Chapter 11 #2
“You’re not on your own, not anymore.” Pixie glanced into the back seat.
Both kids were so quiet, she guessed they were napping.
She and Brogan had actually timed the trip for it, so they’d be well rested when they arrived.
“But you have Shayna now,” she unnecessarily reminded him, then added, “And that means you’re connected to Andy. ”
“And with Andy comes you.”
She liked the way he said that, with a hint of a smile that told her he didn’t mind. “And with me, you get Marlow and Cort.” Actually, he got Bramble, because this place was now home to them in all the very best ways. Before his time here ended, she was certain he’d feel the same.
“Sounds like I’m outnumbered.”
She grinned with him. “That isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Different, but not bad.”
Soon, Pixie hoped, he’d start to like it. As she’d learned, having more people in your life was a very good thing.
Benny was healing nicely, but wow, he was excited to see Brogan again. While Ellen entertained Pixie, Andy, and Shayna in the living room, Benny peppered Brogan with dozens of questions. At one point, he asked if he could let his friends know that Brogan was there.
Brogan had agreed with a shrug and soon there were five boys hanging out. Brogan managed to entertain them all.
“Do you think I could, you know, get a pic with you?” Benny asked. “For show-and-tell at school?”
The other boys cheered the idea, all talking at once about how cool that would be.
“Sure.” Brogan glanced toward the kitchen, catching Pixie’s eye. “I think we could manage that.”
Pixie grinned. “I’m happy to take it for you.”
Ellen handed over her phone, saying quietly, “Benny doesn’t have a phone of his own, but some of his friends do. I try to limit the time he spends on devices.”
“Good for you,” Pixie said just as quietly. “Parenting is hard, and I don’t look forward to Andy wanting all the newest devices. It feels like he changes so much from day to day.”
“Just wait until he goes off to school,” Ellen said. “Oh, my God, I cried all day, worrying that Benny would feel alone or scared.”
Pinched with her own worries, Pixie asked, “Did he?”
“No.” Even now, relief showed in her smile. “When I picked him up, he was thrilled to see me, but also excited and telling me a dozen things at once. He couldn’t wait to go back.”
Pixie hoped the same would be true for Andy. “They’re waiting for me. I guess I should take that photo.” She looked at where Andy sat on the floor nearby, playing with different-colored spoons Ellen had given to him.
With Shayna in her arms, Ellen said, “He’s fine where he is. I’ll keep an eye on them both.”
“Okay, thanks.” It was unusual for Pixie to feel such an affinity with another woman, but she liked Ellen a lot.
She darted into the living room. “Are we ready?”
Brogan went to stand behind the couch, where Benny sat with friends, but he leaned forward.
Benny shot a look at his buddies, who were also crowding in. Seeing the possessiveness in the boy’s eyes, she suggested, “How about a group photo, and then one of just Benny and Brogan?”
“Great idea,” Brogan said. “Come on, boys, squeeze in for this one, but be careful of our wounded hero here. Remember his stitches.”
Benny grinned hugely. “They don’t hurt much. They’re just itchy.”
For the photo, Brogan opened his arms along the back of the couch to encompass all of the kids; as they cheered, fists in the air, he even grinned.
“Got it,” Pixie said. “Next shot now.”
Tactfully, Brogan got the other boys out of the way, then posed Benny to show off the stitches on his forearm and forehead, while Brogan pointed at him and looked impressed. Benny thought it was hilarious and mugged for the camera.
Touched by how easily Brogan interacted with the boys, Pixie headed back to the kitchen. Then she heard one of the boys ask, “Will you tell us about being a SEAL?”
Another boy said, “My dad says SEALs are the toughest men in the world. Even tougher than superheroes.”
Not to be outdone, another chimed in, “You’re the real heroes, huh?”
She glanced back to see Brogan’s disconcerted face.
He finally said, “I worked with some real heroes, that’s true. You know why they joined up?”
“Why?” the boys asked in unison.
“Because they loved all of you.”
“But they don’t know us,” one boy said.
“Not personally, no. But they know you’re here, and they want you to have a good life.”
While she paused at the kitchen doorway, drawn to Brogan’s words, she saw him settle on the couch next to Benny. The other boys clustered around them, one practically on Brogan’s lap, one hanging over the back of the couch, and two sitting on the coffee table in front of him.
“They did their part,” Brogan said. “You know what your part is?”
They all shook their heads.
“You do the best you can in school, at home, and in all your activities. You don’t have to be the best—as long as you’re doing all you can. You stand up for your brothers.”
One redheaded boy with freckles said, “I don’t have no brothers.”
“They’re all your brothers. All of them. If you see them doing something they shouldn’t, you tell them so. If someone else is mean to them, you stand up and defend them. You treat everyone fairly.” Brogan gave that quick thought, then said, “Brothers and sisters.”
The boys glanced at each other, then groaned.
Mouth twitching, Brogan added, “And always try to be polite.”
A blond boy said, “My grandma says I’m real polite.”
Brogan offered him a high five. “Excellent.”
It was a fact—she was fast falling in love with Brogan. How could she not? But what was the point when he didn’t want that type of commitment, and she wasn’t ready for intimacy?
“He’d make an excellent teacher,” Ellen said. “The boys are hanging on his every word.”
Putting the phone back on the table, Pixie nodded. “He’s a natural. I noticed it as soon as he met Andy.”
Just then, Andy decided to use a wooden spoon to drum against the side of the stove, creating an awful racket. Shayna, who had been sitting on Ellen’s lap gurgling at her, let out a startled cry.
Pixie said, “Andy, don’t do that! It’s too noisy.”
He’d already jumped up and rushed to Shayna’s side, saying, “Shh, shh,” and kissing her head.
Ellen laughed. “Shh is right. I think you took Shayna by surprise.”
Andy explained, “My baby.”
“He’s claimed her,” Pixie needlessly explained.
“That’s so sweet.” Ellen smoothed down Andy’s hair, watched it spring right back up, and gave him a one-arm hug. “You’ll make a good big brother.”
Arrested by the idea that news had somehow gotten out, Pixie stared at her. She knew Marlow and Cort wouldn’t have said a word, but if Ruthie …
Ellen continued her observation. “Benny has a little cousin that he thinks of as a brother, even though Elijah is only five.” She glanced up, then went still when she saw Pixie’s face. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yes.” Trying to cover for her incorrect assumption, Pixie stifled a fake yawn. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Did your little guy keep you awake?”
It was more like a very big guy had kept her awake daydreaming. “I guess I was just restless. The start of the tourist season is always busy at the shop.”
“That’s right! You do the amazing designs at Marlow’s Whimsy. I’ve been in there a few times. I love everything you have.”
“My friend Marlow owns the shop. I only do some of the designs, but it’s a fun place.”
Brogan’s laughter had both women pausing. Andy went to the doorway to investigate. When Brogan called to him, he gave his little-boy laugh and charged forward.
Pixie watched as Brogan lifted him and, very seriously, introduced him to each boy. Shy, Andy tucked his face against Brogan’s chest, but he wore a big grin and repeatedly peeked at the boys.
Ellen leaned forward to whisper, “He’s staying close to you, right?”
It was a struggle, but Pixie managed to hold back her blush. “Cort is renting his lake house to him.” She didn’t admit that they were currently living in the same house.
“I think I’ve seen that property. It’s back in the cove, right?”
“Yes. Cort and Marlow are in the biggest house; then the next house is Cort’s rental property, which Brogan has leased for the summer.” He did still use it occasionally to do laundry or shower. “And then I’m in the last house.”
“You two seem to be hitting it off. Do you think there’s any chance he’ll relocate here?”
Pixie was quick to shake her head. “I know you come to Bramble to visit the lake, but the town is actually pretty strict about expanding. No new houses and definitely no new retail spaces. That’s why Marlow had to set up her shop in Lankton.
” That was where Ellen lived. To be sure she hadn’t offered any insult, Pixie added, “Marlow and I both love the town, and thankfully, it’s not that far from Bramble. ”
“A short drive,” Ellen agreed. “Shame he won’t be moving here for good. He’s a good influence. Can you imagine if he became a teacher? Or if he taught water safety or something?” She shared another grin. “Firefly Lake would get even busier.”
Pixie agreed with that. “Very true.”
After readjusting Shayna, who was starting to doze off, Ellen said, “I don’t mean to pry, and I apologize if I step on your toes or anything.”
Again, Pixie froze.
“There was a woman at the grocery store yesterday.”
She almost groaned, already knowing what she’d hear. “The store here?”
“Yes, about fifteen minutes from my house. She was talking to a man, a guy older than her, saying some nasty things about Brogan.”
“What things?”
“That he wasn’t a hero, that he walked around all high and mighty, but everyone knew the truth. She claimed he’d taken the baby from her.”
“Good God.”
“She was loud, Pixie, making sure others heard her, though mostly everyone tried to avoid her. I was behind her in the aisle. She made a point of saying his name. It really bothered me because Benny was with me. He didn’t need to hear someone talking like that.”
No, he didn’t.