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I heard Jud and Collin laughing across from us and tried to glare over at them but something about seeing them laughing together took the wind out of my sails. I sighed and even smiled before rolling my eyes.
Joe leaned over and whispered to me. “Thank you.”
I looked up at him and searched his face. “You have to be better. For Kenny.”
He turned away from me but I saw him nod ever so slightly. “By the way, I heard from Ken’s mom earlier. She’s coming.”
My eyebrows climbed my forehead and I made a strangled noise. “Oh?”
“Yeah. She’d booked some ridiculous world cruise with her boyfriend and apparently it wasn’t everything she had in mind.” He shrugged. “It’ll be a fun surprise for Kendall.”
I’d reread through the small part of the binder Collin had handed me the first day about custody agreements and moms. There had been times listed for the school year but since the summer time slots weren’t filled out, I just didn’t question it. I’d ignored the rule about not talking about the kids’ moms after hearing the kids mention their maternal parents in passing and I knew enough but the idea of meeting Joe’s ex made me feel weird. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Are Kenny and her mom close?”
“Yeah, I guess. She stays with her mom part time during the school year, unless her mom decides to go on a world cruise. Then she stays with us full time.” Joe played with one of my loose curls like it was the most natural thing to do. He also kept sneaking glances down my dress but I pretended not to notice.
“Does she do that a lot? Go on world cruises?” I shuddered. “How long does that last? The world’s a big place.”
“Nine months.” He outright laughed at the horror on my face. “Yeah. Angie only made it three.”
“Nine months on a boat? No, thank you. No amount of money would get me to agree to that. The same people for nine months straight, all confined to one space? Nope.”
“You know you’ve spent a ninth of that time confined to the house with us, right?” Collin helpfully added.
“That’s different. You guys are…you.” I realized how that sounded and rushed to fix it. “I mean, there’s only three of you. The kids are amazing and don’t count. I can handle three pains. On that cruise, who knows how many pains there are? There could be hundreds.”
“You like us.” Jud grinned at me and it took my breath away.
I rolled my eyes and looked over at the twins. “Are you guys excited to see Kenny in her play?”
Avery rolled his eyes. “I’d rather be playing Mario.”
Alex nodded. “I heard Tim’s parents leave him home alone. We’re old enough. We could’ve stayed home.”
Collin scoffed. “Tim’s parents are idiots.”
“What I think your dad means is that Tim’s parents are…idiots… Yeah, I’m sorry. I tried my hardest. Tim is your age? You’re still so young. Anything could happen. What if there was a fire? Or an intruder? Of course, in your mansion, it’d take the intruder two months to search everywhere for you.” I shook my head and then saw that they were all staring at me. “What?”
Avery groaned. “You sound like a mom.”
Seeing an opportunity to mess with the guys, I rested my hand on my stomach. “Iama mom.”
Joe choked while Collin stopped breathing and Jud just stared at my stomach. Avery and Alex looked back and forth at each other before Alex shrugged and they both went back to their own world.
“Kidding! I’m kidding!” I grinned. “Oh, my god. You should see your faces.”
Dirty looks came my way but I was okay with that. Before any of them could lecture me, we were pulling up to the Gingham Performing Arts Center.
I leaned over Joe and saw that we were in a line of cars, some of them limos like ours. As I watched car after car unload I was so grateful for Collin and the dress. “Collin, you angel.”
Joe grunted and frowned down at me to where I was practically in his lap. “I’m the angel. Not everyone could put up with your threats, you know?”
I tapped the end of his nose and smiled. “Get your smile ready, Mr. Grump.”
35
***Collin***
