“I wish that I’d called one of the guys to come pick you up. At least she’d know you have some badass guys in the family who watch out for you, besides your brother of course.”
“Now don’t go getting all wild on me, Mom. I’m handling things okay. I can endure anything until next May. Speaking of Val and Ransome, I like having them around.”
“Me, too, sweetie.” That was the total truth. She especially loved that they hung out in the evenings with the family.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” Charity replied as she scooped out a bite of marshmallow-cream-covered brownie.
“Aunt Gracie is really happy, isn’t she?”
“What do you mean?” She needed to proceed with caution regarding answering questions about Grace’s private life, since the answers might not be hers to give and she didn’t gossip about Grace.
Justine bit her lip and looked out the window at the cars passing by. “I’m not being nosy or anything. I just think that she seems like she’s super happy with Jack, and Adam, and Ethan. They’re so sweet to her and Rose Marie.”
Charity nodded, recalling a recent conversation with Ransome involving Grace and her men. “They are. I don’t think she could accomplish as much as she does in a day without their love and support.”
Justine nodded and was quiet for long seconds before glancing up at her mom. “I heard that Jack, Ethan, and Adam are cousins.”
Heat crept up in Charity’s cheeks because she had an idea of where the conversation was going. She’d never shied away from talking to her kids about the facts of life, which for them happened to include a ménage in the family. “Yes, they’re distant cousins. I think they have great-great-great-great-great-grandparents in common, or something like that.”
“I’ve grown up thinking of Val and Ransome as uncles more than second cousins.”
Charity nodded. “They’re like brothers to your dad, and always have been since they were all born so close to the same time. Did you want to ask me something?”
Justine grinned and shook her head. “No, I just noticed that they fit in to the family really well. There’s symmetry when they’re around…sort of like Aunt Grace has, um…symmetry.”
“Such as…”
“Well they don’t act like houseguests. They act like members of a family. They don’t just clean up after themselves, they help out, too. Like Val was doing laundry this morning.”
Charity suddenly sat up straight. “Laundry? Which laundry?”
Justine burst into laughter. “Don’t worry, Mom, he didn’t touch your stuff. I heard Dad warn him about doing that.”
Charity snickered, recalling early on in their marriage that he’d decided to be helpful and had done her laundry for her. Once. “What did your dad tell Val?”
Justine snorted with laughter and then adopted a deep voice, imitating her dad. “Don’t fuckin’ touch Charity’s shit. She will castrate your ass with a spoon. If it looks like something she’d wear, leave it the fuck alone.”
Charity burst into giggles and said, “Listen to your potty mouth. We’re such bad examples as parents.”
“Nah. You’re great. I can hardly speak like that with a straight face.”
“I know. Maybe that’s why it sounds so funny coming from you. I’m glad you feel close to them, though. They’re family.”
“Why didn’t the four of you ever get together?”
Charity blinked at Justine’s hastily asked question. “Um.”
“Mom,” Justine quietly said, reaching out to place her hand over her mom’s. “Maybe I’m like Aunt Grace, Rachel, and Veronica and I see romance everywhere I look. I don’t know. It just seems…”
“Seems what?” Her voice caught on the last word.
“Seems like the natural progression? Beau and I will be out of your hair before you know it. Empty nest and all. I don’t mean to stick my nose in your extremely private business, but it’s not like I’m really shocking your prudish sensibilities, am I?”
Well, hell. What do I say to that? “Um. Well…there’s history there. Not history-history. It’s more complicated than it looks. Grace and I have different temperaments. And your dad…”
Justine stopped her with an upraised hand. “I was just curious. I just think the four of you look…” Justine’s words trailed off for a few seconds before she made eye contact with her and then glanced away. “…great together. That’s all I’m saying. I’ll shut up now. Sorry.”