Page 221 of When Love Takes Root

And then there was Josiah.

He stood near the backyard gate in a white T-shirt, dark jeans, and that intentional way he had of making simple things look like provision. When his eyes found mine through the windshield, the knot in my stomach loosened and tightened at the same time.

Because he had said he loved me.

Because my children were about to be released into a gathering full of people who loved him and might decide I was the problem if one of mine acted feral.

I turned around in my seat. “Listen to me.”

All five of my children looked at me.

JJ leaned into the open driver’s window.

“We’re not embarrassing me today.”

Skye blinked. “Are questions embarrassing?”

Kayden answered first. “Yes.”

Zuri frowned. “No.”

Maya lifted one shoulder. “It depends on the question.”

JJ sighed. “That’s worse.”

I pointed at all of them. “No asking about marriage. No asking about babies. No asking his family if they approve of me. No asking how many rooms he has. No asking if he has a will.”

Skye’s mouth dropped. “I wasn’t gonna ask about the will.”

Zuri looked away too fast.

“Zuri.”

“What? Estate planning is important.”

Kayden opened his door. “I’m leaving before I’m associated with this.”

JJ laughed and pulled him into a headlock as soon as he got out. Kayden shoved him off, but he was smiling, and the sight of that alone made my chest soften. A few months ago, my son’s grief had worn anger like armor. Now he was standing in Josiah’s driveway, letting his brother mess with him, looking seventeen instead of forty.

Thank You, Lord.

Josiah reached my door before I could open it.

“Hey, Red.”

I took his hand and stepped out. “Hey.”

His eyes moved over my face. “You nervous?”

I almost lied.

But Josiah kept looking at me like he had time for the truth.

I let out a breath. “Yes.”

His thumb moved across my knuckles. “About what?”

“All of it.” I glanced toward the house, then the yard, then the people moving around like they already belonged to one another. “Meeting your mama. Meeting your family. My kids being themselves at full volume. Everybody watching us. Wondering if they’re going to think I’m too much, or my family’s too much, or that I come with more grief than somebody should have to make room for.”