Page 32 of Sean
“Leave him.I’ll be finished in here in about two minutes.I’ll get him.”
“If you’re sure...”The words were barely out before she twirled and reversed course.
Thirty minutes later, with a freshly dressed Jace in his arms, Sean paused in the kitchen doorway.His voice was well above a whisper when he spoke to his son.“And in this room we have the habitat of the Thanksgiving she-beast.Notice the focused look in her eyes as she wields the tools of her species.Pay special attention to the criss-crossed footprints in the flour from her nervous pacing as she prepares sustenance for her mate and their brood.”
Mom laid the rolling pin aside, scooted a pie plate closer, and gently lifted her pie crust.Only after it was centered and placed to her liking did she look up.She used the back of a hand to brush at an errant strand of hair.“Thanksgiving she-beast?Seriously?”
“Jace should learn these things early.It could save his life someday.”
She fought a smile before it finally crossed her face.“Are you done?”
“I made you smile, so my mission is complete.”Sean stepped into the kitchen, brushed his mom’s hair with a kiss as he crossed the room, and settled Jace into the highchair.“What can I make for the brattling’s breakfast that’ll keep me out of your way?”
“I can make a proper breakfast.”
“I don’t think so.You’re making a proper feast.”He opened the pantry and peered inside.“I’ll eat after my run, but he won’t last that long.”He shifted out of the way when his mom reached around him and handed him a box.
“Instant oatmeal.He favors the banana-flavored one.”She handed him a measuring cup.“Use milk not water.Three minutes in the microwave.Watch it so that it doesn’t boil over.”
While Jace banged his spoon on his tray and Mom poured pumpkin pie filling into the dish, Sean watched the bowl turn in the microwave.When the cereal began to bubble up to the lip of the bowl he jabbed the off button, grinning when he opened the door and not a speck of food stained the glass tray.
Mom passed behind him on her way to the regular oven and paused for her own inspection.“Good job.I usually have to clean it when I’m done.”
He added some cold milk to the bowl to help cool it off before reaching for the coffee pot.He poured himself a cup and took a cautious sip of the steaming liquid.He turned with the pot and held it up.“Need a top off?”
“I’m already on my second cup.”
That explained her crazy energy so early in the morning.
He settled in the chair next to Jace and started spooning food into his son’s mouth.“Is there anything I can do to help you today?”
“Aren’t you meeting Monica?”
“Yes, but I can reschedule or be home early if you need me to.”Sean waited for her answer as conflict roiled in his heart.He wanted to spend time with Monica.And he wanted to avoid her.
It was irrational.They’d agreed to be friends and nothing more, but deep down something about this morning’s run whispered betrayal.
Were his small steps back to normal a sign of disloyalty to Brittany, or was this three-steps-forward-two steps-back routine normal?
Mom turned to lean against the counter.“Just keep my adorable grandson out from under my feet.Now that he’s walking, he seems to be everywhere at once.”
The little jolt of excitement told Sean his heart had definitely leaned on thesee Monica todayside of the argument.
When Jace was finished eating, Sean cleaned him up, eager to get running.And see his new friend.“Good job, little man.You ready to go bye-bye?”
Sean grabbed his son before he could climb out of the chair under his own power.
***
MONICA ARRIVED AT THEpark and looked around the sprawling—and empty—parking lot.Thanksgiving might seem like an odd day for an early morning run, but the holiday meant they could take their time.And Monica wanted all the time she could get with Sean and his son.
Despite her efforts to keep her rebellious feelings in check, her crush on Sean burrowed a little deeper into her heart each day.But as unsettled as her feelings for Sean might be, where Jace was concerned, they were crystal clear.
Love, no doubt about it.
She wanted to be there as he grew up.She wanted to protect him from the craziness of the world.She wanted to be the one to kiss his boo-boos and soothe his hurts.She had it bad, and she didn’t really care who knew.Every kid needed a doting aunt, and if honorary aunthood was all she ever had, she could live with that.
Liar.
