Please don’t ask for more. Please don’t take them.
“I just can’t believe this. We should have known about this, before they were born.” Sam kept up his pacing.
“Getting angry doesn’t help anything.” Karen stood, cut her husband off and grasped his hands. “We have two adorable redheaded grandchildren. We’re wasting time talking and pacing, when we could be meeting them.”
Sam blew out a big breath, just the way Stacia had seen Ross do countless times.
“You’re right.” Sam hugged his wife. “As usual. When can we meet our grandchildren?”
“There’s no time like the present.” Ross looked her way.
“They should be awake by now.” Stacia tried to put some enthusiasm in her response. “Let’s go to the house.”
“I’m sorry for barging in on you like this, Stacia.” Karen’s tone echoed her apology. “We had no idea of the situation when we decided to invite ourselves here. When Ross said he was with a friend, we assumed you were his girlfriend and wanted to meet you.”
“It’s fine.” Just don’t try to take them and everything will be fine.
She stood, legs still noodly, and led the way to the house.
Inside, chatter came from the kitchen as Ross’s parents hesitated in the foyer.
“Come on in. Sounds like Daddy’s cooking breakfast. Are y’all hungry?” Thankfully her voice held up and she didn’t sound as jittery as she felt. She hoped.
“I couldn’t eat a thing.” Karen pressed a hand to her midriff. “My stomach is doing acrobatics.”
“They’re great kids,” Ross said. “They’ll love y’all.”
“I hope so.” Karen smoothed her hands down each side of her slacks.
“This way.” Stacia led the way to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Daddy was flipping pancakes and catching them in the skillet as the twins giggled. Even though they’d seen his antics countless times. He noticed the Lyleses and promptly dropped a pancake for the first time Stacia could ever remember.
“Grandpa, you missed it.” Mason frowned. “You never miss it.”
“I think we distracted him.” Ross took the blame. “Y’all have company.”
“Uncle Ross.” Mason scampered over to hug his new favorite person.
Maybe he’d move down the list once the twins met their other grandparents. But that would put Stacia way down the roll.
“We don’t have school for the rest of the week.” Madison gave him a high five and then got her hug. “I like school. But I like sleeping in and eating pancakes too. It’s like we’ll have a really long weekend.”
“You’re right.”
“Y’all were here last night.” Mason stared at Sam and Karen.
“You’re right. We were.”
“With that long-haired guy. Where’s he?”
Stacia held her breath. They’d forgotten to discuss Ron with his parents.
“He needed help, so we got him some,” Ross said. “He left last night.”
She started breathing again.
“I want y’all to meet my parents.”
Since Madison was fascinated with relatives, Stacia knew she’d put it together and saw the light in the child’s eyes when she did.
“So you’re our grandparents?”
“You’re a very bright girl.” Karen stepped farther into the room.
“Her report card is always better than mine.” Mason peered at them. “If y’all are our grandparents, then you know our dad.”
Stacia’s heart almost leaped out of her chest. “The twins know about their dad’s job and how it’s so important he doesn’t get to see them.”
“That’s right.” Karen’s eyes turned glossy. “I’m sorry about that. But your grandfather and I are here. And we want to spend lots of time with you both.”
“Did you just find out about us, like Uncle Ross?” Madison asked.
“Yes.” Sam leaned against the countertop. “But now that we know, you’ll be seeing a lot of us.”
“Yay!” The twins’ voices blended as they often did.
“Would you like some pancakes?” Daddy asked. “I promise not to drop them on the floor.”
“I can’t remember the last time I had pancakes.” Karen’s eyes closed in an obvious effort to pull her emotions together. “I hate to put you to the trouble though.”
“No trouble.” Daddy poured more batter into his skillet. “Have a seat and they’ll be coming right up.”
Karen and Sam claimed the two chairs facing the twins.
“We like peanut butter and syrup on our pancakes.” Mason traced his finger through a trail of salt he’d probably poured on the table. “What do you like on yours?”
“Usually just syrup. But we may have to try it your way.” Sam grinned.
And just like that, Mason and Madison wrapped two more adults around their little fingers. Stacia just prayed they’d be content with visits.
She busied herself getting drinks and helping Daddy multitask, while trying to ignore the bonding going on.
“All right, here we go.” Daddy handed her a plate piled with pancakes as he carried the scrambled eggs to the table.
Everyone claimed their seats, with Ross by his parents and Stacia flanked by the twins across from him. Daddy said a prayer, but Stacia didn’t hear any of it.
“So are y’all gonna live here, like Uncle Ross?” Mason talked around his mouthful of pancakes.
“No talking with food in your mouth,” Stacia reminded him.
“Sorry.”
Karen chuckled. “We’re just visiting on our way to see my parents in Hondo.”
“So they’d be our—” Madison paused to think “—great-grandparents, right?”
“That’s right, and they’ll be tickled to hear all about the two of you.” Karen beamed.
If there was any anger or scheming in her, she certainly didn’t show it.
“Can we go with you to meet them?” Mason asked.
“What have we told you about inviting yourself places, boy?” Daddy’s voice turned gruff.
But Stacia wasn’t sure if it was because he was upset with Mason or the thought of the twins traveling with Sam and Karen. Her stomach churned and she set her fork down.
“Your grandfather is right.” Sam sipped his coffee. “You shouldn’t invite yourself places. But in this case, we’d love for you to go.”
“I don’t know—” Stacia tried to think of a reasonable excuse, but her brain spun.
“You could come too.” Ross threw her a lifeline. “You know Nanny.”
“You do?” Karen shot her a confused frown.
“I’ve bought items from Myrna several times. I love her store.”
“What a small world.
