She’d seen him on stage and at what seemed like a million galas, but it was a whole different level of sweetness to see how kind and patient he was with the kids. When Stacey started screwing in the corner cupboard carousels before they’d mounted the cabinets, he didn’t get mad or banish her to the garage to fold cardboard for the trash. He simply said, “We’ll hang the cabinets first, and then put in the carousels and drawers, okay?”
“Why?”
Sebastian was already moving ahead and said only, “You’ll see.”
Charlie touched Stacey’s arm. “Since the cabinets are actually mounted on the wall, it’s easier to hang them and get them straight when they’re empty.”
Stacey smiled at her. “Thanks, it helps to know that.”
Meanwhile, EZ had forgotten to use the level on the cabinet mounting bars, ending up with one side lower than the other—and Sebastian had already stepped in to fix it while EZ stood back and let him.
Just as Charlie decided to butt in again, suggesting that EZ fix his own mistakes, she was interrupted by a gravelly male voice. “What have we got going on in here?”
A smile a mile wide creased Sebastian’s face. In the open garage door, the big, bald, ruddy-faced man enfolded the much taller Sebastian in a bear hug. Then Bob stood aside so that Sebastian could gather Susan into a hug as bearlike as the one Bob had given him.
It was obvious who the couple was given the affection and adoration in Sebastian’s eyes and voice. Charlie felt her chest squeeze tight. These people might not be his birth parents, but they meant the world to him.
“I’ve got someone I want you to meet.” Sebastian held out his hand to her. “This is Charlie.”
The fact that he didn’t say her last name—that she was just Charlie—meant he’d told these special people about her.
Susan took both her hands, giving Charlie’s heartstrings another strong tug. “Charlie, I couldn’t be happier to meet you. I read that article about your sculpture at the Regent Hotel. I’m so delighted for you.”
“Thank you. And it’s so nice to meet you too. I’ve heard such amazing things about you and Bob.” She smiled at the lovely, fiftysomething woman. “And Sebastian hasn’t exaggerated a bit.”
A few inches taller than Charlie, Susan had a trim build, an engaging smile and knowing eyes. When she glanced at Sebastian, then back to Charlie, it was as if she knew everything, approved, and accepted. Charlie warmed all over. The only woman she’d ever felt total acceptance from was her mother. But with one little sideways look, Susan Spencer made her feel as though she could be a Maverick.
“Now, where are the rest of my boys?” Susan called, and Jeremy immediately came running.
“Grandma!”
After fifteen minutes for all the hugs and hellos, Daniel put his parents to work in one of the second-floor bathrooms. They all settled back into their jobs, until twelve-thirty, when Daniel blew a whistle like a drill sergeant and yelled from the front room, “Lunch break, everyone! Pizza in the backyard.”
“I didn’t notice before,” Charlie said to Sebastian after everyone had headed out to the yard, “but now that I know there’s pizza, I’m starving,”
“I am too. Starving for this.” He grabbed her up in his big arms, right off her feet, and planted a kiss on her mouth before dropping her back down.
One kiss and her heart was galloping like her stallions. “There are youngsters here.” Her smile ruined the effect of her teasing admonition.
“They can watch and learn, then.” His grin was bigger than hers as he put his arm around her, guiding her to the backyard. She loved the sweetness of it, the ease of his touch, his smile, as if they’d been together forever.
Outside, Daniel had set up canopies for some shade. Thank goodness there was a decent breeze to cool down the warm afternoon. Susan waved an arm at her. “Charlie, I’ve saved you a seat.” There was only one deck chair available next to her.
“You okay with this?” Sebastian asked Charlie softly.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because Susan clearly wants to grill you on everything we’ve said and done—and probably on when you’re going to commit to having my firstborn.”
“Trust me, I’m going to grill her right back about you.”
He looked a little shell-shocked at her return volley. She grabbed a slice of pizza and a soda, then took the seat Susan offered. Heck, she felt kind of shell-shocked herself. She hadn’t thought much about marriage or a family, but having kids with Sebastian sounded so good...as did everything that came with it, including his ring on her finger.
“Lord, that sun is bright,” Susan said from behind an oversized pair of sunglasses. “Daniel tells me he’s going to build a deck and lay in a drought-resistant garden, front and back, with drip watering.” She scuffed her shoe in the dirt and lowered her voice. “I know it’s impractical out here, but I do love a nice green lawn.”
Still stunned by the vision of herself in a long white dress, walking down a rose-strewn aisle toward Sebastian, the best response Charlie could come up with was, “Me too.”
Despite Sebastian’s threat, Susan didn’t pry at all. She simply asked about Charlie’s work and then talked about her boys. Her deep, abiding love for every one of them shone in her voice, her smile, and the softness of her gaze. They were all her sons, not just Daniel, and each of them had special qualities. She clearly loved her daughter no less.
“Lyssa is traveling through Europe on her own.” Susan said. “She’s so adventurous. I’m not sure I could have done anything like that when I was her age. And I certainly couldn’t do it now.”
“Of course you could. Just imagine.” Charlie closed her eyes dreamily. “You and Bob floating through Venice on a gondola.” It was so easy to picture the scene with Sebastian at her side.
Susan laughed. “Bob would get seasick.”
“How about drinking wine with fresh bread and cheese at a Tuscan villa?” She could easily while away the hours with that divine daydream.
“I’m lactose and gluten intolerant.”
Charlie stared at Susan’s straight face for three seconds, then said, “Maybe you shouldn’t eat the pizza.”
Susan laughed heartily, from deep in her belly all the way to her eyes. “I like you, Charlie—you let me joke around.”
“I like you too.” Especially because you took in Sebastian when he badly needed a family to love him. Thank you for being there for him, Susan.
Just then, little Noah let out a squeal of delight from across the yard. “Isn’t he a doll?” Susan’s face turned mushy with love.
Matt’s son was incredibly cute as he drove a toy dump truck through the dirt. With the help of Paige and Ariana, the young woman who worked for Daniel, Noah loaded his truck, though he appeared to be getting more dirt on himself than in the toy. “You go, Noah,” Sebastian called out. “Fill up that truck with all the rocks so your Uncle Daniel doesn’t have to move them later on. They’re too heavy for him.” He scooted quickly out of range of Daniel’s elbow.
“Sebastian’s going to make a wonderful father someday,” Susan said.
“Yes, he will.” Sebastian would love any kid he had with everything in him.
“Speaking of family, I’m sorry about your mother’s health. Sebastian has mentioned her more than once.” Susan’s gray eyes were misty with empathy. “Being in pain all the time must be terrible, and so hard for you to watch.”
“Thank you for your kindness.” Charlie smiled softly, though she stiffened slightly, nervous that Susan might add in her two cents about letting Sebastian do more. “It is hard, but Mom’s always upbeat.”
“Your mother’s new home sounds lovely. You’re Sebastian’s hero, with your dedication to caring for her. As busy as you are, I’m amazed you still manage to visit twice a week.”