“Nine years this January. I can’t even believe it’s been that long.” Abby turned the diamond ring on her left hand.
“And they’re still sappy sweet in love,” Beth said, smiling.
“And going to Fiji for a week,” Hannah added. “So jealous.”
“Yes, I have Matt’s parents to thank for that. They offered to keep our crew. I know you’ll both be stepping in to help, so thank you ahead of time. And you’re one to talk, Hannah. You and Stephen still live like newlyweds after five years. So do you and Tony,” she added, looking at Beth.
“Yes, though if you count when Tony and I started dating, not even dating, ‘going steady’ ”—she said with air quotes—“we’ve been together almost thirty years.”
Paige got that empty feeling again, staring at the obvious love on Beth’s face. On all their faces. What would that be like? To love a man and have him love you back. To be with one person forever and make a real family like the ones she’d seen here. She hadn’t thought it was real. Hadn’t believed in it at all.
“We all got lucky, that’s for sure. And there’s one more brother to get lucky with,” Hannah said, smiling, and all the women turned their eyes toward her.
“JT’s never brought a girl home before. Not in all the time I’ve known him,” Beth said.
“Oh, well…It’s just for Casey,” she said again.
“Do you really believe that?” Hannah asked. “I have a lot of kids come ride here, and none get an escort by the man personally making their prosthesis.”
“Oh, well, I—”
“We don’t mean to put you on the spot,” Beth said. “I just…I’ve known JT a long time, since he was a little boy. He went through a really rough time, but…I noticed a certain stillness in him tonight. He looked happy. Content.”
Because of her? Is that what they thought? She wouldn’t have thought she’d have the power to influence a man like Jake.
“Mom! Can I stay?”
“And…our talking time is up,” Beth said with a soft smile.
“She’s welcome to stay,” Hannah said. “You’ll have to tell me if there’s anything special I need to do.”
“No. She can handle it.” She couldn’t believe she was actually considering letting her daughter sleep over, but she realized Casey could handle it. “She’ll take it off when she’s ready and put it on when she needs it.”
“Mom, please! I want to stay!” This time Casey added a little teary-eyed desperation.
“We’ll just be a phone call away if she changes her mind, or if you do,” Hannah said.
A slow smile spread across Abby’s face, and the women exchanged another knowing look. “Not likely with JT to keep her company.”
—
JT met Matt and Stephen in the kitchen, throwing away paper plates.
“Where’re you off to?” Matt asked.
“Casey’s spending the night. I’m going to run down and get her stuff.”
“Try not to sound too excited,” Stephen said with a grin. JT glared, but his brother just laughed. “I just did you a solid, man. Use your time wisely.”
He should have known it’d be a big deal bringing Paige and Casey here, like bringing a girl home for dinner, though that’s not exactly what he’d been thinking when he planned it. Going by the looks he’d gotten all night, big deal didn’t even come close. He’d barely escaped getting cornered by his mother. He could tell she was dying to question him.
“I’ll walk with you,” Matt said.
The night was noticeably cooler than it had been a few hours ago. A light breeze had the tall pines rustling. He walked beside his brother. It shouldn’t feel odd, they were brothers for God’s sake. But when had he ever just hung out with Matt?
He’d said goodbye to him when he was six, spent his childhood idolizing him from afar. Then he’d had his accident, and he’d been the one to leave.
“Cole and Caroline are big,” he finally said.
“Yes. They’re all growing fast. Too fast.”
Time goes by, he thought. He’d missed a lot.
“When are you going back?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I have to work. So does Paige.”
“Why do you sound so unhappy about that?”
“She works too hard.” And he wanted to wrap her in cotton. “This has been great, though. I’m glad they came. I wish Casey could stay longer.”
“Jack will be sorry he missed you. He’ll be playing JV in the fall. I know it’s a long way, but he’d love it if you came to one of his games. You know you’re still his hero.”