“Okay, let’s stop talking about this before I cry. Maybe I’ll just build a house next door.” I laughed.
The thought of leaving my mom’s nest did make me sad. She was my security blanket, my protector, my hero. She’d taken care of us for so many years, I just hoped that one day I would be half the woman she was.
“What about him?” she asked, nodding toward the lake.
I looked out at Brody who had both Lucy and Piper on his shoulders and was marching around in the water.
“What about him?”
“Well, you’re talking about school and moving out one day. Does he fit in your future?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I hope so, but who knows.” I took a deep breath. “If you would’ve asked me years ago if I thought Zach and I had a future, I would have said yes. What do I know?”
“Zach was an immature jerk, Kacie. You deserved way better than him.” She looked at me knowingly. “The only good thing he ever did in his whole life was act as a sperm donor for my two precious grandbabies.”
“I know, but my point was that clearly I don’t always make the best decisions.” I watched as the girls innocently tossed handfuls of water up in the air and jumped unexpectedly when it landed on their heads. “But I look at them and think I’ve already screwed up so bad. There is so much that they are missing out on, I just don’t want to make any more mistakes.”
“Kacie, snap out of it!”
My head whipped toward my mom, who was looking at me like I was crazy.
“What?” I said defensively.
“Look out at that water again, and tell me what you see.”
“I see my daughters, innocently playing and laughing, not realizing how much their mom has already messed up their lives in their five short years.”
“Wow … pity party, table for one,” she scolded. “You need to look at the big picture, my dear. Do you notice that handsome man next to them? He’s looking down, smiling at them with all the love he would give his own children. And the best part is … he’s absolutely crazy about their mama. You need to let your past stay in the past and live in the now—Brody and the girls are your now. Please think about that.” She reached over and kissed the top of my head before she stood and walked back up to the house.
Damn mothers and their wisdom.
“How is this wrong? What does one wear to a … cake tasting?” I mocked in my snootiest voice while I stared down at what I was wearing.
Kacie cocked her head to the side, staring at me like I was clueless. “Brody, you’re adorable, but you’re dressed like you’re going to work out at the gym.”
“I know, I’m a genius.” I grabbed the elastic waistband of my black Nike pants and stretched them out. “Elastic pants, cake tasting. Get it?”
She threw her hands up in the air as she walked her cute little ass down the hall to finish getting ready.
“What’s a cake tasting?” Lucy called over from the living room where she and Piper were playing Mario Kart on the Wii.
“I have no idea, Lucy.” I sighed and walked over to the living room, sitting on the couch next to Piper. “Apparently we’re gonna try a bunch of different kinds of cake and pick one for Lauren’s wedding since she can’t do it herself.”
“Because she’s in Italy?” Lucy asked, not taking her eyes off the screen.
“Exactly,” I responded, watching their faces as they continued playing. Their eyes were wide, completely enthralled with their game, Lucy’s little tongue darted in and out every time she pressed a button, and Piper leaned her whole body left and right with each turn. “Can I jump in with you guys?” I asked, sitting in the big chair.
“Sure!” Lucy jumped up and ran over to the TV to reset the game, while Piper shoved a remote in my lap. They both came and squeezed in on either side of me.
“Your mouth is hanging open.” Kacie laughed.
I hadn’t even heard her walk up behind me, I was too busy getting my ass kicked in the go-kart game by two pint-sized juice box addicts.
“I was concentrating, these two are really good.” Standing up, I dropped the remote on the table and held my hand out to high-five each girl. “Rematch later?”
They slapped my hands and peeked around me, still playing their game.
“You ready?” I smiled at Kacie, my eyes raking up and down her outfit. She had on a pale pink button down shirt and a black, fitted, knee-length skirt. “Wow, I am underdressed, huh!”
She raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Just a little.”
“That’s okay, I’m going for comfort. You might regret that tight skirt by the end of the afternoon.” I made sure the girls’ eyes were still glued to the TV before I reached over and pulled Kacie in for a quick, tight hug behind their backs. I growled in her ear. “I won’t mind watching you walk around in it though.”
She giggled and called down the hall, “Mom, we’re gonna go, okay?”