Page 164 of Delivery After Dark
His eyes filled as he nodded. “That’s a perfect summary of the last five years. I’ll never forget having to make that call to Alex, asking him to come home because I couldn’t handle her care and the business on my own anymore. He was so, so angry about having to give up his life in DC, and look at him now.”
“Happy as a pig in shit.”
Paul grunted with laughter. “He’s even corrupted you.”
Alex’s colorful language was the stuff of legends.
“Not completely,” Hope said, “but I have picked up a few new expressions from him.”
“As has Ethan.”
They laughed together over how much their son adored his irreverent uncle.
“Maybe we need to keep the two of them separated,” Paul said.
“Good luck with that.”
“Thank you for the hot chocolate. It’s as good as my mom’s.”
“That’s high praise indeed. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Just having you right here with me is all I need. Is Scarlett napping?”
“She is.” Hope shivered as she raised the collar of her coat. “She went down about fifteen minutes ago, and Ethan is spending the night with Kyle and Jackson.”
“Let’s go make a fire and snuggle while we can.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Paul smiled as he helped her up. “Your lips are blue, and we can’t have that. I need those lips nice and warm.”
Inside, he went straight to the hearth to strike the fire he’d laid the night before.
Hope kept her coat on until the fire was providing some much-needed extra heat. Then she took a call from Ethan. “Hey, how’s the sleepover?”
“Would it be okay if I came home?”
“Of course. Is everything all right?”
“I’m just really sad about Grandma Marion, and I’m sure Dad must be, too. I feel like I need to be with you guys.”
“We’ll be right over to get you, honey.”
“Seamus said he’d drive me home. He wanted me to make sure you were there.”
“We’re here. Tell him thanks for us.”
“I will. See you soon.”
“What’s up?” Paul asked when he sat with her on the sofa and pulled a down blanket over them.
“Seamus is bringing Ethan home. He’s sad about Grandma Marion and said, ‘Dad must be, too.’ He wants to be here with us.”
Tears filled his eyes. “What a sweet kid he is to think of me like that.”
Hope snuggled into his warm embrace. “He loves you so much.”
“Life is so strange. If my mom hadn’t had dementia, I’d never have met you or Ethan. I wouldn’t have the best wife, son and daughter anyone has ever had, not to mention a new baby on the way.”
