Page 88 of Not Looking
I nodded and added the eggs to the pan.
The scrape of chairs told me the kids were seated right about the same time I turned off the stove and declared the eggs done.
“You handled that well,” Jessie stated with begrudging acknowledgement as she started plating for the kids.
“One of my cousins has kids about their age,” I replied.
“Hmph,” she replied, then scooped eggs onto the plates.
I split the rest of the food between three plates while she got the kids settled and carried them to the table.
It took everything in me to not kiss Randy’s cheek as I set his plate in front of him, but I didn’t want the kids asking questions that their mom clearly wasn’t ready to handle yet.
Still, I squeezed his shoulder as I sat beside him.
Breakfast chatter was mostly handled by the kids, who excitedly told Randy all about how their abuela and abuelo had come up from Mexico to find out if they were going to have a little brother or sister.
Randy responded with requests for them to tell him more or agreeing that something was exciting.
Jessie… well… she kept studying me—evaluating whether I was worthy of her brother.
I gathered the dishes as everybody finished and carried them to the sink. I was reaching for the water when Jessie spoke to me.
“Hold off on that, Craig.”
I turned and blinked at her. “Um… ok.”
She gave Randy a pointed look, then turned to the kids. “You two help Uncle Randy with the eggs and go down to the stand with him. I need to talk to Craig.”
“Ok!” the kids agreed.
I swallowed.
She turned to me, then motioned at the kitchen door with her head.
I nodded and followed her out to the side porch.
“Walk with me,” she demanded.
I fell in step beside her as we headed toward the workshop, and probably the woods behind.
She paused beside my truck. “This yours?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
I didn’t know what to make of her response, but decided not to question it.
She was silent as we passed the workshop and made our way into the thinner section of trees behind the cabin.
“What are your intentions for my brother?” she finally asked.
I smiled as I thought of him. “I hope one day he’ll agree to be my mate.”
“Do you mean that?”
I turned and met her eyes. “I do.”
