“Johnnie isn’t a barbarian like…”
“Christopher,” Fee finished with a glare, satisfied at Kendall’s blush. She rifled through her purse for her keys. “I have to go. See you tomorrow.”
“Do you mind if I came with you to this class? Johnnie will be home soon with Rory. I’m so bored. Johnnie gives me everything I’ve asked for, but once I’m finished work for the day, I have nothing to do.”
“You’re a mom. There’s always something to do.” Her mother had been forever busy with cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, reading to them, and a lot of other things that Fee would forever cherish. “My mother never slowed down. You can take this time to bond with Mattie.”
“Her name’s Matilda. My children will not have silly nicknames.”
“You won’t be able to control that.” Especially once they went to school and acquired friends.
“Can I come with you or not?”
“If you follow me in your car. The class is near my house. Once it ends, I have to cook my supper, lay out my clothes for tomorrow. Things like that.”
“Fine. Give me a minute to contact Johnnie and inform Ella I’ll be out for the evening.”
“Hey, didn’t Johnnie say he needed to talk to you?”
A guilty look crossed Kendall’s features, clearing when she smiled and smoothed her fingers over her yoga pants. “We always have things to discuss. It wasn’t particularly important.”
Fee felt otherwise, but that was on Kendall. “Okay. I’ll wait in my car.”
Outside, in the overcast day, she headed to her car, drinking in the breathtaking loveliness of the surrounding area. The house sat near a cave, while, yards away, through a stand of trees, ran a stream that snaked through the woods. One day, she vowed to follow its pathway to see just where she’d end up.
In the distance, the skeleton of a new house rose up, the beginnings of the cottage Digger was having built for Bunny. A nice little area of land perfect for Fee’s house sat nearby. Though it seemed as if this land was exclusively for the houses of Christopher’s close friends and their wives, if Fee asked her brother to build her a house, he would.
She smiled at her pretty red vehicle, a Christmas present from him and Meggie. While Christopher put up the money, Fee was sure Meggie had chosen it for her.
Thinking of Christopher reminded Fee to fire off a quick text, assuring him she had nothing to report. She hoped she was making the right decision, in trying to handle all she’d learned today, in the same manner Meggie tackled Kendall’s ridiculous accusations.
Just as she finished, a honking horn startled her. Kendall had driven behind without her even noticing. Hurrying behind the wheel, Fee sped off a moment later. The road cutting through the trees and ending at Johnnie’s and Kendall’s house was a real convenience in inclement weather. Otherwise, the ten-minute walk to the club served as perfect exercise.
That’s why she’d chosen to do it earlier today, never expecting to run into Stretch, and then Cash. She’d just wanted to clear her head.
Instead of remembering the abandon she’d felt tussling on the ground or the satisfaction of Cash’s response to the scene, she’d concentrate on the evening ahead.
Tonight, alone in her bed, would be soon enough to lose herself in the dilemma of her two lost boys.
“Talon, this is my cousin’s wife, Kendall.” Fee introduced her yoga instructor to Kendall twenty-five minutes later, just a few minutes before the class began.
Including herself, only twelve people attended, split between men and women. Talon tipped the scale in favor of the men, but tonight Kendall once again balanced it out.
He held out a hand, his smile wide. “Nice to meet you, Kendall.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
“I have an extra mat,” he told her. “In case you didn’t bring your own?”
“I didn’t.” She smiled, reclaiming her hand. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“I aim to please.”
Snorting, Fee snatched Kendall’s hand and dragged her away from the instructor. “He’s married. So are you,” she added.
“Stop being so uptight, Fee. The man’s hot. I never thought there was another man with such beautiful green eyes.”
“Compared to who?” Johnnie had silver eyes, a more unusual color than green to Fee’s thinking.
“Oh. That actor. What’s his name?”
“No clue.”
“You know who I’m talking about, silly.” Kendall rolled her eyes. “Forget about it. You’re no help at all. Talon is rather handsome with his green eyes and black hair.”