like I was her own kid, rocking me back and forth. She pulled back to take me in, her eyes glossed over with unshed tears. Happy ones, I hoped. “I never thought this day would come, that any of the boys would find someone they could be serious with. Baron’s told me all about you, and you’re an incredible woman, Kiera.”
I chuckled, not good with compliments. “He’s biased.”
“Well I am, too.” She didn’t back down. “Anyone who’s served our country and saved the lives of my boys is a hero in my book.” She let me go, but still held my hand, squeezing it. “And not only saved them from death, but gave them a reason to live. You’re giving me a reason to live.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” There was a difference between truly living, looking forward to each day and the possibilities that it held, and surviving, waiting for the day to be over just to say you did it. That’s what Baron had given me. The ghosts were still there—any loud noise or crowd still freaked me out—but I had the strength to fight it, instead of running for cover. “Baron’s told me all about you, too. You’re pretty awesome yourself, Mrs. Channing.”
She shook her head and waved her hand, like raising four boys on her own was nothing. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, Mom?” Baron asked.
“No, go out and have fun.” Mrs. Channing was absolutely beaming. “Some of the girls are coming over for cards.”
Baron laughed. “Yeah, good luck to them.” He turned to me, slipping his arm around my back. “Never bet money in a card game against my mom unless you want to lose it. You can’t win. It’s like her superpower.”
“It’s just attention to detail. Anyone can do it.” She dismissed Baron’s claim, kissing us both. “You’re invited to the next girls’ night, Kiera. I’ll show you how to keep this boy in line.” She swatted Baron’s ass.
I waited to get in the truck before I said anything. “Your mother underestimates me.”
“What? No way. She likes you more than she likes us.”
“That might be true.” Baron hit the brakes halfway down the dirt road that led away from the house when I smiled at him, knowing better than to operate heavy machinery. “Should I tell her how I keep you in line when she teaches me how to play cards?”
“Hell no.” Baron shuddered. “My mother might be hot for grandkids, but let me assure you that she’s perfectly happy to think they’re the result of a visit from the stork. She still has a fit when we swear in front of her.”
“That’s cute.” I nudged him, but he didn’t respond. I didn’t have to work today, which was unusual. We didn’t take many days off, since the animals always needed something. Now that we all actually had a chance at having a social life, Trina gave Lyssie and me each a day off this week. It felt like a vacation I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done something just for myself. I hadn’t wanted to spend any time alone.
Baron was still quiet when we got to The Pizza Pub. He’d asked for a booth without making a big deal out of it. They were all against the wall, and I could have my birds’ eye view. “Cranberry wheat, please,” I told the waitress. I was actually considering the pulled pork pizza, even if it was just to get Baron to crack a smile.
“Me too. Thanks.”
My mouth hung open when she left. “Is there anything you need to tell me?” I winked, still nothing. “Are we splitting a cheeseburger pizza?”
“Hell no.” Baron scoffed, smiling. He wiped his hand over his face, like he had to remind himself to be pissy about something. “There is something I want to talk to you about, though.”
“Anything.” The waitress came back with the beers. That’s why I loved this place so much. They never left anyone wanting for beer. I handed her my menu, smirking at Baron. “Shall we split the pulled pork?”
“God, I love you.” His head fell to the table, hand up so the waitress
I chuckled, not good with compliments. “He’s biased.”
“Well I am, too.” She didn’t back down. “Anyone who’s served our country and saved the lives of my boys is a hero in my book.” She let me go, but still held my hand, squeezing it. “And not only saved them from death, but gave them a reason to live. You’re giving me a reason to live.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” There was a difference between truly living, looking forward to each day and the possibilities that it held, and surviving, waiting for the day to be over just to say you did it. That’s what Baron had given me. The ghosts were still there—any loud noise or crowd still freaked me out—but I had the strength to fight it, instead of running for cover. “Baron’s told me all about you, too. You’re pretty awesome yourself, Mrs. Channing.”
She shook her head and waved her hand, like raising four boys on her own was nothing. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, Mom?” Baron asked.
“No, go out and have fun.” Mrs. Channing was absolutely beaming. “Some of the girls are coming over for cards.”
Baron laughed. “Yeah, good luck to them.” He turned to me, slipping his arm around my back. “Never bet money in a card game against my mom unless you want to lose it. You can’t win. It’s like her superpower.”
“It’s just attention to detail. Anyone can do it.” She dismissed Baron’s claim, kissing us both. “You’re invited to the next girls’ night, Kiera. I’ll show you how to keep this boy in line.” She swatted Baron’s ass.
I waited to get in the truck before I said anything. “Your mother underestimates me.”
“What? No way. She likes you more than she likes us.”
“That might be true.” Baron hit the brakes halfway down the dirt road that led away from the house when I smiled at him, knowing better than to operate heavy machinery. “Should I tell her how I keep you in line when she teaches me how to play cards?”
“Hell no.” Baron shuddered. “My mother might be hot for grandkids, but let me assure you that she’s perfectly happy to think they’re the result of a visit from the stork. She still has a fit when we swear in front of her.”
“That’s cute.” I nudged him, but he didn’t respond. I didn’t have to work today, which was unusual. We didn’t take many days off, since the animals always needed something. Now that we all actually had a chance at having a social life, Trina gave Lyssie and me each a day off this week. It felt like a vacation I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done something just for myself. I hadn’t wanted to spend any time alone.
Baron was still quiet when we got to The Pizza Pub. He’d asked for a booth without making a big deal out of it. They were all against the wall, and I could have my birds’ eye view. “Cranberry wheat, please,” I told the waitress. I was actually considering the pulled pork pizza, even if it was just to get Baron to crack a smile.
“Me too. Thanks.”
My mouth hung open when she left. “Is there anything you need to tell me?” I winked, still nothing. “Are we splitting a cheeseburger pizza?”
“Hell no.” Baron scoffed, smiling. He wiped his hand over his face, like he had to remind himself to be pissy about something. “There is something I want to talk to you about, though.”
“Anything.” The waitress came back with the beers. That’s why I loved this place so much. They never left anyone wanting for beer. I handed her my menu, smirking at Baron. “Shall we split the pulled pork?”
“God, I love you.” His head fell to the table, hand up so the waitress
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