Page 23 of Honeymoon for Seven

“You keep us posted.” Mina’s tone shifted from humor to serious.

“And call us if you sing again,” Jo teased.

“Right. Will do. I have to go now. It’s time to pick up the kids.”

“Kids?” both her sister echoed and Ginnie grinned.

“Gotta go. Bye.” Hitting end call, this time she hung on to the phone, careful not to touch anything that would reconnect them. She could imagine her sisters’ confusion and ensuing conversation. Ginnie loved getting the better of those two. She just wished that Nick hadn’t heard most of the conversation. Of course, no one ever died from a little embarrassment. Hopefully.

For as long as he could remember, he’d known that he could carry a tune. Heaven knew his mother and sister had told him so often enough.

One day his physics teacher heard him singing to himself at his locker and the next thing Nick knew, the guy was leaning in and nodding his head. “Try out for the school play.”

His head whipped up and he wondered how many ways could he politely say no chance in hell. He wound up playing Danny inGrease. It had taught him several things, mostly not to be embarrassed to sing in front of people because he really did have a better than average voice. Even knowing that, hearing Ginnie and her sisters say the same thing, made him want to strut like the proverbial peacock.

That Ginnie was willing to tag along to get the kids rather than stay and play with the adults had him ready to crow. Had he ever been this happy with a woman’s company? Had he ever spent this much time in less than twenty-four hours with one woman and not wanted to pull his hair out of his head by the roots or duck out the back door? Nope. Ginnie was definitely special.

His entire train of thought had him wondering, could this possibly be what the silly songs and sappy movies played up as love at first sight? Ridiculous.

“Care to share?” Strolling down the hall at his side, Ginnie glanced sideways at him. “You’re shaking your head. What’s up?”

“Oh.”Think fast. “Wondering if I can get a hold of my sister now, but even if the lines work, I should probably wait for her to call me, or for morning.”

Ginnie shrugged. “Or you can call after we get the kids so they can all say hello, and if she doesn’t answer, leave a message.”

Now he nodded instead of shaking his head. “Good plan. I like it.”

The urge to reach out and hold her hand had been startling. More than once he’d shoved his hands in his pockets and then found himself reaching for her before he caught himself and once again crammed his hands back into his pockets. Timing had been perfect. Just as they rounded the corner on deck to where the kids had been watching a movie under the stars, the credits began to roll.

“Perfect timing,” Ginnie glanced at him.

He smiled. “I was thinking the same thing.” As they grew closer to where he remembered the kids settling in, he realized that all four were sound asleep.

“I guess the movie wasn’t very good,” Ginnie chuckled softly.

“Here’s hoping they sleep through the night.”

“It’s been a long time since I was a little kid, but I’m going to guess, all this playing and hanging out in the sun is like a day at the beach, leaves you worn out and dead to the world.”

“Looks like it.” Nick leaned over the boys. “Time to go home.”

Ginnie walked over to the girls, tapping the eldest on the shoulder. The three older ones were readily awake but the youngest at six seemed less than happy to be drawn out of her slumber. Ginnie had the little one up and on her shoulder before Nick could step in.

“I can take her.”

Little Monica had already settled into Ginnie’s shoulder and fallen fast asleep again. Ginnie shook her head. “I’ve got her.”

At the elevator, he had to ask again. And when they exited the elevator, once again he had to make sure the little girl wasn’t too heavy for her. Experience had taught him that eventually it was easier to put Monica on his shoulders than carry her around like the infant she no longer was. Come to think of it, his arms seemed to tire way faster than his sister’s ever had when the girls were babies.

At the suite door, Nick hurried ahead to open it before Ginnie came up. Inside, his mother looked up from the sofa and her book. When her gaze fell on Ginnie carrying Monica, she smiled wider than he’d seen in a long time.

“Everyone straight to bed and put on your pajamas,” his mom instructed. “Then brush your teeth and wash your hands.”

“You heard your grandmother,” Nick repeated, then turned to Ginnie and tapped Monica on the shoulder. “Sweetie, it’s time for bed.”

The kid snuggled deeper into Ginnie’s shoulder and Ginnie shook her head at him. “I’ll help her into her pajamas. If she doesn’t wake up, we’ll just leave her in bed.”

“Shouldn’t she go to the bathroom?” Nick thought going potty before bed was mandatory for little kids.

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