AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Answer it. You were going to call her, anyway.”
“I don’t want to wake them,” she whispers.
“You won’t.”
She gives me a look of uncertainty before she accepts the call. “Hey, Mom,” she whispers.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and scroll through the pictures I took of Ada and the twins when we first got here.
“I’m with Merrick at his brother’s place helping with his nieces and nephew while Maverick and Stella get some sleep. The twins were up most of the night,” she whispers. “Yes, I’m with Merrick.”
I glance over and grin, and she rolls her eyes playfully.
“I was going to call you, but Maverick called, and we came straight here after lunch.” She pauses. “I’ll call you later or tomorrow to set something up. I don’t know how long we’ll be here, and I don’t want to talk too loud and wake anyone up. The whole house is sleeping peacefully.” She pauses. “Okay. Love you too. Bye.” She ends the call and places her phone on the couch next to her.
“She’s persistent.” I chuckle.
“You have no idea.”
“Moms love me,” I tell her, making her sputter with quiet laughter.
“I have no doubt.” She shakes her head, but her smile never leaves her face. “Is there anything we can do for them? I think I’ll see what they have so that I can make them dinner. Is that okay?”
“Absolutely. I’m sure they would both appreciate that. We don’t have to make anything, though. I can run out, or I can give you money and you can run out and grab some takeout.”
“Nah, they need some home cooking. Come on.” She stands and offers me her hand, and I take it without hesitation. It seems our earlier conversation helped her, or maybe it was the way an exhausted Stella and Maverick welcomed her into their home and were grateful she was here with me. Regardless of the reason, she’s open, and her smile has been permanent since I hung up the phone with Maverick earlier.
She guides me into the kitchen and starts to rummage through the cabinets. She turns around with a smile. “Chicken and noodles?” she asks.
“Do they have what you need?”
“They do. Crock-Pot?”
“I think it’s on the shelf in the laundry room. I’ll check.” Sure enough, I find it and place it on the kitchen counter, plugging it in. Courtney gets to work making dinner for my brother and his family.
“Can I help?”
“Yes. Unload the dishwasher so they won’t have to do it after they eat.”
“How do you know it’s full?”
“Because they are raising nine-week-old twins with a two-and-a-half-year-old. They’re exhausted, and unloading the dishwasher is the last thing on their minds.”
She’s right and smirks when I tell her so as I unload the dishwasher and reload it with the dishes in the sink. Once dinner is in the Crock-Pot, and the dishwasher is unloaded, reloaded, and running, Courtney suggests we do a load of laundry as she starts wiping down counters and sweeping the kitchen floor.
“You don’t have to do all of this,” I tell her.
She shrugs. “I can only imagine how crazy life is for them while they navigate two babies and a toddler. I don’t mind. Besides, we’re here to help, and it’s all things we can do that won’t wake anyone up. I’m certain all of these things won’t go unnoticed, at least not by Stella.” She chuckles.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. Just that men sometimes don’t think of these kinds of things like women do.”
“I’ll have you know, I’m all about the domestic tasks. My house was clean.”
She grins. “Yes, but did you think to make them dinner, do the dishes, sweep the floor, or do a load of laundry? My guess is if you were here on your own, you’d get the kids down, and then chill on the couch.”
“So much sass,” I say, tickling her side. She smacks her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. “But you’re right, and, Court—” I pull her into my embrace and kiss just below her ear. “I’m proud of you for speaking up.”
