want. It has to.”
Candace closed her eyes and nodded. She opened them and placed a gentle kiss on Jameson’s lips. “Thank you,” she said.
“What are you thanking me for?”
“I think you know,” Candace said. “For keeping me in line.”
“It’s a tough job…”
Candace silenced the thought with a kiss.
“Mommy!” Cooper called into the room.
Jameson chuckled. “That’s you,” she winked at Candace.
“Yes, sweetheart?” Candace looked over at Cooper.
“Are you coming?”
Candace laughed. “Yes, sweetheart, we are all going together.”
Cooper jumped up and pumped his fist in the air before running back off.
Candace laughed. “What else has Spencer taught him?”
“He certainly has come out of his shell,” Jameson said. She heard Candace sigh. “Candace…”
“I know. I heard you.”
“We will make it work,” Jameson said. “We always find a way.”
“Are you sure you’re not the politician?”
“No way,” Jameson laughed. “Too many balls for my taste.”
Candace shook her head and laughed. “Lunatic.”
***
“So?” Michelle looked at her older sister expectantly.
“Yes?”
“Oh, come on! What happened?”
Marianne blushed. “A lot.”
“Like? Did you… You know…”
Marianne laughed. “Are we in junior high?”
“Well, did you?” Michelle asked.
“Did I what?”
“Did you sleep with him?”
Marianne giggled. “Not the way you are thinking—no.”
Michelle frowned. “Not the way I am thinking?”
“We didn’t have sex, Shell. Is that blunt enough?”
“Yes, thank you,” Michelle grinned and took a sip from her beer. “But?”
Marianne sighed. “I wanted to.”
“Okay? So, why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know,” Marianne confessed. “It’s… I just felt like I was betraying him.”
“Rick?”
Marianne nodded.
Michelle smiled compassionately. “Can I ask you something?”
“I don’t know,” Marianne chuckled nervously.
“I’m serious.”
“Go ahead, but I reserve the right not to answer.”
“Fair enough,” Michelle replied. “Do you love Scott?”
Marianne took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I feel something for him.”
Michelle nodded. “Marianne,” she reached for her sister’s hand. Marianne looked at her with tearful eyes. Michelle smiled. “Rick would want you to find someone. He would.”
“I know. But, Shell… No one will ever be him; you know?”
“I know. Loving Scott isn’t replacing Rick,” she said.
“When did you get so insightful?” Marianne tried to joke. She took a long pull from the beer in front of her.
“Go easy there, Mama,” Michelle teased her older sister. “Listen, I’m not suggesting you rush down the aisle or start your own Bible Study class tomorrow.”
Marianne sprayed beer from her nose and mouth.
“Sexy,” Michelle teased.
Marianne laughed. “You had to do that.”
Michelle shrugged. “What did I do? I was being honest.”
“Shell, I…”
Michelle held up her hand. “It’s none of my business—except that I love you.”
Marianne was visibly surprised by her sister’s declaration.
“Well, I do,” Michelle said. “Maybe I do joke a lot. The thing is, I’m really glad that you are here—here at home, I mean. We all are. We all miss him, Marianne. I know it’s not the same at all, but we all loved Rick.”
“I know you did,” Marianne said. “He loved all of you. Some days, Shell, I still think I will see him walk through the door. I even think I hear him sometimes. How can I even think about being with someone else when he is still there?”
Michelle nodded. “He’ll always be there,” she said.
Marianne closed her eyes. “You sound so much like Mom right now.”
“I spend a lot of time with her,” Michelle said. “She doesn’t think so, but I listen. I was actually thinking about JD.”
“JD?”
“Yeah. You know, she told me once that every so often she swears she can see Craig walking toward her.”
Marianne nodded. Craig had been JD and Scott’s cousin, the third party in the Three Musketeers. He had overdosed when JD was in college. His death had caused a rift between Scott and JD that had lasted years and caused both immense pain. Healing their relationship had meant the world to both JD and Scott. Marianne understood that the three cousins had been more like siblings. She could easily understand what the loss had been like for Scott and Jameson. And, Marianne never wanted to imagine losing either of her brothers or her sister. Loss, she had come to understand, was something you always carried with you. Michelle was right.
“I just don’t know if I’m ready.”
“What does Scott say?”
“That he will wait.”
Michelle smiled. “He loves you.”
“I know.”
“You love him,” Michelle said. She watched Marianne’s eyes close in resignation.
“It’s too soon,” Marianne muttered.
“Seems to me like it’s a little too late to say it’s too soon.”
Marianne chuckled. “I…”
“Hey, I’m just calling it like I see it.”
“You don’t say?”
Michelle shrugged. “I just want you to be happy.”
A few tears slipped over Marianne’s cheeks. “I’m happy for you,” she said.
“Me too,” Michelle said. “I hit the jackpot.”
Marianne nodded. She adored Melanie. “Anyone willing to put up with you forever is something special.”
“Hey!”
Marianne laughed. “Thanks, Shell,” she said sincerely.
“If you want to thank me, just promise you’ll keep the volume down on Bible Study when I visit. I’m already scarred for life.”
“Drink your beer,” Marianne said.
“Ahh… I see how it is,” Michelle took a swig. “I hope Jonah left his tent here when he moved.”
Marianne rolled her eyes. This family is nuts.
CHAPTER SIX
SATURDAY
Jameson sat at the kitchen table listening to the spirited conversation between Candace’s children. Jonah was getting ready to leave to pick up Melanie. Cooper had insisted that he was going with his big brother. Pearl and Candace had gone upstairs to get Cooper and Spencer ready so that the boys could make the trip with Jonah to Pearl’s house where Melanie was staying. It was organized chaos as usual in the Fletcher-Reid home. Jameson had noted that Michelle was far more relaxed than she would have expected. She wondered if Melanie was faring as well.
Marianne, Jameson had noticed, seemed a bit subdued. Jameson was curious what was driving her stepdaughter’s thoughtful demeanor. She watched Marianne carefully. Marianne would laugh at Jonah or Shell, but she seemed to stay out of the bantering all morning.
“Jonah!” Cooper and Spencer ran into the room.
Jonah laughed. “Did you need something?”
“Uncle!” Spencer put his hands on his hips. “We have to get Aunt Mel now.”
“Now? Right now?” Jonah teased the boys.
“Mommy has your cwothes,” Cooper told his big brother.
“She does?”
“Yep,” Cooper said.
“Nana says you better not make Aunt Mel late,” Spencer’s voice grew serious.
“Nana is right, Spencer,” Michelle agreed.
“Late? It’s 11 in the morning. Your wedding is at 2 in the afternoon,” Jonah said.
“And?” Miche
lle replied.
Jonah rolled his eyes.
“You might want to get there early,” Marianne said. “Considering you and Mel have to get Tweedle and Deedle there dressed.”
“You’re not coming?” Jonah asked his sister.
“Nope. I’m helping Shell.”
“Mom and Grandma are helping Shell!”
Marianne shrugged.
“JD?” Jonah looked at Jameson for help.
“Don’t look at me.”
“JD!” he urged.
Jameson laughed. “You can handle it,” she told him.
“Maybe Laura will meet me there,” he mumbled.
“Maybe Laura will meet you where?” Laura asked as she entered the kitchen.
Jameson snickered. “Guess that’s out,” she mumbled.
“Keep laughing, Grandma,” Jonah poked Jameson.
Jameson shrugged. “Hey, I wear it well,” she said.
“Yes, you do,” Candace agreed, placing her hands on Jameson’s shoulders and kissing her on the cheek.
“There is entirely too much estrogen in this room,” Jonah grumbled.
“Good thing you are taking the boys with you to get Mel then,” Jameson smirked.
Jonah shook his head. Jameson decided to save him. “Come on,” she said.
Jonah looked at Jameson curiously.
“Well, if I’m going with you to Pearl’s, I need to get my things to change into.”
“JD, I was just kidding,” he said.
Pearl stepped in. “It is my house,” she reminded them all. “I’ll go with Jonah,” she said.
“Grandma,” Jonah said.
Pearl smiled. “Jonah,” she grabbed his hand. “I think Mel could use a little family there, besides her Gram; don’t you?”
Jonah nodded his understanding. “Besides, all my things are there,” she said. She walked over to Michelle and embraced her. “I will see you in a few hours,” she whispered. “I promise, I won’t let him lose your bride.”
Michelle laughed. “Thanks, Grandma. I feel better now,” she winked. Michelle whispered in her grandmother’s ear. “It will mean a lot to her to have you there—to have all of you there.”
Pearl winked. “See you in a while,” she said. She squeezed Candace’s hand on the way by.
Candace smiled.
"Mom?" Michelle looked at Candace. Candace waited. "You're going with me; right? I mean to get my hair done."
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