“Mom says she’ll need a hand with all the stuff she bought in town.”
“Zach, tell your mom we’ll be out in a second.” I drop adorable Erika to the floor and turn in Allison’s direction. “We’re going to help Riley. She usually buys up a storm when she goes into town and then she can’t find the energy to carry the stuff back into the house.” I chuckle.
“I can help.” Before I can even protest, Allison is already on her feet.
“Nah, Riley’ll kill me if I put our guest to work so early on.”
Right on cue, Isadora walks through the doors.
“Stay here and get to know the best nanny and housekeeper in the entire state, if not country. We’ll be right back,” I say, hugging the woman who’s been taking care of my sister’s kids for the past four years.
“Jake, what have you been telling this poor child?” Isadora playfully hits my stomach. She’s so tiny, she’s even shorter than Allison, who can’t possibly be taller than five two.
“Nothing. I swear. I fed our guest and I kept her company, just like you told me.” I kiss Isadora on both cheeks before calling on Hunter so we can bring all the food my sister bought into the house and then go drop off what she needs for her blog at her studio. “Allison, since I’ll need to drive up the truck in front of Riley’s house and her studio, I’ll swing by where you’ll be staying and I’ll drop off your luggage. I’ll walk you out with you later so you can get changed before dinner,” I say, turning to the blonde sitting like a star pupil on her stool.
“It must be far if you have to drive.” She looks alarmed.
“Not at all. It will be faster to drive by and drop all the food Riley bought than to make several trips by foot. All the homes built on this land are within walking distance of one another. You’ll see what I mean.”
* * *
When we get back to the house, Isadora and Allison are talking and laughing while the housekeeper tidies up my kitchen. I can’t help but notice how relaxed our guest has become since arriving earlier this afternoon. I open my mouth to say something, but my sister enters the house and it’s her show now.
“Allison, you’re here.” Riley walks right past us to hug her new assistant. When Allison gets to her feet, the difference in height is staggering. It’s almost as if Allison is half her height. My sister is already a boisterous woman, and since she’s five feet eleven, she stands out.
“How was the trip?”
“It was great. Everything has been like a dream since I arrived. I was able to spend time getting to know your brother and Hunter arrived not long ago,” Allison says, smiling at me.
“Did my big brother feed you, honey? I hope you didn’t have to eat that dreadful airplane food.”
“No. It was a short flight. And yes, Jake served your amazing soup and the wrap hit the spot.”
“Good. Jake, is it okay if I hang out here at your house with Allison for a bit? The kids are too noisy at my place.”
“Sure. Hunter and I will go take care of some paperwork.”
Before I finish my sentence, she’s already turned her attention back to her new assistant, leaving my best friend and I standing by the kitchen. “Thanks. You’re a sweetheart.”
I’m about to step back when something my sister says makes me reconsider.
“Allison, did Jake explain the living arrangements here?”
“Uh, yes, I think.”
“When I moved in with him and Hunter, we all lived in this house right here. You can imagine how crowded it was with four kids running around all day long. Jake and Hunter own so much land, they decided to build smaller homes to accommodate my little brood and they also built one for Hunter. This makes it easier for us to have some privacy… just in case these boys want to come home with a nice girl one day,” my sister shouts in our direction.
“Really, Riley?” I ask.
“What? A sister can hope one day you’ll find the one. And the same goes for you, Hunter. You’re like a brother to me by now and I want to see you with a girl. You two are like freaking monks. At least I have four good reasons not to be dating, but two handsome, single guys like you…”
“Whatever,” I answer, catching Allison’s eye.
At least she looks amused by my sister’s banter.
“As I was saying, we all have our living quarters and Jake also built a few extra houses on the property for guests. Isadora, my angel, doesn’t stay here. She lives about thirty minutes away and she’s usually here by five-thirty in the morning.”