Page 135 of The Hookup
“You don’t want to go to the waterfall, do you?” Jacob asked her.
Kay opened her mouth, and didn’t want to lie. So she didn’t say anything. She didn’t have the energy, or the inclination to traipse to the other end of the island. And she’d been playing tag with Jacob in the pool for the past hour. “It’s getting late, Jacob.” The sun was starting to set. “I don’t have your energy, sweetie. I need to recharge,” she told him. “Maybe tomorrow. How about we go first thing in the morning?” She’d have more energy then, before the sun beat down.
“Okay,” he said, easily pleased. “I’m going to check on my bros.”
She sat up on the sun lounger. “Don’t wake them up, Jacob. Your mommy’s trying to rest.” Savannah was always feeding them, or changing their diapers. And when she wasn’t doing that she was taking a nap with the babies while Tobias was probably taking care of business somewhere in the study. Thinking about it, she’d hardly seen him today.
From what Kay could tell, this wasn’t much of a vacation for either of them, but they seemed happy. Jacob put his finger to his lips. “I’m in stealth mode,” he whispered. “I’m invisible.” She nodded, not completely understanding, but smiled and let him carry on.
She lay back, letting the silence swirl all around her. Kawaya was so different now with just the Stones and her on it, give or take the few staff Tobias had who took care of the day-to-day maintenance on the island. They still had someone to cook and clean and take care of food and the pool. Just as well, given that Savannah had still been adamant about taking care of the twins herself.
At the wedding, almost ten months ago, the place had been packed full of people, and the 24/7 party atmosphere had gone on for days. Now, as Kay turned and stared at the bar, everything stood desolate and empty. She imagined Luke standing there, serving people, being polite. Friendly enough, yet distant. She suddenly missed him being around and touched the bracelet around her wrist.
Accepting Savannah’s generous offer to join them here, she had decided to come for a week, making the most of her break in between jobs. She envisioned a week of reading and relaxation, but Jacob—as sweet and as understanding as he was given his tender years—was full of energy. She was having trouble keeping up. What he needed was Izzy, or friends his age to keep him company. She was struggling already, and this had only been her second day here.
Apparently Izzy and Xavier had also been invited, but the two of them had plans to vacation in Mexico this summer. She sighed, wanting to stay out here, but knowing that it would be time for dinner soon enough. The twins’ schedule dictated events, and Savannah preferred to eat after she’d given them their evening bath and feed.
She quickly showered, and dressed, and joined them all for dinner at the table around the pool area.
“An early night tonight, I think,” said Tobias.
“Are you on night duty?” Savannah asked. “I’ve expressed milk for the next feeding time.”
“What’ssesspressedmilk?” Jacob asked, lifting his burger.
Savannah grinned, and looked at Tobias to reply.
“It’s…uh…” Tobias was never one to be stumped for words, and even Kay was curious to hear his explanation. “It’s milk that mommies have for the twins.”
Jacob shrugged, suitably satisfied with this explanation, and bit into his burger.
“Jacob wants to go to the waterfall in the morning,” Kay told them. “And I promised I’d take him. So don’t get worried if we’ve disappeared. In fact, you two can sleep in.”
“I don’t know what that is anymore,” Savannah grumbled. Tobias patted her hand. “You can have a sleep in, and I’ll take care of the twins.”
“They want what you haven’t got,” Savannah replied. “But just give them to me in bed and I’ll feed them while I’m still asleep.”
“Why don’t you consider having some help?” Kay suggested, “Just so that you can have a bit of a break.”
“No,” Savannah replied, smiling. “I’m loving every sleep-deprived moment. Besides, Max and Briony are coming out next week.”
“You said they’d gone skiing.” Kay was sure this was what Briony had told her when she’d seen her at the gathering last week.
“They’ve compromised. Briony got first choice. They’re skiing in Lake Tahoe this week, and coming here next week. Max wants to babysit.”
“Ouch,” said Kay, remembering the conversation with Briony. “Is this in order to get more practice before they decide whether they’re going to adopt or not?”
“Next week will be crunch time, according to Briony,” Tobias said. “She’s going to use that week to decide. I personally think she wants to do whatever makes Max happy but she’s going to get her hands dirty, and see if it’s the right thing for her.”
“Oh, she’ll get her hands dirty,” quipped Savannah. “She’ll have a pretty good idea after an hour with the twins.”
“Hmmmm.” Kay eased back into her chair, thinking about it, and what a life-changing decision it would be for those two. Compromise, and change, and going with the flow, wanting what made your partner happy—those seemed to be the basis of a good relationship, along with mutual love and respect, longing and desire. She looked away. Complicated, that’s what relationships were. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for them. She ate silently, lost in her own thoughts as the Stones laughed and talked about the day’s events. She looked around at their beaming faces, and dared to hope. Relationships weren’t impossibly hard, not if you found your soulmate. Tobias and Savannah were living proof of that. They made it look so easy.
Conflicted, she sat back and looked out at the sea. The light of the moon danced across its surface, and it was eerily silent everywhere.
“Time for a movie,” declared Tobias.
“Time for popcorn!” exclaimed Jacob, jumping out of his seat.
