Chance Encounter

by Jerry Cole

  “We could make it work for a while. I love this apartment.” She looked around, sighing when Ava started to close her eyes. “So much for her bath. Do you guys want a baby?”

  “I think we do. Right now, it’s all about work, but a kid of our own would be good. We’re both madly in love with this little one, and it won’t be any different from Jackson’s son. I just worry about when Gram isn’t with us anymore. She loves kids, and she holds us together so well.” I smiled at the chats in my memory. I shared with Gray about kids.

  “Don’t do that. She’s healthy and happy. Gram cares about herself as well as us. She’d never ignore something that needed to be taken care of.” Becca looked at me with a face that told me she thought of the same thing. “I know she’s older, but people live until they’re over one hundred years old sometimes.”

  “I know. I’ve just never been as close to an adult before her. We didn’t have that life.” She nodded as I stroked Ava’s hair. “This baby will never know that feeling.”

  “No, she won’t. We have it good. Live in the moment, Hay. Live life and cherish the memories. That’s all we can do.” She shrugged.

  I went home once Mari returned so the girls could have some alone time. Gray was just walking in the door with take out. “I don’t know if you ate, but I grabbed Indian from the place near the office.”

  “We snacked. I didn’t eat dinner, though.” I watched as he set the bags down, hanging his keys on the wall. “Smells good.”

  “I don’t have to go in tomorrow. We got everything done for the new local podcast.” Gray got plates, and I stepped forward to help myself to some food. “Isn’t tomorrow your day off?”

  “It is. That’s good. What do you want to do?” I asked as we sat on the couch.

  “I want to go to bed early tonight, sleep in tomorrow, and maybe go on a hike. Grab some dinner. I need fresh air.” Gray winked at me, making me heat up.

  “That sounds perfect,” I told him, realizing that we’d have all day together tomorrow. What great timing it was.

  While we went to bed early, sleep wasn’t a part of that for a few hours. We finally passed out and slept in past ten, rising for coffee. We decided to make breakfast and threw something quick together before showering for a hike.

  We drove in my new SUV to a local path that took us through a few miles away with amazing views of the sound. I followed him, checking out his ass as he climbed a small hill. “Stop staring at me,” he called back with a wicked grin on his face.

  “I love you,” I called out, hurrying to catch up with him. We hiked for a few minutes before looking over the blue water, and I took his hand. “Can we make sure we have days like this?”

  “Yeah. I like this,” Gray responded, looking at me in confusion.

  “We’re working a lot and not seeing each other as much. I know we have goals and everything, but I need you.” He stared into my eyes and smiled. “You don’t have to worry so much about Jackson and this house. We’ll do what we can. I need you more than I need a beach house.”

  “You’re right. I just have so many goals. I can make that happen with one more client, and then the next one. My business is mine. I can’t depend on anyone but myself.” I took his hand.

  “Because I do, I can step back? We both need to make time for the rest of our lives.” I squeezed as I spoke, and he nodded.

  “I know. I’ve been working too much. I’ll cut back. I need time with you, with Gram, and the others in our little family.” He kissed me hard on the mouth, making me smile.

  We headed up further to another view and rock formation, sitting down for a break. “So, Becca says they’re thinking about another baby after our wedding,” I said as he stopped drinking his water to stare at me. “Mari wants to carry it, from what she said.”

  “Ava, Jackson’s son, and another baby. Wow.” He finished his sip. “Is everyone staying in apartments after that?”

  “Yeah, for the time being. Becca says they’ll need us too much to go too far.” We both laughed.

  “I guess that you could put two kids in that bedroom while they’re young. Hell, Ava might sleep with them for the rest of her life. There’s no telling what might happen, but I don’t want to be away from those kids or the girls.” He slipped a hand behind my neck to pull me in for a kiss, making me groan with the intensity of it.

  We heard voices and separated, looking out over the view as a group paused behind us. “Do you think there are hiking trails in Port Townsend?” I asked as he chuckled.

  “There have to be. If not, there’s a lot of sand to take walks on,” I smiled at him.

  We headed back to the car. Gray called Gram to see if she wanted us to bring anything home, which was when she mentioned her favorite pizza place. “Do you want to go there or get delivery?” I glanced at him. “I think everyone is around tonight. I’ll check, and we can go out if so.” He ended the call and looked at me. “Gram wants Antonio’s for dinner. Sound good?”

  “Can we go running tomorrow?” I asked as he laughed.

  “Yes, and every day after that.”

  It turned out that Amy was craving pizza and that everyone could go. We took over a back table in the small room, ordering drinks and their incredible house salad with the meal. It was one of the places that had one of the old arcades, and I took Ava there to play around on the games. There was an old claw machine that hands out small jewelry and things she couldn’t have, so we made our way to the table once the pizza arrived. Ava was crying, and Becca pulled her up, tickling her as a distraction.

  We enjoyed a long leisurely meal with family after a good day together. Amy grinned at the sight of the food, inhaling it as she apologized. There was plenty to take home, reminding us of the last morning at the beach house when we had it for breakfast. We told Gram the story, making her laugh before we took her back to the apartments.

  Everyone went home, and I asked Gray if he wanted to watch a movie. We curled up in bed with beer, finding something new on one of the movie channels and cuddling together once it started.

  “Tonight felt different,” I said as I glanced at him.

  “It did. It’s always good with them, but it felt natural and relaxed.” He kissed my hair. “We need to make time for that. It won’t last forever.”

  “I know.” I smiled. “Do you want to have a baby?”

  “I don’t want to birth one, no. It would be cool to have a kid,” he joked as I rolled my eyes.

  “Once we’re married and things settle, we can look into adoption. Do you want a newborn?”

  “I guess a part of me would, but we’ll get that experience soon enough. Maybe twice. Ava was at a good age when the girls adopted her, and I think I want to do it for the kid as much as ourselves.” He made a good point, making me stare at him.

  “I love you,” I said softly, reverently. “I love you so much.” I kissed him, tasting beer and Italian spices on the corner of his lips. “Our children will love you.”

  “They’ll love you as much as I will,” he told me before kissing me again.

  In the morning, I couldn’t remember what movie we were attempting to watch.

  We talked to the staff at the resort every couple of weeks, planning things slowly. We were going for a simple theme to match our wedding but wanted decorations and stuff for people to remember it by.

  We were looking at the reception room through pictures, thinking of dim lights and candles on the table. We didn’t want a Deejay playing the token wedding songs, but something more subtle that offered dancing and just milling about. There had to be a wedding dance for us, and one with Gray and Gram.

  We were both going to wear tuxedos at the ceremony, ones that looked similar. Neither of us competed with the other. Gram was going to walk Gray down the aisle while Becca and I waited at the railing of the gazebo.

  I was still overseeing the theater, involved in everything from the plays to planning events. I thanked Gray almost every night for making me take the Sundays of
f for some rest, and he thanked me for asking him to work a little less. We spent Sundays at dinner with the family, trying to see them all during the week as well.

  Amy was getting bigger and more uncomfortable. By the time November rolled around, and we were planning for Thanksgiving, she tapped out on a lot of the activity. She was happy about seeing Ava experience her first holidays aware of them but wanted to observe it all sitting down.

  Jackson worked hard for the company and his wife. He was too much for Amy most of the time, but she just kept that to herself, and let him and everyone else spoil her.

  I was in disbelief that it was time for the holidays again on Thanksgiving morning. We just went to the beach house last week, didn’t we? Our wedding and the arrival of the new baby was only in a matter of months now.

  “Calm down,” Gray told me, handing me a cup of coffee. “We’re going to get dressed and go to Gram’s to help out with things. It’s Ava’s first holiday with us, and we’re going to give her good memories.”

  “Yes, we are.” He stared into my eyes.

  “Take a shower. Get dressed. I’ll make us some breakfast while you’re in there.” I kissed him, heading back to do as ordered.

  “How is everything at the theater?” Gram asked me as she stirred the potatoes.

  “He’s happy he stepped down because there’s an event there every weekend but the ones around the holidays. If it isn’t a wedding, it’s a party. That caterer has a great name around town, and I almost feel bad for her.” Gray answered as I rolled my eyes.

  “That’s good. I like seeing so much going on in that old building.” Gram looked over at Becca and Mari, prepping some of the sides ahead of time, smiling.

  “I set my cap at ten podcasts. Seven of them are doing well and getting picked up by every platform. The other three are growing but have potential. It’s going to work out good, and I might be able to drop one or two.” Gray handed me a beer, and I thanked him.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Gray

  Dinner was fantastic. Having the entire weekend off was even better. The girls went shopping without Amy, who gave them a list of things to look for. Ava stayed at our apartment, eating leftovers and playing with her basket of toys that we always had ready for her.

  “I can’t believe she’s already going to be two soon,” I said as she talked softly to a doll.

  “I know. She’ll be two, and there will be another baby. Gram’s apartment is going to shrink.” Hayden laughed, taking a bite of his sandwich.

  “The entire building is going to shrink. Are you sure that you love living here?” I teased him as he mock glared at me.

  “My last apartment was run by a slum lord. I like this just fine, kids and all.” He took another bite, and I thought back to the fire in that apartment just after he moved out. After that, there had been the small fire here, both courtesy of Ryan. I was glad that he was gone, both for Hayden and Ava.

  “It’s ideal for all of us,” I murmured, taking a bite of the best-mashed potatoes I’d ever eaten. “God, the woman can cook.”

  “I know. I could eat this for days on end and be happy.” Ava looked up and smiled, eying my plate.

  “Want some potatoes, Ava? I’m going to have pie after this,” I cooed as she waddled over to me with her mouth hanging open. “I know that she might not remember this well, being so young, but she had a great time. Next year, she’ll have a cousin and love that. She’ll be a good helper.”

  “I agree.” Hayden watched as she made fast work of three bites of the potatoes and gravy, clapping her hands when she finished. “Good girl.”

  I got up to get some apple pie, making sure that Hayden had his eye on her. Of course, he did, because he was great with her. I made sure to get an extra-large slice of pie, remembering how much Ava loved it. When I sat down, she sat beside me and gave me puppy eyes. “I know. So good, right?”

  We were sharing it when Becca and Mari walked into the apartment. “Did you score?” I asked as Mari smiled at her daughter.

  “We did,” Becca told us that she took everything upstairs, meaning gifts were hidden in high places for Ava. “Did you have fun?”

  “Just ate and hung out.” I told them as they sat down on the couch.

  “We’re making a point of learning how Gram cooks. We’re writing recipes down so we can make it years from now. Ava deserves a tradition, and so does the baby boy.” Mari smiled as Ava went in for a bit of soft apple.

  “Cook it for us? We’re a little basic.” Hayden said as Becca laughed.

  “I know that all too well. I’ll feed you, boys. Don’t ever worry about that.” She blew him a kiss as he pressed a hand over his heart, playing the wounded soul. They were so much like siblings that it reminded me of how Jackson and I were with each other. Mari seemed to fit into the mix without any awkwardness, just as Amy did. I wondered if they balanced each other out and just blended into this crazy family.

  “Amy got her stuff, too. All of it! I took it upstairs.” Becca said after sitting in the chair across from them. “We got Gram a great TV for her room. I thought she could watch her Hallmark movies going to sleep, or if she were sick.”

  “How big is it?” I asked, and the girls smiled.

  “Just a forty-two inch. I know she’d hate us forever if we went too big with that. She might as it is.” Mari laughed, and we all joined in.

  “I was thinking of one of those frames that pictures just flash across. Maybe a DNA kit since the family is a hot mess. She might like to know more about herself.” I shrugged.

  “I hope there are no criminals. They might get caught,” Becca joked as I reconsidered.

  “There just might be, but Gram would like it if they got caught.” My eyes twinkled as Hayden looked at me curiously.

  “Don’t mess with Gram?” Mari asked, and I shook my head.

  “No. When she loves you, you’re golden. When you’ve done her wrong, don’t ever try to get back in her good graces.” I remembered some of the times that people had.

  “I’ll remember that,” Becca said, smiling softly.

  “You have Ava. You get a bit of an advantage unless you do something to her. Gram would cut a bi-girl in that case.” Hayden covered his mouth in laughter as the girls shared a long glance. “You’re good. You’re doing good by Ava. She’s a happy baby.”

  “I can’t imagine not doing good by her. How can a child not melt your heart? She’s not even my blood child, and I’d die for her,” Becca murmured as she looked at us.

  “It’s probably good Gram never heard anything about Ryan and the things that he did.” Becca gave us wide eyes, and we nodded, feeling uncomfortable.

  “Totally. Was it crowded out there?” I asked to change the subject.

  “God, yes. Amy would’ve hated it. We made quick work of each store to get home to our baby.” Ava walked over to Becca, climbing into her lap for a hug. “Were you good, Ava?”

  “She always is. We just played and stuff.” Hayden smiled at his best friend. “Are you going for the full tree this year?”

  “Yeah. I think she’ll be okay and again, tradition. We’ll avoid the fancy ornaments down at the bottom.” Becca laughed as Mari looked thoughtful.

  “Maybe entirely?” She pressed as Becca looked at her.

  “We’ll see.” They smiled, and we chatted for a while until they excused themselves for the evening.

  “I’m fucking full. I just want to stay in bed for a day until I need more food,” Hayden said as I chuckled.

  “I second that. Let’s do it.” We locked up the house, heading to the bedroom to turn on a movie and nap.

  “That was close when they brought up Ryan. Good save,” Hayden said a little while later when we were awake. His voice was hushed as if they’d hear him.

  “I didn’t want that train of thought going anywhere.” I stroked his hair, feeling my heart pick up at the memory. “They can never know the truth.”

  We talked about when to get the Christmas
trees, assuming that Jackson was all in. He did anything Amy wanted that was legal, and she seemed to be big into the holidays. “He has that big truck. That will help.”

  We fell back to sleep, getting up in a couple of hours to eat some more food. “We need to run.”

  “Not right now. I need more sleep,” Hayden moaned, dropping into bed.

  We slept through Saturday and went for a long run in the evening. It looked as though holiday decorating was alive and well, making us laugh as we stopped for iced tea at our favorite coffee shop. “That will get the girls started,” I muttered as we started to walk back to the apartments.

  When we walked into the building, we heard voices from Gram’s apartment. I tapped on the door, asking if everything was okay.

  Becca opened it with a grin. “We’re just planning a baby shower for Amy. It turns out that her family will come here for it as a surprise.” She wrinkled her nose. “Girls only. You boys are gross.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” We went upstairs and showered before going for Thai food for dinner. We needed a break from turkey and Thanksgiving food. The place was half-empty, and we chatted over the meal, enjoying the peace.

  The next week went back to normal with work, but there was a good feeling in the air. Hayden loved decorating the theater, spending long days shopping, and planning what the theme would be this year. They were open for events every Sunday apart from Christmas Eve, which happened to fall on a weekend this year. Becca got involved, creating a monster when they both came home, babbling about the latest styles. Mari and I declared that there wouldn’t be themes or major shopping for anything decoration related. It was bad enough with things normal as bad as they got.

  We all got trees about three weeks before Christmas after some pushing from the girls. We went with Jackson in his truck, picking out four good ones and paying extra to have them cut down for us. When we got them home, the stands were already set up. We got the trees in and declared the decorating day for the upcoming weekend.

  We decorated our trees individually apart from Gram. She always included dinner, along with telling of the stories of various ornaments to the newest member of the family. Amy was with us last year and heard them, so Gram told Ava about each ornament before someone lifted her to hang it on the tree. We all knew it wouldn't register, but it was too cute not to do.