Page 76 of Where It All Began
“Make sure you keep making the right choices. And Jax, when the time comes for you, I want you to remember all this.”
“Ice cream,” Jax nodded.
Phoebe peeked through the window and saw the Jeep wheel into the driveway. The stereo was blaring ’80s rock, and Carter, their oldest, hopped out looking handsome and entirely too grown up. He hauled his camping gear out of the back and climbed the porch. One look at Beckett’s face had him grinning.
“Well, well, well, little brother’s not so little anymore,” he said.
“How can you tell? Do you think everyone at school will be able to tell?” Beckett demanded.
“If you keep prancing around with that shit-eating grin on your face, I think even the lunch ladies will know,” Carter said, slipping his sunglasses into the neck of his t-shirt.
“Dad just gave us the talk,” Jax announced.
Carter ruffled his youngest brother’s hair. “Did he go with ice cream?” he asked, and they all laughed.
Phoebe’s heart was full. They were raising good men. And how could they not turn out that way? With John Pierce as their living, breathing example. The man was a miracle to her each and every day and so were her boys.
“Now, let’s talk about vehicles,” John began. “Beckett, you’re going to detail the interior and anywhere else naked body parts touched before your mom drives her car anywhere, and then we’re going to break into your savings and go find you something to drive.”
Beckett whooped. “This is seriously like the best day of my life. Wanna come, guys?”
Carter grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it. Ernest Washington’s got some pretty nice rides on his lot.”
“Think he’d open up early for us?” Beckett asked John.
“He’s probably already heard your news and is picking out all the cars with big backseats,” John teased.
“You coming with us, Jax?” Beckett asked.
Jax was already nodding when five-and-a-half feet of leggy teenage brunette strolled up the drive wheeling her bike. “Morning,” she said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Thought I’d come out and visit the horses if you don’t mind.”
Phoebe smiled. Joey Greer was the closest thing she had to a daughter. She was in Jackson’s grade, and the two had been thick as thieves since kindergarten. She wouldn’t be surprised if someday Joey became her daughter-in-law.
John waved the girl up on the porch. “You’re always welcome here, Joey. And there’s ten bucks in it for you if you take Rusty out for a ride. He didn’t get out yesterday.”
“You don’t need to pay me,” she said dreamily. “I should be paying you.”
“Don’t be silly. We’ve got horses. You love horses. It’s the perfect arrangement.”
“Still, I’d feel better if you didn’t try to pay me all the time,” Joey said, all serious brown eyes.
“I’ll do my best not to pay you if you promise to be careful.”
“Ride with a helmet and always in view of the barn or house,” she recited.
“Good girl.”
“We’re going car shopping, Joey,” Beckett announced. “You want to come along?” She was as much a sister to Beckett as daughter to Phoebe and John.
Phoebe watched as Joey blushed, shaking her head. “Nah. Thanks though. I think I’ll take the horses out.”
“I think I’ll stay, too,” Jax said. “Maybe I’ll ride with you.”
Joey looked up at him like he’d just told her he was an astronaut who cured cancer. Grinning, Phoebe slid off the couch and snuck back into the kitchen.
When she pushed through the screen door, steaming cup of coffee in hand, John’s eyes lit up. The boys were busy trying to decide what kind of car Beckett should get. Joey was staring longingly at the barn. Sadie chased Tripod the three-legged cat under the fence into Leopold the donkey’s pasture.
“Thank you,” John whispered, accepting the mug.
