Page 128 of The Only Heart that Matters

“There isn’t anything about Cal I need to know, is there?” She winks.

Burying my face in my hands, I peek up at her. “Well...”

Her eyes bulge and behind her, Angus whips around, a horrified expression mirroring his sister’s.

“Haha! You should see your faces. No! C’mon, you deserved a scare just for asking.”

Pointing a spatula in my direction, Angus yells from the BBQ, “Not funny, Goof.”

“He’s right. That was mean.”

“If I can't find humor in some of this, I’ll go crazy.”

“Your mama thinks she’s funny.” She tickles Sawyer, and he giggles with pure abandon.

His laugher is far and away the sweetest sound there is. It’s impossible not to smile when you hear it.

“Hey, Daisy?” Her eyes look up at me. “You have a nephew.”

Her smile is bright. “So, I do.” Lowering her voice so her eavesdropping brother doesn’t hear, she whispers, “And if things go the way I think they’re going, I may have another sister soon.”

She gets up from the table, bringing Sawyer with her. I join them, wrapping them up in a hug. “I love you both so much, Mia.”

“I love you too, Dais.”

She pulls back to look at me. “No more secrets? Unless it’s for the safety of your child, of course.”

“No more secrets.”

“Good.” Raising her voice to be sure Angus hears her next question, she asks, “So, is Angus as gross to live with as he was as a teenager?”

She finally came around.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Mia

“Boys! Where are you? Grandma is waiting for us to stop by before we head into town,” I yell outside the locked bedroom door.

“We’re almost done. We’ll meet you in the living room,” Angus replies.

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to give Angus control over Sawyer’s Halloween costume this year. I didn't expect them to be locked away in our bedroom for so long. I’m a little worried.

My little boy is almost three, and this is the first year he really knows what’s going on. We’ve practiced his Trick or Treat and he’s been walking around with his pumpkin bucket for the last several days singing, “Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat.” Angus taught him thatafterI agreed to letting him surprise me with his costume. My only requirement was that I didn’t want a mask covering his face, because, well, he’s just too cute to cover up.

Finally, I hear steps in the hallway. One is Sawyer’s usual patter along with a loud smacking sound. When they come into view, I cover my mouth as I burst out into laughter.

“Twick o Tweet, Mama! We Goof’s!”

“Yes, you sure are,” I say to the toddler sized Goofy in front of me. He is absolutely adorable, with his enormous head and long ears, but it’s Angus, in his matching costume, that includes giant feet that has me doubling over. He didn’t skimp on a cheap costume either. His look is top tier. He’s ridiculous in the best possible way.

“Happy Halloween, Goof,” Angus says proudly. “Do you approve?”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I place an approving kiss on his lips. “As long as I get to take it off you later, you have my seal of approval.”

“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep, little lady.” He tries to grab my butt, but his giant three fingered hand makes it impossible. “These damn gloves,” he whispers.

“Mama, we go to Gamma's.” Sawyer reminds us.

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