Page 20 of Emeric

“Sheldon Copeland, you come over here and give me a hug,” Cat hollered the moment she opened the door. She was barefoot, wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

“You’re not going to rub baby germs on me, are you?” He scrunched his nose.

“God, you’re awful. Why do we let you come over?”

He scoffed. “Like you can keep me away. Your husband makes amazing desserts. That’s enough to draw me here.”

Cat’s hand went to her hip. “You’re lucky Ollie likes you so much or I’d kick your ass across the yard.”

“I would love to see that,” I cut in with a grin.

Keeping Vail visible and my eyes on our surroundings, I caught him sitting on the grass and being tackled by Aspen in play. Carson ran around them laughing, trying to get the dog to chase him. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest at the sight.

An arm went around my waist as a head lay on my shoulder. “You doing okay?” Cat asked.

“Yeah. I love seeing everyone so happy.”

“Me too, but let’s move it inside. This baby’s trying to kill me. It’s so strange to be hungry, then feel sick when I eat. Fun times.”

“It’ll be worth it.”

“So you say.”

Vail lifted Carson from the ground as Aspen barked and followed them into the house. Sheldon held the door, then filed in behind us. There weren’t any current threats, or he’d stay outside to keep watch while I covered Vail inside.

Coming here made me happy, warmed me from the inside out. It also reminded me of what I didn’t have, who wasn’t in my life, and who should have been. I’d long ago accepted my wife’s leaving. Missing my daughter was something else entirely.

I wasn’t sure if having another child was in the cards for me or if I even wanted to try again. I’d had enough loss to last this lifetime and beyond. What I looked for now was… well, I wasn’t even sure.

Shaking the thoughts away, I brought myself back to the room in front of me and Dana entering with a tray of cake slices. Sheldon didn’t waste time getting a piece.

“It’s like you don’t eat,” I said, taking the piece Dana offered me. “Thank you.”

Sheldon moaned. “When I have this slice of deliciousness in front of me, anything that came before it doesn’t matter. I’m a man waiting for a sugar high.”

The smile Dana wore at people enjoying his food was how I knew he loved what he did for a living. There was no faking that kind of joy.

As much as Dana and Cat welcomed me into their family, they did the same to Sheldon. He’d complain about being around children, but he enjoyed coming here. Well, as long as he wasn’t required to hold a child or interact with them. That didn’t stop them from bothering him.

“Shelly?” Carson asked as he tipped his head back to stare up at Sheldon. Cat was the only person other than his mom to ever call him that. Now Carson did too.

Sheldon swallowed the mouthful of cake to peer down at the small boy. “Yes?”

“Will you play trains with me?” I swore Cat had taught her son to make the sad puppy-dog eyes he was currently giving Sheldon. Carson’s mop of brown hair fell into his eyes when he ducked his head, thanks to Sheldon not answering right away. Oh, he was laying it on thick. I didn’t think he was truly sad, or Cat wouldn’t have been trying to stifle a laugh.

“I… I don’t know how to play.” Did Sheldon really think that would deter Carson? I had to give Sheldon credit for trying to be nice. He wouldn’t want to upset Cat or her son, but he also didn’t want to give in to Carson.

“I can teach you!” Carson yelled and grabbed Sheldon’s free hand to start pulling him toward the hallway.

“Ollie, help me,” Sheldon cried.

“What’s that?” I asked around a mouthful of cake. “I couldn’t hear you.”

Instead of responding, he gave me a death glare that meant revenge was coming in the very near future. I lifted my phone and took a quick picture of him letting Carson drag him away so I could send it to Forest. Once he saw that, Forest would say how sweet it was, making Sheldon let me off the hook for scoring cute points with Forest.

“You’re terrible.” Vail chuckled.

“Me? I didn’t see any of you offer to help him.”