Page 27 of Stone
Stone chuckled. They’d taken a selfie from Jared’s bedroom with him asleep in the bed near them.
“How?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Beth said she had tainted some of the food in his house with knockout drops. If he ate or drank any of the things, she and Ellie were going in to search his house,” Flick said, grinning and taking a sip of his beer.
“So, Naomi, huh?” Flick prompted.
Stone nodded. “Yes. I never planned on dating anyone seriously because I figured most women wouldn’t want someone who had been in prison. And, oh my gosh, some women never shut up. I know I shouldn’t say that, but silence does not alwaysneed to be filled. Then she showed up, and it was this snowball of things,” Stone confessed.
“I’m happy for you. She deserves someone who will cherish her, and I know you will,” Flick sincerely stated.
“Her ex worries me, especially him wanting the girls the commemoration weekend. It would be the first time he’s alone with them pretty much ever, from what she’s said,” Stone worried aloud.
Flick nodded. “Unfortunately for him, he’ll have to pick them up in Bluff Creek. I’m guessing he won’t find it an easy prospect. I’m also betting on my wife finding enough dirt to make sure things go the way Naomi would like,” Flick said.
“I hope so,” Stone replied.
Stone wasn’t sure what he’d do if Jared tried to take the girls for his weekend. He was falling for the mini-Franks triplets just like he had for their mom, but in a different way. He thought he’d never have the chance to be a dad, but he yearned to be the dad they deserved. He wanted them to have everything they deserved—love, support, and the unwavering faith that he had their back.
Flick chuckled. “Oh, I have no doubt that he’ll get what he deserves. You hungry, or do you just want to relax?”
“I’m good,” Stone replied, petting one of the dogs that had jumped up on the couch to cuddle by him. Scratching the dog’s ears, he wondered if things worked out the way he wanted, would his house be big enough for them?
Chapter Fifteen
“Hey, we’re having a sister get-together after lunch,” Tori announced, staring at Naomi as if she thought Naomi would say no. She was guessing that somehow the gossip train at Bluff Creek had let her sisters know she was outside kissing Stone last night.
“Where?” Naomi challenged.
“We reserved the Broken Hearts Brewing smash room,” Chloe chimed in.
“And the girls?” Naomi asked, since it seemed her sisters were ganging up on her and had it all figured out.
“Regina is doing a baking class today for any of the kids who want to learn. The girls said they wanted to attend,” AJ explained.
“Well, it seems like you all just have everything planned, bless your heart. Lilah, what did you add to the get-together?” Naomi demanded, barely holding her temper in check. She was finally on her own and didn’t have someone constantly telling her whatshe was going to do, and now her sisters hadn’t asked if they could all get together. Instead, they arranged everything and decided she’d go along with it.
Everyone had been getting ready to sit down at lunch when her sisters brought it up. The chatting in the room had quieted when she called out Lilah.
“I have the list of questions we’re going to ask you,” Lilah admitted flatly.
“Lilah, seriously,” Tori scolded.
“What? She asked. I’m not going to lie to her just because AJ and you thought she needed an intervention,” Lilah retorted, rolling her eyes.
Naomi stared at her sisters, whom she deeply loved, but she wasn’t giving up her newfound independence because her sisters decided she needed a lecture. Sure, Tori and AJ were a couple years older, but she was the only one of the five who had been married and had children. How could they dream that they needed to guide her in what she did?
“Well, we don’t want to hold up lunch. Regina, is it time to go through the buffet line?” Naomi asked, smoothly changing the subject.
“Yes. If you’ll all gather ‘round, I’d like to give thanks,” Regina announced.
Naomi stood by her girls because she wasn’t sure if she could keep her mouth shut if she stood by her sisters.
“Thank you for bringing us all together today and for this food prepared by many hands. Please be with all of us this week and have us show kindness to those we meet. Amen. Let’s eat,” Regina prayed, motioning toward the line.
Most of the men hung back unless they were helping the younger kids get food. The kids went through, then the women and men. Naomi looked around the tables to decide where to sit.There was a seat between Stone and Beck. She laid her plate on the table.
“Mind if I sit here?” she checked.
