“Oh, oh,” Diane’s eyes were wide. “No?”
“No,” Ginny said dryly. “About two minutes later, just when I’m starting to sweat, the door opens and in comes person number two. A guy, who also loses his robe. Followed seconds later by guy number two.”
Kelli glanced at Luke, then slapped a hand over her mouth as if trapping some truly dirty comment.
Ginny snickered. “I know what you’re thinking, and no. They were not remotely within my ‘suitable to date’ age range. This was not a fun opportunity waiting to happen.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t have heart attacks seeing you there. Good looking woman, that’s all I’m saying.” Jack ducked from Diane’s mock-fist swing.
“So if you’re looking for a sauna in Paris, I have one on the no list,” Ginny said firmly.
“Unless you’re into that sort of thing,” Kelli said, waggling her brows. “I’m shocked naked surprises aren’t right up your alley.”
“Naked with the right people, fine. Naked with those people, not so much.”
“Do we really need to listen to you talk about being naked?” Luke asked, looking away from her and shaking his head.
“You’re such a prude,” Ginny teased. “Get over it.”
“You’re my sister,” he repeated, like there was no other answer ever needed.
Ginny found herself being pulled into a hug when it was time to say goodnight, since Jack and Diane were leaving early the next morning.
“You take care of my girl, now,” Diane said as she squeezed Ginny tight. She leaned in close. “You’re a shiny star waiting to light up the world. I’m glad you’re here. I hope Kelli gets to enjoy as much of that brightness as you can share.”
Ginny warmed inside at the compliment. “Kelli is awesome, and it’s been good getting to know you.”
“You too, girlfriend.” Diane winked. “We’ll be back.”
Ashton’s birthday came and went, but even that ended up not being an opportunity to see Tucker as the guys vanished for a men’s only celebration at Josiah’s house.
It sucked. Big-time. Hugely, enormously, and only the fact that Ginny was busier than she’d ever thought possible made the days roll by.
But the guys’ only party brought to mind the idea Ginny had shelved a few weeks ago. An idea that was also poked back to life as she spent time reading through her mom’s journal and tentatively starting to write in the new one she’d been given.
Ginny asked the other day if we could go out for breakfast to Connie’s. When I asked what we were celebrating, she told me Caleb and Walter went out to Connie’s for breakfast every couple of weeks, and there’s no way some other woman could make breakfast as good as I could, so there had to be something special about the place.
* * *
Humbled by my child yet again. We now have a girls only date on the agenda, because she’s right. I can cook far better than the line cooks at Connie’s, but going there together makes it special.
Then there’d been the single-line prompt in Ginny’s new journal that asked, What am I doing to pay it forward?
Which could mean any manner of things, but in light of her niece’s recent comment, this one made sense.
Ginny stopped in to run the idea by Tamara before she said anything to the girls.
“What do you think of having a girls’ night out type thing for the kiddos?” Ginny asked.
Tamara blinked. “Go on.”
“Sasha said something about our girls’ night out being just for grown-ups, and rightly so. It’s good they know there are some things they need to work up to.” Ginny winked.
“Oh. So you’re thinking more than a playdate gathering with their friends?” Tamara considered. “They’re usually pretty happy with that.”
Ginny wanted to tread carefully, because the last thing she wanted to do was imply that Tamara wasn’t doing a fantastic job. Because she totally was, and the girls were thriving.
Still, the words itched to escape. “I thought more like a mother-daughter thing, but since you’ve got two, I could stand in this time with one of them. Something a little more focused than just general play-time for them to enjoy.”
Understanding slid in, and Tamara smiled. “That’s a good idea, especially right now. I know Hanna would love to do it with Crissy, and Talia’s got a new mother figure in her life. Let’s make it happen.”
Which was how a few days later they ended up with four little girls nearly vibrating out of their skin as they gathered in the kitchen at the Silver Stone ranch house.
Petite Hanna Ford was there with her daughter Crissy. Tamara had both Sasha and Emma leaning against her sides as they welcome Madison Joy and Talia Zhao into the house.
Madison wore a very bemused but happy expression. As if she couldn’t believe she was actually there.
Talia wrapped her arms around Madison’s neck and laid her cheek against hers. “Auntie Ginny, this is my new Mommy.”
“Hello, new Mommy,” Ginny said as Madison blinked hard, obviously fighting back emotion. “I hear you recently made my kid brother wear pixie wings. You’re already one of my favourite people.”
Madison laughed, and the afternoon flowed easily from there. Cookies were made, stories shared. When Sasha insisted, Tamara taught them all how to do a wrestling move that could pull a bigger, larger person off balance. While it was fun, it was also important. Planting seeds, making a difference.
The fact that Emma planned to take Dustin down the first chance she got was funny as hell to boot.
Part of the joy of the afternoon was telling Dare about it later. Ginny’s sister was mostly amused by the entire idea, but also slightly horrified.
Dare: I’m so glad I have all boys. How did you even know what to arrange?
Ginny: Are you kidding? Have you forgotten Sasha and her opinions that quickly?
Dare: What was I thinking? So, pedicures? Manicures?
Ginny: Pedicures were labelled “icky” by three out of four of the younger participants, so Madison came up with the brilliant idea of tracing our feet on a piece of paper and giving ourselves virtual pedicures.
Dare: Get out. That sounds fun.
Ginny: I’ll send you a picture of everything later.
Dare: I’d love to see them. Also, speaking of pictures… Have you made any headway on the strange message from your parents?
Ginny sighed. She’d been ignoring that part of the problem. I sent you a picture of it, didn’t I?
Dare: Nope. Shoot me a copy, and I’ll give it some thought.
Ginny: Don’t show it around yet, though, okay?
She wasn’t sure why, but it felt wrong to be flashing the page around when it was a present to her, and she couldn’t even explain what it meant.
Dare sent an eye roll emoji. Of course, I’ll keep it private. Silly rabbit.
Ginny: You can show that cowboy who knocked you up. This isn’t a keep-secrets-from-him situation.
Dare: You are nothing but trouble, but I love you, Truth.
Ginny: I love you, Dare.