Page 108 of Fierce-Colson

Not that she thought he’d care, but it was probably better.

“Are you nervous?” her mother asked.

“Why would you ask that?” She turned and put the glass down she was squeezing so hard that she might fear it’d shatter in her hands. “Could it be the fact that I’ve opened and closed the cabinets four times looking for nothing in particular? Or maybe it’s that I’m holding an empty glass in my hand and have been for over a minute?”

“Well, if you know, then I don’t need to point it out,” her mother said laughing. “Relax. Your father isn’t going to say anything. I told you that. He told you that.”

Her father was currently on the deck and lighting the grill.

“I know. It’s just... different.”

“In a good way,” her mother finished the words that she was going to say.

“Yes. He’s picking Bella up at the movies. He felt bad we were eating later.”

“It’s not even three. Since when did this seem late to you? Have you aged more when I wasn’t looking?”

“Very funny.”

“Yes, it is. Are you worried about Bella meeting us?”

“No. She’ll be fine. I want to say that kids accept things easier, but there is a part of her life that was thrust onto her without her control.”

“You’ve said that she seems to be in a good spot,” her mother said.

“She’s like a typical teen to me. I think Colson is realizing that too. But you know, he’s got more demons than me when it comes to relationships.”

“It just means that maybe he knows what to look for more than you do. Or what to avoid.”

“You could be right.” She opened the fridge, got the pitcher of water out and filled her glass, then took a sip. “We had a little conversation. I think both of us are a bit... scared.”

“Of course you are. That is how you know things are moving in the right direction.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never felt like this before.”

“Which is why it’s scary for someone who is used to knowing everything before everyone else.” The front door opened, there were some footsteps and then it closed. “Sounds like my granddaughter is here.”

Marly moved towards the sound of Zander and Regan. “You’re going to behave today, right?” she asked her brother.

“Always,” Zander said.

“Not always. You know it.”

“Yeah, but it’s not as if Colson hasn’t been here before. We all know him,” Zander said, taking Zola out of the car seat.

She reached for her niece, who was awake and smiling to see her auntie. “There is my baby girl. Daddy is just trying to perfect it for when you get older.”

“Don’t go there,” Regan said. “I can’t bear the thought of my little girl dating.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So things are good?” Zander asked.

She wasn’t sure what to make of her brother’s face.

“Yes, why?”

Regan and Zander were looking at each other, then back to her mother. “Nothing,” Zander said.