Divine Charity(Divine Creek Ranch 18)(57)

Charity could see the curiosity in Justine’s eyes as she turned them on her mom and then shifted them to her aunt. Grace giggled as Charity squirmed, bracing for Justine’s questions and her daughter did not disappoint.

“So…” Justine rested one elbow on the table and then shifted and rested the other elbow on the table as she sorted out her questions. “That’s…lots of arms and legs to keep track of, huh?”

Grace snorted and laughed until she held her abdomen and had to wipe tears from her eyes. Charity just put her hands over her eyes and gave in to the levity as Justine joined them. “Nice icebreaker, honey.”

“Kablaam, huh?” Justine said merrily, her cheeks bright pink. “I mean, obviously I don’t want actual details because you’re my mom and dad and…” She gave a comical shudder. “No one wants to imagine their mom and dad doing the deed, I just wondered about how you keep up.”

Charity said, “I’ve always been open with you and Beau where sex was concerned and I’ll be happy to share any details you might want—when you’re thirty years old, are married, and have at least two kids. Oh, and by the way, it’s them that have to keep up with me.”

Grace smirked and whispered, “That ain’t no shit,” and then high-fived Charity, and Justine rolled her eyes. Rudy approached just then with the check and Grace got it from him before Charity could reach for it.

“That’s it? No details…at all?”

Charity said, “You’re a smart girl, Justine. It works exactly the way you imagine it works.”

“I’ve read Aunt Grace’s books before—”

“You have?” Grace said, looking a little owl-eyed.

“Of course. I’m doing more than just studying languages, you know? I read for pleasure, too.” Justine’s cheeks turned redder and she shrugged. “It’s cool. I guess I was just mainly curious how the two of you handle your schedules and trying to keep up with who needs what. It’s a lot to contemplate.”

Grace was better at putting the ménage dynamic into words so Charity let her field that question. “There are no score cards and we try to live in the moment. Certain pursuits like television and video games have gone by the wayside so we can spend time with each other. That doesn’t mean that I’ve cut myself off from technology because I couldn’t do that. It’s just in its proper place within our family. They’re great help with Rose Marie and will be with this one,” she said, gesturing to her tummy. “I know I’m their first priority and that’s a wonderful feeling. The fact that there are three of them actually makes it a little easier.”

Justine looked from one to the other and said, “That sounds wonderful. I know I’m only seventeen but I hope that when I’m old enough that’s the kind of love I have. You’ve always looked so happy with the guys, Aunt Grace, and Mom, well…you just seem to glow even more lately. It’s something to aspire to. Oh, and Beau approves of this new development, in case he hasn’t told you that.”

Charity laughed and said, “I got a thumbs-up the day after we got home from our getaway weekend and he seems happy about it, but he hasn’t said anything else. The guys are talking about doing some renovations and enlarging our bedroom and they said he offered to help if they needed him.”

“I was about to say, sis,” Grace said as they got up from the table. “I imagined that you were feeling a little cramped in that tiny bedroom.”

“Just a tad. It was fine for two people, but four? I was relieved when they brought it up for discussion. What do you say we stop by Violet’s and see how Justin’s displays are shaping up?”

“Sounds great,” Grace said as she paused to rub her back.

“You okay?” Charity asked as she watched the way Grace frowned.

“I’ve been sitting too much lately, working on edits. It’s nothing, just Braxton-Hicks contractions. Now that I’ve eaten and gotten something to drink they’ll settle down. Let’s go to Violet’s.”

Charity made a mental note to watch Grace for other signs of discomfort as she started her SUV with the remote so it could cool off a little before she got into it. Grace had been all over town with them that morning and the temperature was on the rise. The fatigue she’d been feeling lately seemed more pronounced than it had been when Grace was pregnant with Rose Marie. She’d noticed earlier that Grace’s hands looked swollen and she wasn’t wearing any of her rings. Charity considered calling Emma and letting her know.