Gabi laughed. “Since when? I’ve always been the sensible one. Everyone knows that.”
“If that were true, how’d you land in this mess?” Samantha taunted. “See you tomorrow, sweetie. And don’t worry. This is going to work out. I promise.”
Gabi hung up and sighed. Sand Castle Bay was the very last place she wanted to go right now, but Samantha was right about one thing. It was exactly where she belonged.
* * *
Wade was sitting in the middle of his sister’s living room floor with two kids under the age of three climbing all over him. Well, one was climbing. The other was cradled against his chest, drooling.
“Unca Wade?” Chelsea whispered, crawling into his lap and snuggling close.
“What’s up, kiddo?” he said, shifting baby Jason to give her more room.
“Me wants a kitty for my birthday,” the almost three-year-old announced.
He smiled, fully aware he was being manipulated. Once either of his nieces turned their big blue eyes on him, he pretty much gave them whatever they wanted. A kitty, though? Louise would have a fit. His sister had vowed there would be no pets in her household until every last one of her children were out of diapers—and preferably out of college, if he knew Lou.
“What does your mom say?” he asked the toddler, who’d rested her head against his chest with a deep sigh.
“No,” she admitted sorrowfully.
“Then I’m afraid that’s the way it has to be. Maybe when you’re older and can take care of a kitty all by yourself.”
“But I’m going to be three,” she reminded him.
“I think you need to be a little older than that,” Wade said. “Having a kitten is a lot of responsibility.”
He glanced up to see his sister towering over him, hands on hips.
“Good answer,” she said, then frowned at her daughter. “And you. Did we not talk about you going to your dad or your uncle to try to get something I’ve already said you can’t have?”
Chelsea gave her a winning smile that could normally charm anyone whose path she crossed. “But I want a kitty really, really bad.”
“And I said no really, really firmly,” Lou told her, though the corners of her mouth were twitching. “Now, go wash your hands before dinner. Daddy will be home any minute.”
Chelsea heaved another resigned sigh, then dutifully scampered off.
“That child is going to grow up to be a sneaky politician making backroom deals,” Lou predicted.
Wade chuckled. “Or a smart lawyer like her mama,” he suggested. “A weaker man would have brought her a kitten first thing tomorrow, but I know how she operates. I’ve also heard the no-pet rule about a thousand times with the older kids.”
Lou sank down on the edge of the sofa and for an instant he could see the exhaustion on her face. He frowned and scooted closer, then handed the baby over to his sister. He gave her a sideways glance as she instinctively rubbed her knuckles over Jason’s soft-as-silk cheek and seemed to relax.
“You okay, sis?”
“Just trying to juggle too many balls in the air. What was I thinking having all these kids and trying to have a career, too?”
“You were thinking what an incredible mom you’d be, what fabulous children you and Zack would have and that you’d always have backup from me.”
She managed a weary smile at that. “You are a godsend,” she agreed. “Having you here for a couple of hours when I first get home from the office really helps me to hang on to my sanity. The kids adore you and I have some breathing room to get civilized before Zack walks in the door. Believe me, my husband appreciates that.”
“Hanging out with your kids works for me, too,” Wade said quietly. “Especially now.”
Lou reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “You’re so blasted cheerful and easygoing ninety-nine percent of the time, sometimes I forget that your life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses the past couple of years.”
“Don’t go there,” he pleaded. “Talking about Kayla and the baby... I’m just not up for it.”
“It’s been two years,” Lou said quietly, ignoring his plea. “I know losing your wife and your baby tore you up, Wade, but you’ve never talked about it. Bottling up all that pain can’t be good.”
He gave her a wry look. “I come by it naturally. Johnsons don’t talk about their feelings. Isn’t that the lesson we learned from Dad? After Mom left, he never mentioned her again. We weren’t supposed to, either.”
“And we both know how that ate him alive,” Lou said. “I won’t let you follow in his footsteps. If you don’t want to talk to me, then talk to someone else.”
“A professional? Not likely.”
“Do you plan to hold on to the pain for the rest of your life, never go on another date, never marry and have children?” she demanded. “That would be a crying shame. You’re meant to be a dad, Wade. Ask any of my kids. They’ll give you testimonials. Well, except for Jason here, but I’m sure he’ll be on board as soon as he can talk.” She smiled at the baby, who’d wound his fist in a strand of her hair. “Won’t you, buddy?”
Wade smiled at that. Seven-month-old Jason had come as an unexpected blessing, though with two older brothers and two older sisters, his arrival had been the last straw for Louise, who’d sent her husband off for a vasectomy and had her own tubes tied for good measure.
“Save the pep talk, sis. My life’s okay these days. I’m not living like a monk.”
Lou’s expression immediately brightened. “Really? Do tell.”
What could he say? That he’d finally met a woman who’d caught his attention? That she hadn’t really given him the time of day? That she lived clear over in Raleigh and hadn’t been to Sand Castle Bay in weeks? That his only contact was through her meddling grandmother’s reports? Yeah, like that would reassure his sister.
“I’ll fill you in when there’s something to tell,” he said eventually. He stood. “Now, I think I’ll take off.”
Lou regarded him with surprise. “You’re not staying for dinner?”
“Not tonight. I’ve been working on a new carving. I’d like to get back to it.”
“And you can’t put that off for an hour to have some spaghetti with your family?” she inquired skeptically. “You’re not fooling me, Wade Johnson. You’re trying
