Invitation to Love (24 page)

“Chris.”

“Then
they’re in good hands. We’d better turn in, don’t you think? We have a long
drive ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Michael,”
she nudged him. “Bedtime is hours away.”

“I
didn’t say we had to sleep, did I?” he shot her a wicked grin.

A heated
shyness enveloped her when she realized what he had in mind. She laid her head
into his shoulder. “Michael.”

He
swooped her up into his arms and carried her away to the bedroom.

Taryn
found the keys in her purse and opened the cabin door. The musty air that hit
her the moment she stepped inside was a reminder to open all the windows. She
took one moment to stand silently and look around. Every year, when they come
here on vacation, she’s moved to just stand and give way to that sentimental
nudge  prompting her to remember, that six years ago, she and Michael declared
their love for one another.

“Mom.”

“Yes,
Remi,”she turned to the fourteen year-old girl, now almost as tall as she. The
tomboyish, easy-to-get-in-trouble, Remi has discovered boys, fashion, and anything
to do with the Japanese culture.

“Where
do you want me to put these?” she was referring to the plastic sacks of
groceries dangling from every finger.

“Follow
me into the kitchen, please.”

Rachel
wasn’t far behind carrying her own load, also into boys, hip-hop, and clothes,
of course. The girls deposited the sacks on the counter and put a few of the
canned goods away before abandoning that chore to ask
the
most important
question of the day.

“Mom,”
Rachel touched at her latest hairdo of the month, having replaced her curls
with straight hair and bangs; Next month it’ll probably be a Mohawk. “Can we
ride our bikes over to the Houston’s to see if they’ve arrived, yet?”

“We
brought everything in from the car,” Remi added.

They
were referring to the family that just built a cabin through the woods. They
would often share nights bar-b-cueing, and days sitting by the banks of the
clear stream  until they were all tempted to wade and discover the strange life
swimming around them. Their sixteen year-old son, Avery, is the reason for their
eager hospitality.

“You’ll
have to ask your father,” she pulled out some air freshener to spray the cabin
later. “If he says it’s okay, then you can go.”

“Daddy,”
they scooted from the room.

Taryn
regretted she didn’t make them stay and help her clean up first; Nora and her
crew will be here in a couple of hours.

“Taryn.”

She
was putting the last of the groceries in the refrigerator when she heard her
name urgently called from the front room. She stopped in the narrow hallway by the
cobblestone fireplace and leaned against it, a warm smile creasing her lips.

Michael was seated on the
couch trying without success to console their six month old son with dark hair
just like his father, Michael Vande-xx the third, Mickey for short.

“Taryn,
sweetheart,” Michael looked up when he noticed her standing there. “He’s hungry
and impatient. You should come feed him.”

It
was hard keeping her smile from widening at the touching scene of him trying to
rock the round infant while it sucked and pulled at his father’s handsome face.

“Taryn,
baby,” he begged her to come. “He needs you.”

It
was the proudest day of his life when his son was born. And, he’s been an absolute
wonderful father to Remi and Rachel, whom he adopted; His budding Cleopatra’s
he calls them. Chris fell in love two years ago; Remi and Rachel were
bridesmaids at his wedding. Along with his one year-old daughter, he has two
queens, now.

“Taryn,
you’re not moving,” he said after one of Mickey’s screams.

Her
life began six years ago on that Florida beach. That day she invited him to
share her lunch; And from then on, he’s invited her to take possession of his
love.

“Taryn.”

THANK
YOU. AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED INVITATION TO LOVE

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