The Unexpected Wedding(15)

And Martin.

Though she rarely let her thoughts wander to Martin, or to Ellie for that matter. It was all in the past. What happened had happened and she couldn’t change anything. She wasn’t sure she would have changed anything even if she could. Sometimes life just gave you hard choices.

Which is probably why she, of all people, understood how Jenny had made the hard choice to keep her son, Nathan, a secret all these years. To protect him. Sometimes tough choices are made to protect the people we love. But now Clay knew that Nathan was his son, Greta had a grandson she’d never known she had, and Jenny and Clay were married. Sometimes the difficult choices turned out okay in the end.

Sometimes they didn’t.

Greta took a long sip of her now cool coffee, glanced up at a hawk circling the sky, and went back inside to start her day.

~ * ~

Cal pulled into the driveway of Steve’s house at noon on Sunday. Steve and a pretty woman with brown hair were playing croquet in the front yard with Josh. The woman laughed as she sent Steve’s ball sailing to the edge of the lawn.

Josh looked up and waved. He dropped his mallet on the ground and came running up to the car with Louie racing by his side. “Hi. Come on out. Wanna play croquet?” Josh was tugging Scotty’s door open.

Scotty climbed out of the car and was almost bowled over by Louie. The boy recovered his balance and turned to his friend. “I never played it.”

“Come on, I’ll teach you.” The boys headed off across the lawn.

Steve and the woman walked up to the car. Steve had his arm loosely wrapped around her waist. “Holly, this is Cal. Cal, this is Holly Thompson. She’s the vet in town.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you. Steve tells me you’re going to work for him. That’s great. He’s been needing some more workers.”

“Glad for the job, ma’am.”

“Holly. Call me Holly.”

Cal nodded and glanced over at the boys. Scotty was watching Josh hit the ball with his mallet. Louie was barking and running between the two boys. Cal turned as another car pulled into the drive and an older lady got out and walked up to them.

“Mrs. Baker. Thanks for stopping by. I wanted you to meet Cal and Scotty.”

“Nice to meet you, Cal.”

“Boys, come over here for a minute.” Steve turned and called to the boys. The boys came barreling over.

“Scotty, this is Mrs. Baker.” Steve introduced the two.

Scotty stood close to Cal’s side.

“Mrs. Baker is fun. She doesn’t babysit me anymore. She just watches me and we do fun stuff. I’m too old for a babysitter.” Josh stood tall and crossed his arms across his chest, daring anyone to argue.

“That’s what I said.” Scotty nodded in agreement.

“Well, good. Then I’ll just watch you along with Josh. Tomorrow we’re going to bake cookies, how does that sound?” Mrs. Baker’s warm smile lit up her face.

“Mrs. Baker and I make the best cookies.” Josh hopped from one foot to the other.

“I like to make cookies.” Scotty looked up at Mrs. Baker. “What kind?”

“I’m thinking chocolate chip. Do you like those?”

Scotty nodded.

“Good. Hey, Dad, can we go back and play croquet now? I’m teaching Scotty.”

“Sure thing, son.” The boys ran back to play.

“I’ll take good care your boy, Cal. I know it’s hard leaving him with someone new. He’ll have Josh to play with. I’m sure it will be fine.”

Cal hoped so. There were so many decisions to make about taking care of Scotty. He hoped he was making good choices. How did a parent ever figure out all of this stuff? He was so in over his head but determined to try his best, for TJ and for Gordon.

“I’ll see the boys tomorrow, then.” Mrs. Baker turned and walked back to her car.

“They’ll be fine with her. Don’t worry.” Steve waved as Mrs. Baker pulled out of the drive.

“I’m sure they will.” He said it more to convince himself than anything else.

“I’m getting ready to grill out some burgers. Plenty for you two. Why don’t you join us?”

Cal looked over at Scotty laughing and racing around with Josh. “I appreciate it. We’d like to join you. The boys look like they’re having a great time.”

“Come on then. Let’s go stoke up the coals.”

~ * ~

Steve pushed through the door with one last load of dishes from the picnic table. Holly stood at the kitchen sink, her arms plunged into soapy water, staring out the window with a smile chasing the corners of her mouth. He sometimes couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have found her. She turned to him and her smile broadened. “Josh and Louie are having races.”