A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay, #3)

They made their way up the wide path toward the meerkats. The morning was sunny and warm, the zoo relatively quiet on a Thursday. Jen was happy to spend time with her husband and son on a rare day off for Kirk. Having Lucas and Desire along was fun, too.

“You’re getting along better with Lucas,” Kirk said quietly. “I’m glad.”

“He’s grown on me,” she admitted. “He’s like the big brother I never had.” She rolled her eyes. “He has hideous taste in women, but that’s okay. One day he’ll wake up and see the light.”

Kirk dropped his hand to her butt and patted it. “Or find himself alone. We’ll have to build an apartment for him over the garage.”

“He’ll need one of those automatic chair lift thingies,” she said with a laugh. “So he can get up the stairs.”

They reached the meerkat exhibit. Jen took Jack out of the stroller and held him in her arms.

“Oh, can I?” Desire asked.

“Sure.” Jen passed him over.

Desire and Lucas walked closer to the exhibit. Jen could hear the twentysomething talking to Jack. Her son chatted back.

“He still won’t talk to me,” she said, trying not to take it personally. “I know, I know. It will happen eventually. I created the problem and I have to fix it by being patient.”

Kirk shifted her so she was facing him, then put his hands on her hips and drew her close. “You didn’t create the problem. It just happened.”

“You’re sweet. A liar, but sweet.” She stared into her husband’s eyes and felt the love swelling inside of her. “You’re a really good guy. I’m lucky to have married you.”

“Yes, you are and I’m lucky right back.”

She smiled and they kissed. When they drew apart, she turned to look at Desire and Jack. So much had changed in the past few months.

“I need to go back to work,” she said, returning her attention to Kirk. “I’ve talked to my old principal and there should be a spot for me in September. One of her teachers is going to have a baby this fall and wants a year off.”

“Are you sure? You’ve really liked staying home.”

“I have, but it’s been hard on me, too. I’m making progress. I want to keep it that way. I think working for the year will be good for me. We can save money and we have a great day care place for Jack.” She raised her eyebrows. “We can work on getting me pregnant around the end of the year. I think it’s time for that second baby, don’t you?”

He smiled. “I do. Very much. I want a girl.”

“That would be between you and your sperm. I’m simply the vessel.”

He chuckled. “We should probably keep practicing on the whole baby-making front. Just to make sure we’re doing it right.”

“I would love that.”

“Me, too.”

She stepped toward Jack. He was trying to say the word meerkat fairly unsuccessfully. When he saw her, he reached for her.

“Are you having fun?” she asked. “Do you like the meerkats?”

Rather than say yes, he waved his arms in his happy way, communicating the message without words. Jen drew in a breath and refused to give in to frustration or guilt. Jack could talk. That was what was important.

“The kids’ section next,” she said. “We’re going to Muriel’s Ranch. It’s a petting zoo. We can brush the Nigerian Dwarf goats.”

“Someone’s been on the internet,” Lucas said.

“Yes, I have. Because it’s okay that I’m smart.”

“I love little goats.” Desire clutched her hands in front of her. “The way they jump all around and their little tiny hooves. It’s magical. If I had to come back as an animal in my next life, I’d want to be a little goat. Or a kitten. Or a walrus, because nobody cares if a walrus gets fat. Or a dancing horse. That would be great.”

Jen leaned close to Lucas. “Maybe less smart than we thought?”

“I can only hope.”

He moved next to Desire and continued the animal reincarnation discussion with her. Jen thought about all he’d done for her and for Kirk. She knew her husband had been kidding about his partner moving into an apartment above the garage, but she hoped whatever happened, they would always be close. Over the past few months, Lucas had become a part of their family. He had been there for both of them and she knew they would always be there for him.

She had a feeling that when Jack reached his “I hate my parents” stage of being a teenager, Lucas would be someone he could turn to. And even then, she would still worry about Lucas being the wild one in the relationship.

A quality kind of problem, she thought happily as they crossed into Muriel’s Ranch.

“I see goats,” Desire cried out.

“At least it’s not dead people,” Kirk murmured, and Jen laughed.

*

Zoe stretched out on a chaise in her father’s backyard, Mariposa on her lap. She played with the little dog’s silky ears and let the sun warm her body.

She was in a good place, she thought with more than a little surprise. Yes, she was pregnant and who could have seen that coming? She was also still up in the air about her future. But she was making progress and, well, there was Steven, who said he loved her.

She still hadn’t said the words back. She’d tried after they’d made love, the last time she’d seen him, but he’d told her to wait. To be sure. With everything going on, he didn’t want her to feel pressured. Which only made her love him more.

Her dad walked out with a pitcher and two glasses, then settled on the chaise next to hers.

“Herbal tea,” he told her. “Organic. For what this costs, I could have bought a steak.”

“I’m allowed to eat steak,” she said with a grin.

“Very funny. You need to appreciate the fact that I’m not drinking coffee in front of you.”

“I do. Very much.” She smiled at him. “You’re very good to me. In fact, everyone is being really nice to me. This getting pregnant thing has an upside.”

“Very funny. I’m always good to you.”

“Yes, you are.”

She took the glass he offered her. Mariposa raised her head, as if expressing interest. Zoe laughed. “You would so not like this, little girl.”

She held out the glass. Mariposa took one sniff, then visibly recoiled and eyed her. The message was clear: “How on earth could you drink that stuff?”