Page 16 of Just One Promise (The Carter Brothers 3)
“You girls can say that all you want, but Heath has all the moves on and off the dance floor,” I chuckle.
“Let’s just come out and say it, we lucked out. Welcome to the family, Audrey. I’m so glad Heath found his one. We knew it would happen, even when he denied it ever would.” Quinn brings tears to my eyes with her words.
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and I promise you I will do my damndest to make sure Heath is happy too,” I respond.
“Oh girl, we know that, we knew it the first time we met you and you brought real food. Heath would just bring himself, maybe beer. Ha! When he and Mason burnt the food on the grill when Rome and I were starting dating, I knew those two were not meant to man the grill,” Summer says with a laugh, you can hear her moving through the house.
“I heard an alternate story, one where you kicked Mason and Heath to the grill, and a little boom chicka boom boom happened. Mason tried to man the grill, Heath took over, and it was burnt to a crisp.” All of us laugh with Quinn’s admission.
“I don’t even care that he can’t cook, I’ll cook for us or we can eat out,” I state.
“Talk to you guys later, I have lots to get ready. Are you sure you don’t mind Rome and Mason being gone this Saturday?” I say before getting off.
“No!” Summer and Quinn say at the same time.
“Okay, well I’ll see you two when we get back,” we finish saying our goodbyes. My next phone call is to my dad. Knowing him, he’ll be happy for me, not even thinking anything of it either.
He’ll just say, “when the heart knows, it knows.” He loved my mom with every ounce of his being, but it wasn’t in the cards for them.
25
Heath
Audrey and I leave as soon as I’m off of work Friday afternoon, to make the four-and-a-half-hour drive to Whiskey Creek. Stopping at the gas station, Audrey went in to stock up on snacks and drinks while I filled up on gas.
When she came out, she had two bags filled to the brim, I didn’t even know gas stations carried plastic bags.
“I got us snacks,” she says as she climbs into the Tahoe. She puts two drinks in the cupholder, then shows me her loot.
I laugh as she proceeds to pull out candy, chips, beef jerky, and first things first, or so she said, “Ice cream for dinner, there is nothing better well maybe besides pizza than to have ice cream every once in a while, for our dinner.” She shrugs and unwraps my ice cream before doing the same for hers.
We’re going to get to her apartment tonight, pack what we can, and do some more in the morning. By then, Rome and Mason will be here in Mason’s truck to load everything up, then head home.
Audrey was only paying month to month for her apartment, so she’s not breaking the lease, not that I’d let her pay to break it. I would have taken care of it or handed the contract off to Mason to find a loophole.
I do know one thing, when we get back, a family tradition will be happening. When I let mom know Audrey was moving in, after only knowing her for a short period of time, she just said, “Looking forward to having her here, does that mean I’ll get more grandbabies?” I chuckled and didn’t respond, not knowing what that answer is, at least not yet. But since we have this long drive, there’s no time like the present.
“Tell me something. Children, do you want them? How many?” I question.
“Don’t hate me, you may think I’m beyond crazy, but I want three at the least, but four would be amazing. What about you?” Audrey responds.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, until lately. My life wasn’t easy before Mom adopted me, not sure what she was thinking bringing in three boys, but I knew I was lucky to have her in my corner. Recently though, I can imagine as many children surrounding us as possible.” I hear the sharp intake of breath she takes. I take my eyes off the road for a second to gauge her response, and if I weren’t driving, my mouth would be on hers, and I’d be so deep inside her, she wouldn’t know where she began and I ended.
26
Audrey
We talk the miles away, both of us wanting similar things in life. Especially, a small wedding. With my dad being the only living relative I have. It just made sense to me, Heath wants a sunrise wedding, I had a feeling. If he could he’d say his vowels on a surfboard, I laughed, but then said, “You and your early mornings.”
