Page 43 of Hot Rucking Canadian

I didn’t remember ever seeing such stunning colors. But then, when had I ever paid attention to the sky? Occasionally, Dodge would nudge me and I’d look up from my work to see a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Most of the time, though, I kept my head down and did my work. The more ties, the better.

Now, though, with the pink, purple, yellow, and scarlet skies—along with beautiful puffy clouds—I could acknowledge what I’d missed in my life.

Tiki torches were lit and Nana insisted I sit next to her as a group of the men did some funky dance. Then the women did some neat stuff as well.

Isaiah tried to explain the significance of everything.

I did my best to understand, but the magic of the moment carried me away.

Nana tapped my arm as another dance ended. “Have you had enough to eat?”

I patted my stomach. “Completely full.”

She tisked. “Need more food.”

I’d already put on about five pounds since meeting Mallow and Maria. And yes, she’d have fattened me up even more if she could.

Every night she wasn’t working, she invited us over.

Mallow would gently extend our regrets about half the time, knowing she was run off her feet at work and not wanting her to fuss over the two of us.

Still, as each visit passed, I felt more and more like I had a second mother. My mother’d been estranged from her parents—after she got pregnant with me and hadn’t told them—so I’d never known my grandparents.

Now, with Nana by my side, I longed for what could have been.

And celebrated what was.

“I’m okay with the amount I’ve eaten.”

Her nose twitched. “Stomach still upset from the plane? Tomorrow we’ll get some more fruit into you. To calm your stomach.”

I didn’t remember fruit as a remedy for an upset stomach, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to question Nana’s wisdom.

She leaned over. “Isaiah is so very much like his father.”

I stilled.

“A better man, though.” She sighed. “I loved my son, but he wasn’t the most responsible of men. I understood why Maria didn’t want to come back to live with us after he left.”

Maria had been visiting New Zealand when she’d been wooed by Mallow’s dad. They’d married and had Mallow. She’d stayedin Christchurch until her husband had taken off with another man. She’d filed for divorce, packed up Mallow, and headed back to Canada. Mallow was a dual citizen.

“I think…” I cleared my throat. “She once said she’d loved him.”

“Smitten.” Nana smiled. The fire sparked light in her dark-brown eyes. Eyes so like Mallow’s. “They shouldn’t have married. Too young. Too impetuous. But neither could be talked out of it. When she left, my heart broke. I might have twenty-one grandchildren, but Isaiah always had a special place in my heart.”

Which blew my mind. Not the special part—that was a given. Especially with his gentle personality. No, the fact Nana had six children, twenty-one grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. So far, as she liked to say. She’d confided she wanted Isaiah to have children, then casually asked if I wanted them as well.

I nearly choked on papaya juice. I’d sputtered. Settling had taken a while because, as I watched Mallow surrounded by all the kids, I could totally see him as a father.

As I thought about my solitary life, I couldn’t envision a family.

Probably should’ve had that conversationbeforeyou moved in, eh?

Yeah, yeah. Noprobablyabout it. If we’d been a hetero couple, that would’ve been top on the agenda. Being gay didn’t really absolve us of the tough stuff. I’d just been so damn eager to share my life with him. I’d never considered my life might involve so many…children.

Becca was already dropping broad hints about us babysitting so she and Roger could get some alone time before the next child arrived. Their youngest was still in diapers—which terrified me. I had to google how to put a diaper on a toddler.

Fascinating.

---