by Lori Foster
Holding the phone so he could read the screen, Joy texted, Royce proposed.
A mere two seconds passed before a fist emoji appeared, along with the word YES!
“Maris?” he asked, already knowing it was.
“Yes.” She put her head on his shoulder. “We share everything.” She replied, Details tomorrow. Luv u & thx.
Luv u 2 & welcome!
Grinning, Joy set the phone aside. “She’s with Daron. Otherwise, she’d be demanding details right now.”
“They’re happy.”
“Very.”
Royce cupped her face, turning it up for a soft kiss. Soft, because he would not get carried away.
They visited for another hour or so. Joy told him everything that had happened with her parents, and they made plans. Plans for tomorrow, next week and next year.
It was the start of a lifetime.
* * *
Royce thought he felt the tension more than Joy did. She presented a perfect picture of poise and serenity as she introduced Jack to her parents.
It never ceased to amaze him how she could pull it together for her son.
Music played in the background and their friends, friends that were more like family, chatted casually to each other to help make the moment less conspicuous for Jack.
Even Sugar and Chaos contributed by yapping at each other from the corner where they played.
It bothered Royce to see Jack so subdued. Since he’d known him, Jack had gotten chattier, more playful—and more affectionate. He hugged freely, sometimes even crawling into Royce’s lap.
Yet today, in these circumstances, Jack had reverted to a very quiet, withdrawn little boy.
Standing protectively close, Royce put a hand on his small shoulder.
Jack looked at his mom first, then to Royce, before screwing his mouth to the side and taking a step forward.
He held out his hand, just as Royce had shown him.
Pride burned in Royce’s chest. No doubt knowing exactly what he felt, Joy leaned into his side. He loved her so damn much that the urge to shelter her from this made his muscles clench.
And then tears sprang into Cara Reed’s eyes.
Happy, emotional tears, Royce could tell, and that show of feeling humanized her more than anything else could have.
He and Joy shared a look of surprise.
Wallace grinned, accepting Jack’s hand and then holding on gently.
Once Cara had fished out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes, she drew a steadying breath. With a smile that looked rusty, she said, “I’m your grandmother, Jack.”
“I know,” Jack said, sounding a little in awe. “Mom told me.”
Wallace’s grin widened. “Would you like to sit down and get acquainted?”
Jack glanced back at Joy again.
She said, “I’ll be right here with you.”
Next, Jack turned to Royce. “You, too?”
I’d like to see someone stop me. “You bet. We’ve got a booth right here.” Royce gestured for Cara and Wallace to take one seat, and then Joy slid in opposite them, Jack in the middle, and Royce on the aisle side.
Sandwiched between them, Jack regained his precocious personality. Going to his knees, he studied both people. “I have Mom’s ears.”
At that announcement, Cara lifted her brows. “Hmm, perhaps you do.” Gently, she reached out to touch his face. “Actually, you look very much like your mother when she was a little girl.”
“I do?”
Wallace nodded. “You really do.”
Jack scrunched his nose as he considered that. “Mom’s hair is different.”
“It wasn’t when she was five,” Cara said. “In fact, her hair stayed as light as yours until she was nine or ten. Her eyes were different, though. They were always that beautiful golden green shade. She got them from my mother.”
Jack leaned closer to her, much as he had done to Royce when they’d met. “You have the same eyes.”
Pleased, Cara preened. “Yes, I do. They’re not as bright anymore, but oh, when I was young they were pretty.”
As if she’d never heard her mother say such a thing, Joy blinked and her lips parted.
Wallace chimed in. “They’re still very pretty, don’t you think, Jack?”
Jack took in Cara’s eyes the way only a young artist would. “They are. I could draw them if you want.”
Wallace looked pleased. “Your mother said you’re an artist?”
Rubbing his ear, showing a modicum of humility, Jack nodded. “Dad says I’m good, but that I’ll keep getting better as long as I practice.”
Gazes shot his way. Royce met them without flinching. They needed to know he was a part of Joy’s life now. Never again would she have to face them alone.
Cara frowned at Joy. “I thought you said—”
“We’re getting married,” Joy stated. “We only recently decided and haven’t set any definite plans yet.”
As if to challenge any questions, Jack lounged back against Royce. “He’s my dad now, though. Ain’t that right, Mom? I don’t have to wait.”
“Absolutely right,” Royce said.
Joy nodded with a smile.
Wallace studied them both. “Your mother and I would be happy to have a wedding for you.”
Dread washed over Royce, but he manned up and stayed silent. If Joy agreed to some big fancy shindig, he’d muster through it.
“Thank you, but we’ll handle it,” Joy said. “We’ll likely have the wedding here.”
“Here?” Wallace gave a dubious glance around the camp store.
“In the lodge actually,” Joy explained. “I’ve helped organize other weddings there.” She shared a tranquil smile. “I am the recreation director, after all.”
Cara’s face had gone stiff and now remained that way.
Until Joy added, “We’d be pleased if you wanted to attend.”
From that point, everything changed. He had a feeling Cara was on her best behavior for both Jack and Joy. Royce sat back and took it in, relieved for Joy because he knew a truce with her family would make her life easier.
Wallace had questions for Royce, too. It made sense that a father would be curious about his daughter’s future husband. Cara’s questions were a little more intrusive, and yet Joy had a way of curbing her tendencies by introducing people at the park.
When Maris joined them, Royce excused himself and let her have his seat. He stayed close—keeping vigil with Daron, who’d come with Maris.
Not that either of the ladies needed them.
They made a great team, finishing each other’s sentences, playing off conversational topics, laughing at jokes no one but them understood.
Daron glanced at Royce, saying low, “Looks like we’ll be sort of related.”
With a meaningful glance at Cara and Wallace, Royce nodded. Voice low, he murmured, “Welcome to the family.”
They both laughed, and soon everyone was there, crowded around that single booth.
Family newly reunited.
Friends who’d become family.
A future he’d never expected—that was better than anything he’d ever known to hope for.
* * *
ISBN-13: 9781488085956
Sisters of Summer’s End
Copyright © 2019 by Lori Foster
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