11. Mark
“Hey, Jay, slow down. Give Josh a chance to catch up,” I holler, jogging to keep up with my five-year-old grandsons.
Jason and his twin brother, Josh, have more bounce on them than a rubber ball.
They’ve got two speeds, high gear and dead asleep.
I know for a fact that Sloane and Jax stay busy taking care of these two.
I love the living hell out of them and wouldn’t change their spunkiness for the world.
But I also know my limits and have quickly learned that exercise and organized activities are key to successful overnight grandparenting.
To wear them out, I’ve taken them longboarding along the promenade.
They’re really getting good since they got their boards.
I have my own at home, but since they’re still a bit chaotic when they ride, I thought it better not to bring mine today.
“Look at me, Papa!” Josh pumps hard with his feet and coasts around his brother with ease. With his hands behind his back, he glides down the pavement like he was made to skate.
“Way to go!” I encourage, then internally chuckle when Jason decides he isn’t having it.
Pumping his leg harder, he picks up speed and zooms right up along his brother in no time.
Ohmigod, sibling rivalry runs deep in our family.
Their mom has always been competitive.
When Sloane sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her.
Our family jokes it’s her tenacity that landed her their dad.
As an up-and-coming talent scout, she not only found Jax in a local dive bar but also introduced him to the world, and he quickly became the renowned rockstar everyone knows and loves today.
From what I’ve learned about Jax over the years, he’s just as driven.
As the lead man for Ruby Frax, their band continues to top the charts with each new album.
With parents like Sloane and Jax, these boys come by their competitiveness honestly. They never stood a chance.
Sprinting to catch up, I arrive just in time to overhear, “Bro, that was sick,” fly out of Josh’s mouth.
These kids kill me.
They sound more like teens than two boys barely out of toddlerhood.
I’m not responsible for their mouths, but I’ll proudly take full credit for teaching them to longboard last summer.
It started when I took them riding when they were barely able to walk each time I came home to visit.
I’ve done it with all my grandkids. But I swear, these boys were naturals once they got their own boards and could practice regularly.
One good thing that came from growing up in this tiny beach town and living on the edge of the promenade was longboarding.
Before I discovered girls, it was how I spent every waking moment as a kid—well, that and surfing.
But I’m not ready to teach my grandkids how to surf just yet.
Their parents can do that when they’re ready.
Some of my daughters still surf regularly, but I’m not sure Sloane has done much of it since having her boys.
“Papa, you should’ve brought your board,” Josh calls out, getting my attention.
“Next time, buddy. I’m good jogging beside you for now. Are you two about ready to head home for dinner?”
“Not yet,” Josh blurts, picking up speed again and darting forward, leaving us in the dust.
“Can we make s’mores?” Jason asks eagerly.
“If you eat a good dinner, I might be able to make that happen,” I hedge.
I learned long ago never to promise anything I can’t deliver.
Fortunately for them, I always keep a stash of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers on the top shelf in the pantry for special occasions like this.
It’s well out of sight and is something I love surprising them with.
Between that and blueberries in the freezer for pancakes in the morning, I’m always prepared for almost anything they throw at me.
If not, I make sure I have it the next time they visit.
After missing so much of their childhood while being in the Air Force, I’ve made it my mission to make up for lost time. My mom was the best grandparent imaginable, and I’m doing my best to live up to the high bar she’s set.
I’ll never forget the day she punched her hands into her hips and told me in no uncertain terms, “It’s a grandparent’s prerogative to have special traditions with my grandbabies.”
Since I consider her to be the top role model when it comes to grandparenting multiple grandkids, I’ve made making memories like longboarding and s’mores something every one of my grandkids can count on when it comes to this papa.
I wonder what Faye would think of them.
She adored kids when we were younger. Does she still feel the same?
Obviously, we didn’t spend much time getting into deep conversation last night, but now that I’m away from her, I’m curious about her story.
How on earth is she single and here in Seaside of all places ?
Beyond work, I’m dying to know what she’s been up to for the past thirty years.
Sure, with a few swipes of my fingers, I could find out most of this on my own, thanks to my contacts with Riggs, but my gut tells me it’s best to hear the full story from Faye, rather than do a deep dive into her private life.
As twitchy as I am to fill the gaps, she needs to tell me in her own due time.
“Papa!” Jason calls out, forcing me to stop thinking about Faye for the millionth time since parting this morning.
“What’s up, Jay?” I ask as I purposely dart my eyes around him in search of any potential danger. It’s unusual for him to shout in this tone at me.
Without missing a beat as he zips down the sidewalk, he rubs his stomach for emphasis and hollers, “I’m hungry.”
Waiting until we safely pass the young family out for a summer evening stroll, I call out so Josh can hear. “Let’s turn around. It’s time to head home.”
Once I’m sure Josh has slowed and is heading this way, Jason and I stop to wait for him. Then, as soon as they’re both pointed in the right direction, I quickly drop a challenge I know they won’t refuse. “Who wants to race home and get dinner started?”
“Can we help cook?” Josh asks with such eagerness there’s no way I’d refuse his request.
“Of course. How else will you do it for yourself someday?”
“Papa,” Josh adorably huffs in exasperation. “I’m five. Momma says we can’t cook without a grown-up.”
Shit, he’s got me there.
Smacking my forehead as if that thought never crossed my mind, I grin and exaggeratedly shake my head. “She’s right, you do need a grown-up, but there are plenty of things you can do to help with dinner. By the time you get to be my age, you’ll be cooking with ease.”
“Can we make smashed potatoes?” Jason asks eagerly.
This right here is why kids should name everything. I know I should correct him, but he’s simply too adorable to contradict the words coming out of his mouth.
“Only if you help wash and peel them,” I counter, knowing full well the two of these guys will somehow find a way to make it a competition.
“Do you have cob corn?” Josh asks. “Momma made some last night. It was yummy!” Christ, the way he’s rubbing his stomach… There’s no way I can say no to that, either.
“I’ll tell you what. When we get home, we’ll hop in my truck and head to the store. Then we’ll come back and cook.”
“Let’s do it!” Josh shouts. Then, on his next breath, he adds, “I’ll race ya home, Jay!”
“Ready… Set… Go!” Jason shouts, and the two of them pump like crazy, pushing their boards to the limit. I have no choice but to sprint after them and do my best to ensure they stay out of trouble.
My heart zings when I turn onto my street and spot Faye outside, checking her mailbox.
How we didn’t run into one another before this week is beyond me.
I can’t help the smile that forms as I watch her long blonde hair flow in the light breeze. It’s hard not to notice her curves on full display in dark, well-fitted jeans and a loose tank as she bends to check inside the box.
Damn, she’s gorgeous.
With her back to me, memories from last night flood through me, and I revel in this small moment, since she doesn’t immediately clock my approach.
As I roll down my window and pull up beside her, the boys take notice.
“Who’s that, Papa?” Jason asks with interest.
When Faye’s eyes meet mine, a wide smile spreads across her beautiful features. “Hey there.” She chortles. “Fancy seeing you so soon, Mark.” Then she glances from me to my grandsons. “Who do we have here?”
“Papa,” Josh whisper-shouts, much louder than necessary. “Who is she?”
Yeah, he’s as subtle as a bull in a china shop.
Amused by their curiosity, I turn and face the boys sitting in the back of my crew cab in their booster seats. “Boys, this is Faye. She lives next door.” I point to her house because I’m sure that’ll fly out of their mouths next. “Faye, these are Sloane and Jax’s twins, Jason and Josh.”
“What have you all been up to?”
“Papa took us longboarding,” Josh chimes in.
At the same time, Jason says, “We went shoppin’ for smashed potatoes and corn cobs.” Then he puffs out his chest with pride and adds, “We’re making dinner.”
“Is that right?” Faye’s amused expression melts my heart. “I hope your papa feeds you more than potatoes and corn on the cob.”
“Of course,” I jump in, patting the steering wheel for good measure, wishing my hands could reach out and push that wispy runaway lock of hair behind her ear.
“We’re having steak and mushrooms to go with our other vegetables.
” With a hopeful glance in her direction, I quickly add, “Care to join us?”
“And s’mores for dessert,” Josh enthusiastically interjects. “Papa makes them.”
“Oh,” Faye draws out happily. “I haven’t had s’mores in years. Those sound delicious.”
I turn just in time to see Jason’s mouth drop open. “Years? That’s a long time. Papa makes the bestest ones.”
Her knowing glance my way reminds me so much of when we were kids. “I remember that. Did you know your papa and I used to go to school together?”
“Really?” flies out of both boys’ mouths at the same time.
But it’s Josh who shares, “We’re goin’ to school this year, too!”
“That’s right,” I acknowledge. “You’ll start kindergarten at the same school as your cousins and where Aunt Liz works.”
“But not Everett, Embry, and Candace. They’re too little,” Jason interjects.
“They’ll be there in due time,” I counter.
“You’ve already got them longboarding, and they’re not even in kindergarten?” Faye asks in disbelief.
“Uh… He taught us last year. We go real fast now!” I don’t even have to look to know Jason’s punched his hip and is cocking his head in challenge.
As a five-year-old, he thinks the world should already know his every move. Though that’s likely because the adults around him can spot his plotting from a mile away.
This earns an amused chortle from Faye. “I don’t doubt that. Your papa always loved longboarding.”
“If I recall,” I quickly add, raising a brow, “you weren’t so bad at it either.”
Faye shakes her head. “Oh, Lancaster. That ship has sailed.”
“I’m sure if you gave it a try, it’d be like riding a bike.”
“The risk isn’t nearly worth the reward,” she muses. “Besides, if I fell now, I’d likely break a hip or something.”
“Sheesh, it’s not like you’re signing up for AARP or anything just yet,” I tease.
“Ohmigoodness!” Faye quickly covers her mouth as she rolls her eyes in amusement. “I can’t even with you, Lancaster.”
Instead of pushing my luck further, I change tactics. “What do you say, Faye? Are you up for dinner with the boys and me? I’ve got plenty.”
Faye tilts her head to the side, and an unreadable expression crosses her features. When she looks from me to the boys, I go for the jugular.
“How’s that stomach of yours gonna handle my barbecue wafting through your windows if you stay next door? Besides, when was the last time you ate?”
Pulling a hand to her stomach, she rolls her lower lip under her teeth before sighing heavily. “My meeting went right through lunch, so… breakfast?”
“You need to eat,” I pointedly remind her.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she grumbles. “I eat.”
“I’ll tell you what…” I counter. “Let’s get you fed, then, if you’re lucky, these boys and I will challenge you to a game of UNO. Fair warning, these two”—I turn their way to prove a point—“like to gang up on the unsuspecting.”
Her beautiful laugh is music to my ears. “Who can refuse an offer like that? Just let me put my mail inside, and I’ll be over—on one condition…”
“What’s that?” Josh asks, fully invested in our conversation.
“That you let me help.”