Just then she heard voices coming from inside. She pulled away quickly, but Owen still held her hand clasped firmly in his.
“Hey, Momma. We brought you and Mr. Campbell some cookies.” Timmy carefully made his way through the door with a plate of cookies balanced precariously in his hands. Jeremy and Rebecca followed in his wake.
“I love cookies,” Owen said.
“Me, too.” Bella smiled at her son as he put the plate of cookies on the table. “You boys know Ms. Landry and Jake, don’t you?”
“Yep.” Timmy said.
Jeremy nodded.
“Hello boys. That was nice of you to bring out cookies.” Sylvia smiled at the boys.
Bella turned to her boys. “What do you guys say about going to see a new place for my shop and a new place to live?”
“Really?” Timmy beamed. “See, I told you if I could just talk to Mr. Campbell he could fix things.” Timmy rushed over and wrapped his arms around Owen’s waist. Bella could see that Owen was briefly taken aback by the unfamiliar hug from a child, but he dropped his arm to encircle Timmy.
“So we can still live with you?” Jeremy asked.
“I’m sure you can. It’s only a block away from where we live now. It’s on Rosewood Avenue. We can move in whenever we want.”
“Man, Uncle Gil is going to be sad that we’re not going to live with him,” Timmy said.
Bella wasn’t sure that was true. Her brother loved her boys, but living with them would probably have been more than her confirmed bachelor brother could have handled for long. “Well, Uncle Gil can visit you any time he wants.”
“You two want to tag along and see the place?” Owen asked Jake and Sylvia.
“We sure would.” Sylvia stood up.
“You boys want to go see it now? I have the keys.” Owen held out the keys in front of him and smiled at Bella. A smile that warmed her and held a promise of things to come. Of time together getting to know each other. Of more of his fabulous, soul-shaking kisses.
Bella slipped her hand in Owen’s and held tightly. “Come on boys. Let’s go see the new shop and our new home. Everything is going to be just fine now.”
Owen squeezed her hand and flashed that dashing smile of his at her. She finally believed her life might be falling perfectly into place.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Owen stood in Bella’s backyard in a new pair of shorts and a t-shirt he’d bought yesterday. Casual shorts with cargo pockets and the t-shirt said Comfort Crossing—Best Small Town In Mississippi. He was positive he’d never had a t-shirt with a saying on it in his entire life.
They’d just finished up moving Bella’s store and personal things into her new place. Jake had gotten a couple of his cousins to help. Sylvia had brought over enough food to feed an army. Jake and Gil were barbecuing burgers for the crowd of helpers.
A smattering of kids were running around the yard as well as a bunch of dogs. Jake’s family always seemed to be accompanied by a large number of dogs. He watched while Timmy played fetch with one of the dogs, tossing a stick for the large collie-ish looking dog.
“Come on, boy. Come on. Bring me the stick.” Timmy called to the pup. The dog obediently brought him the stick and Timmy tossed it again.
Sylvia came over and handed Owen a beer. “So, I just want you to know. Any brother of Jake’s is a son to me. You’re part of our family now.”
Owen reached for the beer that Sylvia held out to him. He choked back the rush of emotions running through him. “I don’t know what to say.”
Sylvia smiled at him. “You might be sorry. We’re kind of a big bunch of noisy bedlam.”
“You’re very kind to me, considering what my father did to you and Jake.”
“That has nothing to do with you. He made his choices, and you’ve made yours. You’ve been very generous to us. I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I hope that you and Jake can become friends.”
“I hope so too.”
One of Jake’s cousins came over and held out his hand. Owen thought his name was Spencer, but there were so many names to learn. “So, Jake told us you’re his brother. Good for him. Always thought he could use a sibling. Anyway, welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.” Owen shook the man’s hand. A family. He was part of Jake’s family now. In a strange way, this was more his family than he’d ever felt with his mother and father.
“So how about you put that beer down and help me wrangle up these boys for a game of wiffle ball? Gotta tire my boys out. A tired boy is a good boy,” Spencer said.
At least Owen thought it was Spencer. He was going to have to write all their names down and who went with whom.