Chapter Thirty-Three #2
“I can bring my Snickers ice cream cake. I make a real good one.”
“My mom’s gonna have enough food for an army.”
“I know, but I’d like to bring something.” She tapped her finger against her lip. “Actually, I could put together a centerpiece.”
Rags laughed. “My mom’s gonna love you.”
“Tell her I’ll bring the flowers”
He tweaked the tip of her nose. “You’re too cute, darlin’. Bring the biggest damn arrangement you can make.” He cupped the back of her neck and tugged her closer, pressing his mouth against hers.
After the kiss, she jumped up.
“Where’re you going?”
“To get my laptop so I can make out a list of things I need to do for the dinner,” she said, walking toward the study.
“What the hell did I unleash,” he said under his breath as he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
* * *
The minute Rags flicked the kill switch with his thumb, his two nephews and niece came running across the front yard.
“Uncle Rags,” Tyler said, rushing over to hug his uncle’s legs. “Can I sit on your motorcycle?”
“Hang on a sec.” Rags laughed, dropping the kickstand. “I gotta help my woman off.”
Lucas and Grace crashed into him just as he helped Casey off his Harley. She smiled at the three children.
“Hi. My name’s Casey. What’s your names?”
“Tyler,” one of his nephews said, extending his hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Casey said, shaking it. She glanced at Rags, her eyes twinkling.
“I’m Lucas,” the younger boy said.
Casey shook his small hand, then looked at Grace. “And what’s your name?”
Grace moved behind Rags and peeked around his leg, her big blue eyes staring at Casey. He grasped his niece around the waist and lifted her up. She giggled and looped her small arms around his neck, showering one side of his face with wet kisses.
“I want you to meet Casey,” he said between chuckles.
“Who is she?” Grace asked, hiding her face against his shoulder.
“Someone special to me.”
Grace raised her head, glanced over, then burrowed against Rags again.
“Hi, Grace. It’s okay if you don’t want to meet me just yet,” Casey said before smiling at Rags.
“Casey made a kickass Snickers ice cream cake,” he whispered into her ear.
Grace jerked her head up and glanced over at Casey again. “She did?”
“Yep. I brought it over to Grandma’s yesterday after work.”
“I hope you like it,” Casey said.
“I will,” Grace murmured, turning back to him. “Tell her how ice cream is my most favorite, Uncle Rags.”
“You tell her,” he whispered.
“Uh huh,” Grace said, shaking her head.
“Maybe you’ll let me know if you like it after you try it,” Casey said.
“You promised we can get on your motorcycle,” Tyler said with Lucas chiming in.
Before Rags could answer, he spotted Meagan heading toward them. I hope she doesn’t say anything stupid or bring up Julie.
“Rags, how long have you been here?” Megan asked, her gaze darting to Casey then back to him.
“Just got here when these hooligans cornered me.” He laughed as he set his niece back on her feet.
“Tyler, don’t get on the motorcycle. They’re dangerous and you can get hurt,” Megan said, her gaze drifting back to Casey.
“Relax, it’s cool. I’m standing next to him,” Rags said. He reached out and grasped Casey’s hand. “Case, this is my sister Megan, and”—he looked at his sister—“this Casey.”
A wide smile spread across his sister’s face. “Nice meeting you,” Megan said.
“Same here. Your children are adorable,” Casey said.
“Thanks. They’re a handful, but my husband helps out a lot. I set the rules before we had kids. You have to do that, you know?”
Casey nodded.
Rags cleared his throat. “We better go inside.” He picked Lucas and Tyler up from the leather seat and set them on the sidewalk. “Later on, I’ll take each of you for a ride around the block.”
“Yay!” both boys cried in unison.
“Don’t encourage them. I won’t tolerate them getting a motorcycle,” Megan said, her forehead creased.
“They’re only eight and six, so don’t start worrying about that now.” He wrapped an arm around Casey’s waist, anchoring her against his side. “Let’s go.”
“Me too,” Grace said, pulling on his jeans.
In one fluid movement, he picked her up and walked to the front porch.
“Casey,” Clara said, jumping up from the couch as they entered. “The centerpiece you made is beautiful. My mother’s been raving about it ever since Rags brought it yesterday. I can’t wait to try your ice cream cake.”
Before Casey could answer, Rags’s mother walked in wiping her hands on an apron dotted with whole and sliced lemons around her waist. She padded over to Rags and gave him a solid hug, then took in Casey.
“Mom, this is Casey.”
“I’m so happy to finally meet you.” She wrapped her arms around Casey in a tight, protective maternal embrace. “Clara talks about you all the time. Welcome to our home.”
“It’s nice meeting you, Mrs. Kendricks,” Casey said, stepping back.
“Call me Janet,” she said, linking her arm through Casey’s. “Come on, let me introduce you to Chase’s dad. By the way, the centerpiece is gorgeous. And your ice cream cake will be devoured before the night is over. You didn’t have to do all that.”
“I know, but I wanted to,” Casey said.
“I appreciate it. Thank you.” His mother looked over her shoulder at him. “Go get the potato salad in the refrigerator and bring it to the patio.”
Megan laughed. “Mom’s taken over Casey, so you might as well chill and have a beer.”
Rags grunted as he headed to the kitchen. “Where’s Keith?”
“Out back with Dad and the kids.” Megan clucked her tongue. “She’s pretty. And the way you look at her, I can tell this is the real thing.”
“She’s cool,” Rags said, popping the top of a can of Coors.
His sister rolled her eyes. “A man of a thousand words.”
“Where’s the damn thing Mom wanted me to bring outside?” He asked looking inside the fridge.
“The thing is potato salad and you’re staring right at it. It’s in the yellow bowl.”
He pulled it out and set it on the counter. “Does Mom need anything else?”
“I don’t know. She’ll let you know if she does.” Megan leaned against the counter and grinned. “You’re in love. I’m so happy for you.”
Rags gave her a hard stare.
“Really, I am.” She poured ice tea from a pitcher into her glass. “Paying off Julie’s debt was very generous of you. I almost died when she told me.”
His head jerked back. “What the fuck, Megan. Are you the town’s gossip columnist?”
“What? I didn’t tell anyone, not even Mom or Dad.” She took a sip of her tea. “Okay.” I told Keith, but”—she lifted a hand up in front of his face—“he’s my husband. Anyway, he won’t tell anyone.”
“Why the hell are you still talking to Julie?”
“I’m not,” Meagan said, crossing her arms against her. “I went over to see her mom and she was there.”
“How’s Glenda doing?”
“Not good.”
Silence fell between them, then Rags tossed his empty can into the recycle bin.
“She’s left.”
“Who?” he asked.
“Julie. She got back together with…” Megan’s voice trailed off.
“Larry. That figures. I knew she wasn’t in town to play nurse to her mom.” Rags shook his head. “Julie never did anything for anyone that didn’t benefit her.”
“You’re right. She’s a heartless bitch.”
“I told you that years ago,” he said, clutching the yellow bowl. “Who’s gonna take care of Glenda?”
Megan shrugged. “Julie said she was trying to get her mom government assistance, but nothing’s come of that. Something about her mom has too many assets.”
“I’ll stop by and see Glenda. She’s a cool lady. We always got along. I’ll see if I can’t get her some help.”
His sister came over and gave him a strong hug. He shuffled back and looked away.
“I know hugging’s not your thing, but underneath your rough and gruff ‘fuck the world’ attitude, you’re a nice guy.
” She laughed. “Don’t give me that stern look.
And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone what a great guy you are.
” She crossed her heart with her finger.
“Promise.” A glint of glee sparked in her eyes.
“Your promise means shit,” he muttered. “I better take this damn salad out back.”
His sister’s soft laughter followed him as he stomped out of the kitchen.
“What took you so long to bring out the potato salad?” His mom asked when he stepped onto the patio.
“Megan and I were rapping.” He gave his dad a chin lift then sauntered over.
“Casey was telling me about your new grill,” his dad said, a smile twitching on his lips. “Trying to compete with your old man.”
“I just thought we needed a grill, that’s all,” Rags said, shrugging.
“I like her,” his dad said in a low voice. “She’s a keeper.”
Rags’s eyes drifted to Casey, who was chatting with his mother and Clara while helping set the table. “Yeah, she is.”
As if sensing their conversation, Casey glanced over and held his gaze. A warm smile lit her face, and his heart skipped a beat, the realization hitting him in the gut: He wanted their lives to stretch into forever.
“How are the brisket and steaks doing?” his mother asked.
“Perfect, as always,” his dad replied. “And they’re just about finished.”
For the next two hours, his family took Casey in. Jeremy and Megan kept her laughing with embarrassing stories about his childhood, most of them exaggerated. Watching Casey laugh beneath the shade of the oak tree, Rags felt a deep, unfamiliar sense of total peace.
As the sun dipped behind the jagged mountain peaks, the air turned cold.
Clara grasped Casey’s hand and filtered into the house followed by other members of his family to escape the chill.
Rags flipped the top of the cooler and took out another beer.
He took a long pull, leaning his hip against the patio’s wooden railing.
The screen door creaked behind him. His mother stepped out, a soft, relaxed expression on her face. She walked over to the railing and stood next to him.
“I like Casey. She is lovely and genuine. I can tell she’s a good person, Chase,” his mother whispered, her voice thick. “I’m happy you found each other.”
“Yeah,” Rags said in a low voice. He took another pull of beer.