by D. R. Grady
“Aunt Tia just isn’t very interested in fashion,” Starla shared, making it sound like that was a bad thing.
“That’s okay. She doesn’t have to be,” Macy reassured her.
Starla stared at her like she’d just oozed from a swamp. “Macy, fashion is very important. We have to teach her.” Savannah nodded emphatically beside her.
“Okay. Well, I’m glad she has you two to help her,” Macy said honestly. It didn’t appear either girl thought her lacking in the fashion department, thank goodness.
“Has your Aunt Tia ever worn Philippe?” she asked with interest.
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t like him very much.” Savannah chewed on the inside of her cheek.
“Not everyone likes wearing a snake, Macy,” Starla said, making it sound like an accusation.
“Well, it’s not easy wearing a snake, either,” Macy admitted.
“Exactly. I think we have good abs, though,” Savannah said.
“That we do. Boa constrictor as workout,” Macy said and grinned at Savannah, who laughed.
“Right.”
“Please don’t ask me to wear him, because I’d rather not,” Lily said with a small shudder.
“I don’t want to wear him either,” Starla said, and looked disdainfully at his cage in the corner.
“That’s okay. Between me, Savannah, Bryce and your dad, we’re fine for wearers.”
“Brandt will wear him when he gets big enough,” Starla assured them.
“Yes, I imagine he will,” Macy said, thinking of Filbert, the piranha fish. She absently counted all of her fingers.
“Did you bring the entire herd?” Tia asked, returning from helping Bryce with something. Macy noticed she tended to trip over her own beautiful feet. Yes, she definitely liked Tia.
“We did. Riley is outside barking at squirrels and Lexus found a patch of sunlight on my bed she’s decided she likes,” Nick said from behind her.
Fortunately, Macy had seen his shadow and smelled him, so he didn’t surprise her. That was good. She wouldn’t have been impressed if she’d shrieked like a Banshee because Nick scared her.
“Philippe is enjoying the sunlight, too, I see,” Lily said.
“He does appreciate the warmth.”
“He sulks though if you forget to take him out of his cage and wear him,” Macy said. She discovered that the first week of employment in the Nick Morrison home. A sulking boa constrictor was something to write home about, and her mother had commented on how much they enjoyed her emails about the snake and the rest of the family. Life in her new home was a mini circus every day.
She’d neglected to mention how attracted she was to the head of the house, however. Probably not something a single woman told her mother.
Especially when said single woman couldn’t have children.
But as she gazed at the four cavorting in their lake home, Macy wondered again if she had missed something.
Chapter 19
Nick watched as his family interacted with Macy and wished. He couldn’t put his wishes into words, but he wanted something he feared was sliding through his grasp. Like water swirling down a drain, he knew if he didn’t figure out how to catch the precious element, he’d lose it.
What he’d lose exactly, he didn’t know, but he knew it would be a mistake. Not something he could afford right now. He knew he would never find another woman like Macy. Mother Nature probably hadn’t created another like her.
His eyes fell to his daughters. Then again... With Macy by his side, he could probably face their teenaged years. Yet to ask her to turn her back on what amounted to her dream... He understood she might not ever be accepted anywhere else. That made it hard, if not impossible to ask her to give up her slot at vet school for him and his family. She would come to resent him. Just like Melissa. Seeing the last of Melissa hadn’t bothered him much. He hurt for his children, but seeing the last of Macy was going to hurt. But how could he ask her to give up something precious she’d fed for five years?
Why did life have to be so hard? Hadn’t he already paid his dues?
Tia sidled up to him and he was actually happy for her to come and break up his thoughts. He reached out an arm and wrapped it around her neck, as he’d done since childhood.
“I wish you’d grow up,” she mumbled from somewhere around the vicinity of his armpit. He hoped for her sake his super solid anti-perspirant and deodorant actually worked.
“Me too.” He contemplated giving her a noogie.
“I hate you,” she added.
“I know. Macy said you look like a supermodel,” he commented, as though they walked in a park rather than that he had her in a wrestling headlock. As he expected, Tia broke free and managed to land a punch that would bruise.
He’d forgotten how tough she was. “Ow.”
She curled her lip at him in disgust.
“Have you been working out?” He eyed her suspiciously.
“Of course she’s been working out,” Bryan, their second brother said as he burst through the door. “Nerds always do everything right.” Bryan was as much like their dad as Brandt was.
He held something in his hand he munched on periodically. Experience had taught them not inquire as to what he ate. None of them were ever glad they’d asked.
Tia sneered at him. “How would you know nerds do everything right? You can’t even identify edibles.”
His younger brother tried to ignore her, but Nick noticed Bryan was busy working something out. Maybe he better help. “Edibles means food,” he pointed out helpfully.
Bryan, who stood at six feet six and a half inches, and weighed in at some number Nick never wanted to see on his own scale swiped a mitt sized hand at him. Fortunately it was the hand not holding whatever he ate. Nick ducked from long practice and shared a smirk with Tia.
“I know what edibles means. Just because I have cultured tastes doesn’t mean I can’t distinguish the two.”
“Sayeth the lawyer,” Tia intoned and sidestepped him with ease. “I’m surprised you passed the bar. I mean it took five tries, but at least you eventually passed.”
Nick stepped out of the fray, since this was a Tia-Bryan fight. He turned to see Macy watching their interactions with a look of glee on her face.
“Did that look familiar?”
“It sounded familiar,” she said. “Did he really have to take the bar five times?”
“No, only two,” Nick shook his head. “But Tia likes to harass him about it taking him two tries, but in his defense, he did have mono the first time. Tia defended her thesis and received her Ph.D. with no trouble. She worked hard, but she’s probably the smartest of the bunch.”
“Let’s see you have an architect, a lawyer, and a Ph.D. in your family. What does the other brother do?”
“He’s a mechanical engineer – has a master’s in both mechanical and electrical engineering.”
“Ah, I should have figured that one out.”
“He’s dating a mechanic.” Nick watched her expression closely.
“I see. He’s a mechanical engineer who can’t fix his own car?”
“Seems like none of us can. His girlfriend is magic with engines though.”
“What’s her name?”
“Ron.”
“Of course.” Macy rolled her eyes.
“It is. Her name is Veronica, but everyone calls her Ron or Ronnie.”
“Let me guess, she’s tall, brunette, busty and beautiful.”
“Close. She’s petite, and has red-gold hair, but the rest is about right.”
“Ron’s one of those women who might intimidate a man. Only Josh, my youngest brother, is so laid back sometimes we have to check his pulse to make sure he’s still alive.”
“It doesn’t bother him that his girlfriend has made it in a male dominated world?”
“Nope. She’s not only made it, she pretty much dominates it. She works on high end cars, and charges high end prices.”
“How’d
she get into the world of auto mechanics?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her. She’d probably be glad to tell you.”
“I’ll do that. You might want to be around when I ask.” Macy sent him a speaking look he couldn’t interpret.
He frowned. “Why?”
“Because I imagine Starla will follow in her shoes. Especially if they’re fashionable.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Nick chewed the inside of his cheek. Starla did have a fascination for tools – more so than either of his boys. He’d be interested to know if Ron had fallen into her chosen profession, had it chosen for her, or if she had studied the matter out and decided based on certain criteria known only to her.
“Starla as an auto mechanic,” Nick said, thinking of the horror of such a thing. He couldn’t imagine that being fair to the men who brought their cars to her. And if Starla managed to fill out her uniform the way Ron wore hers... It’d be bad news for half the population of Hershey.
“A frightening thought, isn’t it?” Macy sent him another knowing look that he totally interpreted and he appreciated the sympathy embedded within it.
He swallowed. “I wish I’d have thought this parenting thing through a little better.”
***
Meeting Josh proved to be an experience, especially when Nick introduced her to Ronnie, his girlfriend. Josh looked like the rest of his siblings. He was tall, attractive, and sported the same dark blue eyes as Nick. He was also very oblivious, much like Tia and Nick had warned. Although there was no denying the intellect lurking there.
His girlfriend, on the other hand was totally unexpected, even after being warned. Ronnie looked like a movie starlet. She was busty, with gorgeous red-gold hair that shone in even the dimmest light. Her eyes were large and an amber-green Macy had only ever seen on a cat.
When she laughed, all the men took notice because it was a lusty, throaty guffaw that told a story all its own. Macy couldn’t help but stare at her in wonder. The woman spoke in a fairly normal, albeit husky voice, but her laughter, and the guys took pains to make her laugh, was almost magical.
Macy soon came to appreciate both her and Tia, because neither woman was afraid to help out in the kitchen or with the kids. Even with her mechanics hands, and Macy was glad to see Ron did have mechanics hands, with short fingernails with a rim of motor grease under them, and calluses along the tips of her fingers, Ron was still adept in the kitchen.
“I usually wash dishes,” Ronnie admitted.
“Why? You seem especially good at chopping.”
“Well, washing dishes cleans my hands. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do, I still have mechanics hands. I’m having trouble adjusting to gloves, but I will do it.”
“I’m impressed, you know.”
“Why? I hear you’re going to vet school. I could never do that,” Ronnie admitted.
“Why not?”
“I’m not smart enough,” Ronnie said without a bit of rancor. “I hated school.”
“What?” Tia rounded on her. “Hello, you don’t enjoy school. That’s not the same as not being smart enough.”
“I graduated near the bottom of my class, chickies,” Ronnie mumbled, and Macy thought she heard some pain there.
“You know, most women learn differently than men. And many brilliant people didn’t do well in school.” Macy checked out the range and figured it wouldn’t give her trouble, thank goodness.
“That’s true,” Tia jumped in, “many of them were bored and didn’t want to go to school. They didn’t need to be there. Einstein did poorly in school. You’re likely one of those people.”
Ronnie looked like she didn’t quite believe them.
Macy arched an eyebrow. “Where’d you place in your auto mechanic course?”
She and Tia grinned when Ron’s cheeks went pink. “Yeah, that’s what we thought,” Tia heckled as she stirred a big pot of sauce.
“Well?” Macy pressed, watching Ronnie with amusement.
“I took top honors,” she mumbled.
“Yep, there you go. If you’re interested, you do well, if you’re not, well you’re like most kids,” Macy said with a shrug.
“I still couldn’t do vet school, or do what Tia does.”
“That’s okay. Neither of us can fix our cars, either,” Tia said with a laugh. “Please don’t ask me to fix my car.”
“Nor me. I can patch up kids and animals, I’ll clean up barf and poop, but please don’t ask me to know when my oil needs changed or a belt breaks or whatever.”
Ronnie turned on her. “Who takes care of your car?” She sounded worried. Macy guessed an auto mechanic would be concerned by those things.
“My brother Rob and my dad.”
“Oh, well that’s good then.”
“Is your brother Rob the one with Asperger Syndrome like Bryce?” Tia nodded toward her nephew.
“Yes.”
Tia nodded. “I’ve heard some great things about him. I’m so glad you introduced him to Bryce. We were pretty scared about him for a while.”
“I think knowing Bryce has helped Rob a lot, too. He doesn’t know too many people with his same wiring.”
Ronnie laughed. “I understand wiring better than whatever syndrome you were talking about. I take it your brother and Bryce are wired the same?”
“Yes.”
“And that wiring is different than the rest of us?”
“Correct.” Macy turned on the oven so it could preheat.
“I see. That’s interesting.” Ronnie’s hair caught the sunlight filtering through the window and nearly blinded her.
“Wow, Ronnie, your hair is gorgeous,” Macy exclaimed as she shielded her eyes from the glare.
“Thanks, sorry,” Ron said and winced as she caught sight of Macy’s watering eyes.
“It’s okay, it’s just gorgeous. I’ve never seen hair so shiny.”
“It’s my mom’s fault. She bought me this stuff for my hair and nails because I think she’s a little offended at my career choice. She wants to make me more feminine,” Ronnie admitted.
“It’s working.” Tia grinned.
“Yeah, well, you’ll be happy to know, I’ve stopped taking the stuff. I can’t go around making my clients eyes water.”
“It’d be an interesting experience anyway,” Macy said.
“I cater to the high end type, and they’re generally a pain in the neck,” Ronnie said dryly.
Tia and Macy both laughed. “That might just be people irritated by a non-working car. We all get a little testy when our vehicle doesn’t work and we know we can’t fix it.”
“That could be,” Ronnie said as she dumped pasta into a huge pot of boiling water. “I hadn’t thought from their perspective.”
Lily bustled in then with a tray of rolls. She nudged Tia aside and inserted them into the oven. “Those should be ready in about ten minutes. How are we doing ladies?”
“Pasta’s cooking now,” Ronnie said hastily.
“The sauce is ready.”
“Dessert is thawing,” Macy added.
Tia wrinkled her nose. “What is dessert?”
“I don’t know. It could be brownies or chocolate cookies. I couldn’t tell.”
“Oh, so long as it’s chocolate, that’s fine,” Tia declared and Ronnie nodded in agreement.
“I think I saw some hot fudge sauce in my fridge,” Lily said and wiggled her brows at them.
“Go get it, by all means. We have ice cream,” Macy commanded.
“Mmm, maybe I’ll skip lunch and just have dessert,” Tia said.
“You might be on to something.”
Chapter 20
The shriek exploded on the calm morning air and Macy dropped the pan of cinnamon rolls as her mind registered – Starla. She raced across the room and flung open the door. Starla launched into her arms, even as Nick flew around the corner of the cabin and skidded to a halt beside them.
Starla sobbed incoherently. Macy’s eyes met
Nick’s, and she ran a hand up and down the little girl’s back.
“Starla, what’s wrong?” both she and Nick asked.
Macy noticed the blood and handed the little girl to her father as she surveyed one very bloodied foot. “Baby, what happened to your foot?” Macy asked, trying to keep her voice calm, even though she wanted to sob with the six-year-old. She didn’t like that Starla was scared at best, and in pain at worst. Macy wanted to take the pain away right now.
With a sobbing gasp, Starla managed, “Nail on the dock.” Then she went right back to shrieking. Her cries brought most of the family.
Lily and Tia showed up, as did Nick’s dad, and both brothers. Rob, who’d knocked on their door last night, and been invited to stay, glided through the room to see if he could help.
Macy managed to look over Starla’s foot, and she didn’t like what she saw. Raising her eyes to Nick’s she said, “We need to take her to the emergency room.”
Nick went grim and looked a little pale around the edges, but she knew he’d do what he had to for his youngest. “Is the cut deep?”
“Yes, and I’m worried about infection,” she said.
Tia pushed through the crowd of family and also inspected Starla’s foot. “Clean this as well as you can in the sink, wrap some clean towels around it, and get to the hospital.”
Macy wasn’t about to argue. She saw Rob had saved the cinnamon rolls, turned off the oven and cleaned out the sink so they could wash Starla’s foot. He also managed to locate the clean towels Tia had mentioned.
“Thanks, Rob,” Macy said with heartfelt feeling.
He shrugged. “Welcome.” He went about tiding the place up. That was Rob. If there was work to be done behind the scenes, he was your man. Macy was grateful when he showed up last evening. Now she was doubly grateful for him.
Nick shut off the water and grabbed a towel, which he expertly twisted around Starla’s foot. Macy worked to calm her down, trying to soothe her.
“Starla, it’s okay. We’re going to take care of your foot, okay?”
“Will I be able to walk?” she asked between hiccup coughs.
Macy smiled and brushed at the tears seeping down the little girl’s cheeks. “Yes, I think so.”
