Page 36 of The Last Second Chance
“Okay.”
Carter grinned. In it she saw the likeness of John, of Jax. Men she had loved. She couldn’t predict how this would go, but it was worth the risk.
“Now let’s talk compensation.”
9
That evening, Joey found herself on Gia and Beckett’s wide front porch, clutching a bag of fresh applesauce muffins and Waffles’ leash. She felt like an idiot.
But this was what you did with good news when you had friends. You shared it over baked goods and coffee.
Joey stabbed the doorbell with her finger and listened as little feet and paws pounded toward the front door. Giggles and barks met her when the door swung open.
Diesel, the floppy, fluffy puppy tripped over his fat feet in his bid to sniff Waffles’ butt. Aurora, looking like a five-year-old version of her mother, danced in place on the threshold.
“Hi Waffles! Hi Jo!” She was wearing orange and pink leggings and a teal hooded fleece with cookie crumbs smeared all over it.
“Hey, Roar,” Joey said in greeting. “Your mom around?”
“She’s in da kitchen wiv Bucket. Dere puttin’ a hole in da door.”
Of course they were.In Joey’s opinion, marriage made people do weird things. She sighed and stepped inside, bringing both dogs with her, and shrugging out of her fitted down jacket.
Diesel and Waffles continued to play, weaving in and out of her feet, while she shucked off her boots.
“Yeah? Well, maybe next time you should consult me before you go and add two members to our family.” Gia’s voice carried as she shoved open the kitchen door and marched down the hallway toward her. “Don’t even think about it, Diesel!” She may have been dressed in cozy leggings with hearts all over them, but there was steel in her voice. Gia’s command was delivered with a stern point of the finger at the puppy that had one of the boots Joey just discarded in his mouth.
The puppy dropped the boot and flopped over on his back, tail wagging. Gia rolled her eyes and rubbed the fat little belly. “You need to behave yourself,” she said sternly. “Or I’ll send you to Puppy Siberia.” Diesel thumped his tail, immune to the threat.
“Hi,” Gia said, finally shifting her focus to Joey. She gave her a hug before reaching down to scratch Waffles behind the ears. “See? This is what a good boy looks like,” she crooned. “I bet you don’t pee all over your mama’s yoga clothes, do you?”
Joey wisely hid her grin and let Gia usher her into the parlor where a fire crackled cheerfully in the hearth. Here she could see the melding of Beckett’s traditional tastes and Gia’s eclectic style.
The room itself was an eyebrow raiser with its high ceilings and ornate woodwork. Thick carved moldings and wainscoting in a sedate navy were complimented by shimmering gold and silver accents that picked up the tones in the fleur de lis wallpaper.
Kitschy and antique finishes topped tables and filled shelves. Two overstuffed tangerine floor pillows occupied the space between the fireplace and the low, square coffee table.
Candles flickered golden in a trio of cracked glass holders on the mantel already crowded by family photos. Gia and Beckett on their wedding day. The kids with Franklin and Phoebe at Christmas.
A bluesy song poured from a docking station tucked between leather bound volumes and trashy romance paperbacks on the built-ins flanking the fireplace. Joey made a mental note to browse Gia’s library to see if they could make any trades.
“Nice,” Joey said, handing over the muffins.
“Thanks.” Gia surveyed the room with pride. “This is my sanctuary. No kids, no pets, no Beckett, unless specifically invited.” Aurora and Diesel chose that moment to scramble in. The little girl supermanned onto a footstool while the puppy attacked the fringe on the cream colored throw tossed over the arm of the sofa.
“Uh-uh,” Gia said. “You take your furry friend here and go bother Beckett in the kitchen.”
“But, Mama!” Aurora’s eyes were wide with the pain of rejection. “I want hot chocolate!”
“If you stop the whining this second and promise to take Diesel outside to do his business before your brother comes home, you can have hot chocolate.”
“Yay!” Aurora jumped up, fueled by enthusiasm and the promise of liquid sugar.
“In the kitchen,” Gia finished. She kept her expression stern while her daughter’s shoulders slumped.
“Deal or no deal?” Gia asked.
Aurora sighed pitifully. “Deal,” she pouted.
