Page 64 of Feels Like Home

“She’s a unicorn,” sherepeats.

“Iagree.”

And I wasn’tlying.

Last night, Bri and Grady got to the cabin, and I thought maybe the boys would quickly ditch the idea of finishing the lasagna with Christine in Grady’s presence, but that was far from thecase.

They were right there next to her while she showed them how to layer the noodles and cheese mixture and sauce they made with her thatmorning.

Their chests swelled with pride and they practically preened under the praise that Grady showed them for how good it tasted, watching him take a third helping, and for him letting them know how awesome it was for them tohelp.

Then we spent the last few hours of daylight walking off our pasta coma through the wooded area behind the cabin before sitting around the bon fire late into thenight.

Christine laughed at their jokes and attempts at campfire stories. Showed them that using a peanut butter cup instead of chocolate bar when making S’mores takes it to a whole new level. Listened when they opened up about how they didn’t really miss their mom, and the guilt that went along with those feelings. Gratefully accepted the sweatshirt that Aidan pulled right off his back when she shivered in the slowly dropping temperatures. Slipped it over her head and smiled her thanks, even commented on how fast he’s growing, her being able to fit into his clothesandthem being too big forher.

He’s always been warm blooded, so it wasn’t a surprise that he could handle the cooler temperature in just a t-shirt.

I gotta admit, a big part of me wasjealous.

I love the relationship they’re building, but I wouldn’t have been sad about keeping herwarm.

Especially when Grady and Bri were huddled next to each other, a blanket wrapped around their shoulders, heads dipped closetogether.

Ridiculous how jealous I was of teenagers in thatmoment.

I had briefly wondered if Christine’s demeanor would change once Bri was withus.

Make her morecomfortable.

But that wasn’t thecase.

She was exactly the same person around her family as…us.

The only downside of the time was when reality hit me that Bri would be sleeping with hermom.

Not that anything would have happened between us if she wasn’tthere.

It hadn’t the other nights that she and I spent alone in our beds, me tossing and turning, knowing that she was just a bathroom door away fromme.

But something about the possibility of more was enough to satisfyme.

Tomorrow we go backhome.

Meaning that the rest of the day today is quite literally the last day that we will get to enjoy at the cabin beforeHeather…

I can’t even finish the thought, so I shake my head and bound down the stairs to where I hear all the kids talking. Christine’s in the shower — a million points to me for not barging in on her while she’s in there, considering my current self-control issues — so now is the perfect time to make ourplans.

“Okay. She’s in the shower, sohurry.”

“What? What’s going on?” Grady asks from his place on the couch, stretched out and relaxed, Bri sitting between his legs as his long arms stretch in front of her. Xbox controller in his hand as he plays a game, Aidan watching while Reece plays,too.

“Dad has this plan,” Aidan says rolling hiseyes.

“Hey! She’s going to loveit!”

“What’s theplan?”

“He’s asking your mom on adate.”

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