breakfast?”
“Cody says second breakfast can be yummier than first breakfast.”
“Why am I not surprised that man can put away food like that?” Aunt Leona asked. “He’s a beefcake. Gotta feed that meat.”
Rory snorted, then blushed as she remembered Cody’s tatted, muscle-ripped body covering hers last night. “They work out a lot up at the station to stay fit for the job. Have you seen his brothers?”
“Oh, honey, the Blue-Haired Ladies have seen all of those Keller boys. Everyone has. They’re pretty to look at, sure, but they are also local heroes. The town celebrated when those boys came back from the war. Both times. And every one of them is involved in the community. Not the political, boring part of it either. They help with all of the fundraisers, fire safety classes, and parades. They even visit the schools around here and let the kids tour the engine. Those Keller boys are good to the bone, every last one of them. You couldn’t have picked a better daddy for your baby if you tried.”
Rory smiled sadly as she watched Aaron bound ahead and run a stick along a metal fence, half-eaten crepe dripping chocolate from his other hand. “I wish Mom could meet him. Maybe she’d feel better about everything if she saw what a good man he is.”
“Well, if she got anywhere close to Cody Keller, I think he’d charm the socks off her. My sister is a stubborn woman, though. She always has been.”
“Have you talked to her lately?” Rory asked softly.
“Two weeks ago. She’s doing well. She’s dating some attorney and is living in the suburbs now.”
“It’s so strange not knowing about my own mom’s life after growing up so close with her.”
“Yeah, I imagine it would be. Rory, you know none of what happened between you and your mom is your fault, right?”
Rory plucked a tender lime-green leaf from a bush as she passed and folded it neatly. “I’d argue it’s all my fault. I was the one who had the baby against her advice.”
“That was on your mother, child. She should’ve never given an ultimatum like that. And her not wanting to get to know her grandson…” Aunt Leona stared after Aaron with a sad shake of her head. “She’s missed out on more than she’ll ever know. That was her choice, though, and I have gone blue in the face harping on her for treating you like that. She only talks to me on the phone if I don’t bring up the past.”
“Or me.”
Aunt Leona’s thin lips quirked up in a sympathetic smile as she hugged her against her side and patted Rory’s shoulder. “I’m glad you are your own woman, Rory Dodson. You didn’t let other’s opinions bring you down or change your mind. You stuck to your guns and showed impressive poise in how you have raised your son. Your good parenting shows in how happy and well-adjusted Aaron is. You’re a good momma.”
Emotion congealed in her chest, and Rory looked away before Aunt Leona could see how much those words touched her. She’d longed to hear any compliment from Mom when she was younger, but being a mother to Aaron was different than making straight As or getting a college scholarship. It was the most important thing she’d ever done, and to hear Aunt Leona, whose opinion mattered so much, tell her she was good at this…well, it meant the entire world.
“What’s that?” Aaron asked from up ahead. He bolted for the front door of her aunt’s house and picked up a vase of daylilies. “Mommy, I think it’s for you.”
When Rory reached him, she read the scribbled card aloud. “I didn’t get to do all this stuff the first time around. I’ll make it up to you. Can’t wait to see you and Aaron. Bring your swimsuits. Cody”
“Oh, I love daylilies. Sweet, sweet man. Does he have a pool at his house?” Aunt Leona asked.
Rory frowned at the card, rereading it silently. “No. Not even a creak that I saw.”
“I wonder why you need swimsuits then.”
“Beats me.”
Chapter Ten
It became clear why
“Cody says second breakfast can be yummier than first breakfast.”
“Why am I not surprised that man can put away food like that?” Aunt Leona asked. “He’s a beefcake. Gotta feed that meat.”
Rory snorted, then blushed as she remembered Cody’s tatted, muscle-ripped body covering hers last night. “They work out a lot up at the station to stay fit for the job. Have you seen his brothers?”
“Oh, honey, the Blue-Haired Ladies have seen all of those Keller boys. Everyone has. They’re pretty to look at, sure, but they are also local heroes. The town celebrated when those boys came back from the war. Both times. And every one of them is involved in the community. Not the political, boring part of it either. They help with all of the fundraisers, fire safety classes, and parades. They even visit the schools around here and let the kids tour the engine. Those Keller boys are good to the bone, every last one of them. You couldn’t have picked a better daddy for your baby if you tried.”
Rory smiled sadly as she watched Aaron bound ahead and run a stick along a metal fence, half-eaten crepe dripping chocolate from his other hand. “I wish Mom could meet him. Maybe she’d feel better about everything if she saw what a good man he is.”
“Well, if she got anywhere close to Cody Keller, I think he’d charm the socks off her. My sister is a stubborn woman, though. She always has been.”
“Have you talked to her lately?” Rory asked softly.
“Two weeks ago. She’s doing well. She’s dating some attorney and is living in the suburbs now.”
“It’s so strange not knowing about my own mom’s life after growing up so close with her.”
“Yeah, I imagine it would be. Rory, you know none of what happened between you and your mom is your fault, right?”
Rory plucked a tender lime-green leaf from a bush as she passed and folded it neatly. “I’d argue it’s all my fault. I was the one who had the baby against her advice.”
“That was on your mother, child. She should’ve never given an ultimatum like that. And her not wanting to get to know her grandson…” Aunt Leona stared after Aaron with a sad shake of her head. “She’s missed out on more than she’ll ever know. That was her choice, though, and I have gone blue in the face harping on her for treating you like that. She only talks to me on the phone if I don’t bring up the past.”
“Or me.”
Aunt Leona’s thin lips quirked up in a sympathetic smile as she hugged her against her side and patted Rory’s shoulder. “I’m glad you are your own woman, Rory Dodson. You didn’t let other’s opinions bring you down or change your mind. You stuck to your guns and showed impressive poise in how you have raised your son. Your good parenting shows in how happy and well-adjusted Aaron is. You’re a good momma.”
Emotion congealed in her chest, and Rory looked away before Aunt Leona could see how much those words touched her. She’d longed to hear any compliment from Mom when she was younger, but being a mother to Aaron was different than making straight As or getting a college scholarship. It was the most important thing she’d ever done, and to hear Aunt Leona, whose opinion mattered so much, tell her she was good at this…well, it meant the entire world.
“What’s that?” Aaron asked from up ahead. He bolted for the front door of her aunt’s house and picked up a vase of daylilies. “Mommy, I think it’s for you.”
When Rory reached him, she read the scribbled card aloud. “I didn’t get to do all this stuff the first time around. I’ll make it up to you. Can’t wait to see you and Aaron. Bring your swimsuits. Cody”
“Oh, I love daylilies. Sweet, sweet man. Does he have a pool at his house?” Aunt Leona asked.
Rory frowned at the card, rereading it silently. “No. Not even a creak that I saw.”
“I wonder why you need swimsuits then.”
“Beats me.”
Chapter Ten
It became clear why
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