“Nice to meet you, Kaitlyn.” Jessica eyed me from head to toe.
Her scrutiny unnerved me. When she raised her eyebrows, I knew she didn’t approve of my faded jeans and loose-fitting T-shirt.
“Same here.” I gave her a polite nod.
“Oh, this is my son, Jarrad.” She laid a hand on his head proudly. “We’re going shopping for the movie night. He’s so excited. He wants to wear a new outfit. He’s so mature for his age.” She giggled. “Will you both be there?”
Jarrad wants new clothes, or you do? Seriously, who shops for new clothes for a movie night?
“I-I—” Abby seemed lost for words.
“I’m taking Tyler. Abby already made plans,” I interjected.
“Oh. Okay. Then I’ll see you, Kaitlyn. Have a nice evening to both of you and ...” She finally looked at my nephew. “And him.”
“Tyler,” I said, accentuating his name.
“Yes, of course, Tyler.” With that, she strutted to a shiny black Mercedes-Benz.
“Wow. Nice friend.” I rolled my eyes as we headed to Abby’s minivan.
Abby gave me an evil eye. “Not my friend, but I can see you two becoming best friends.” She opened the rear door for Tyler.
“You’re funny.” I faked a laugh.
“I don’t like Jarrad,” Tyler grumbled and climbed into the car seat.
Abby clicked Tyler’s seat harness and tugged at it. “I told you this before, Ty, but you don’t have to like everyone. Just treat others as you would like to be treated. Remember that?”
He scrunched his face into a sour expression.
I squeezed my shoulder behind Abby to get a better look at him. “Is he bothering you? Did he say anything to you?”
I swore if Jarred was bullying him I was going to raise Cain. Sure, I wasn’t his mother, but I could be the bad cop when Abby might feel pressure to be nice. No child should ever feel unsafe.
Tyler crossed his arms and scowled. “No. But he likes to show off his new toys and tries to get Bridget’s attention.”
Abby sighed and patted Tyler’s thigh. “You can all play together. We discussed this already.”
He let out a huff. “I know, but he only wants to play with Bridget. He doesn’t want to play with me.”
“What about Jace?” his mom asked.
“Jace ignores him.”
“Then you should do the same.”
It wasn’t my place to tell him what to do, but I felt defensive on Tyler’s behalf. “Forget him, Ty. He doesn’t deserve your friendship. You’re better off without someone like him. Play with nice humble kids. Play with kids like you.”
Tyler bopped his shoulders. “Okay.”
Just like that, all seemed fine.
Abby turned to face me. “Why does he comply when you say it, but when I say it, it’s not okay?”
I hiked a shoulder and smirked. “Because I’m the cool aunt.”
She shook her head as she closed the door, and went around to hop in.
Abby started the engine. “Ty. Do you know anyone named Roselyn at your school? Maybe someone’s nickname?”
“Roselyn?” Tyler squinted in the sunlight beaming on him and pulled back. “No. Is she going to go to my school?”
Abby looked over her shoulder at Tyler and backed out of her parking spot. “No. I was just wondering. Never mind.”
I clicked my seatbelt and released an annoyed sigh. “There are reasonable explanations. I’m still going.”
“Stubborn,” she said and slid into the lane with oncoming traffic.
I flicked her cheek and leaned back against the door. She knew how much I disliked being called that, just as much as she hated being flicked.
“Ouch.” She glared at me, and then looked at the front window and sang, “Stubborn. Stubborn. Stubborn.”
Tyler curled in on himself and threw his head back, laughing. “You act like kids in my class,” he said, catching his breath.
We cracked up. Just like the good old days, bickering one second and laughing the next.
“Sometimes your auntie acts like one.”
“And so does your mother.” I turned on the radio and we three fa-la-la-la-la’d all the way home.
Chapter Fourteen — Movie Night
Abby zipped up her jeans in the bathroom, tucked in her tank top, and shoved her arms through the sleeves of the matching magenta cardigan.
Her light makeup enhanced her brown eyes, high cheekbones, and plump lips.
“You look pretty, Mom.” Tyler peered up at her, blinking his long eyelashes, and plopped on Abby’s bed.
“Thanks, Ty. You look handsome.” Abby glanced at the mirror and pushed back a loose strand she had curled.
I wanted him to look his best for the Movie and Popcorn event, so after dinner, I had gelled his hair back and outfitted him with jeans and a button-up blue and black plaid shirt. Yes, I had a competitive side. If what’s-her-name was going to doll up Jarrad then I would do the same to Tyler.
Abby came out of the bathroom and reached down to kiss him.
Tyler backed away. “No, Mom. You have on lipstick. I don’t want you to mark my face.”
Abby frowned. “Fine.”
“I’m not wearing any lipstick.” I went to the other side of the bed, grabbed his face, and kissed him repeatedly as I inhaled vanilla and honey from his hair.
Tyler pushed away and put out a hand. “Auntie Kate. Once is enough.”
I held in a laugh. “Fine.”
“Ready, people?” Abby shouldered the strap of her purse.
“Where are you going?” Tyler slid off the bed and shoved his hands inside his pockets, hiking his shoulders upward.
Abby bent lower to give him her full attention. “I already told you. Out with my friends.”
“I know, but where? To a restaurant, or park, or where adults hang out?”
“To a restaurant to eat. We’re going to eat and talk. Sometimes mommies need time with their friends. You’re okay with Auntie Kate, right?”
Tyler grinned at me. “Yes. I love her.”
“Awww. And I love you too.” I stood beside him and raised my hand to his head.
“Not my hair!” He jerked backward and almost knocked the photo of Steve off the bedside table.
Abby and I exchanged glances and laughed.
“When did he get big enough to care about his hair?” I frowned, making a sad face.
“In the blink of an eye,” Abby said, admiring her son. “Come on. If I don’t take you both now, you’re going to be late.”
We hopped in the minivan. Abby dropped us off at the community center after a quick ride and left to go meet her friends.
Not a cloud in the sky. Countless stars twinkled and dotted the dark canvas. The full moon cast a warm glow over the swaying palm trees and water shimmering like gold glitter.
A rush of cool wind picked up a few strands of my hair as I smelled the ocean scented air. The center sat on a hill, but the tall pampas grass limited some parts of my view of the ocean.
This serene, picturesque moment, I could paint this.
“Let’s go in, Auntie Kate. I don’t want to miss it.” Tyler dashed ahead of me to the ticket booth in front of the entrance.