Family Secrets

“I just met her tonight.  We spent a lot of time together.  But, yeah, I liked her.  Jess invited her to brunch tomorrow.  I was wondering if I should, you know, call her and tell her it’s okay to bring Abigail.”

“Don’t know that I can be any help.  Until your Mom came along, I avoided women with kids like the plague.  With your Mom, I just didn’t care that kids were part of the package.” Ben shook his head and chuckled. “Even when I thought you were all still rug rats.  Truth is it would have been my loss all the way around if I’d run the other way.  But, it’s something you have to decide for yourself.  Maybe you can text her in the morning and give her the choice.  You know, a text would give her some time to think about it without having to give you an immediate reaction.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.  Thanks. I’m going to head to bed.  You okay here? You need anything, a pillow for the sofa maybe?”

“No, I’m good.  Go ahead. And, Jake, just relax.  Whatever happens it’ll be fine.”

Ben had just cut the pasta when Jamie came home.  “Hey, Bambino.  The dishes all done?”

“Yeah.  I’m sure you have a crew coming tomorrow … today but I didn’t want to leave the mess, especially since I knew you wouldn’t have a chance to do anything with it because you’d be here.”  Jamie held the bag up.  “I brought all of the sausages from the freezer.  Jake didn’t say how many and I’ve heard the brunch guest list keeps growing.”

Ben chuckled.  “That it does.  Although, I think the final count might be in.  Unless you plan on inviting someone at the last minute.”

Jamie smiled.  “I don’t think so.  I don’t know anyone who’s ready to meet the family in a one on one setting let alone the Parkers, Bellinis, and Lucianos all in the same place at the same time.  Mom’s not bad, but Jess is intense, you know?  Besides, you know I don’t plan to get serious with anyone since I’m leaving in a few months for school.  There are rules, you know?”

Ben smiled.  Sure there were rules, hadn’t he taught them to Jamie?  “Yeah, Bambino, I know. You’d better get a little shut-eye.  I’m going to crash on the couch once the sauce starts to simmer.”

“Okay, I’m going to bed.  You need anything?  A pillow for the couch? A blanket?”

Ben laughed.  “You must be related to Jake, I had almost the same conversation with him. I’m good.  I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Jamie got up and started to leave the kitchen but turned around and looked at Ben.  “Ben, you’re really going to sleep on the couch, aren’t you?”

“Bambino, do you mean am I going to sleep in your mother’s bed?  Your Mom would be embarrassed that you even asked.  And, you know even if I were going to sleep in your Mom’s room that it’s none of your business.  But man to man, I really am going to crash on the couch.”

“Ben, you’re the closest thing to a real dad I’ve ever had.  But if you hurt my mother…”

“I know, Bambino.  She’s been hurt by enough men.  I’m just waiting for your Mom to catch up to me, you know?  Believe me my intentions are completely honorable.  Go on to bed.”

Jamie nodded once and went down the hall.

Jess might be five feet four inches of intense and sassy as hell, and Jamie might be quiet, but he was his own kind of intense.  Family was important to all three Parker kids.  It had been them and their mother against the world for nearly 18 years.  They stuck up for each other and for their Mom. God help anyone who hurt any one of them.

Ben woke with a start.  Someone was banging around in the kitchen.  He grabbed his phone to check the time.  It was nine o’clock.  It had been nearly four o’clock when he finally crashed.  He smelled coffee and followed his nose to the kitchen.

Lane looked at him.  He was standing in the doorway barefoot and bare chested in his wrinkled khaki slacks.  He had washboard abs and a lot of beautiful dark chest hair.  Some men wax their chest hair.  She was glad he didn’t.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”  She couldn’t help herself, she walked over and ran her hand up his abs to his chest until her fingers were buried in his chest hair.  She kissed him and as always the moan she gave as their tongues met sent him over the edge.

He wrapped one hand in her hair the other around her waist and pulled her into a full body caress. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could be patient.  He didn’t think he’d gone this long without sex since he was 16.  But, like he told Jamie just hours before, he was in this for the long haul.

Lane pushed away enough to catch her breath.  Her hand was still on his chest and she could feel his heart pounding out the same frantic rhythm she felt inside her own chest.

He didn’t attempt to move.  “Maybe I should go shower and change before the kids get up.”

Lane didn’t attempt to move either.  “That’s probably a good idea.  You can use my bathroom.  I’ve finished in there.”

Lane’s house had four bedrooms and four and a half baths.  Both Lane’s and Jess’s rooms had private bathes.  The boys shared a Jack and Jill bath.  There was a powder room on the main floor and a full bath in the basement.

He needed to get rid of the erection brought on by his reaction to her moaning before he went walking down the hall, risking ru

He kissed her gently.  “I’ll go shower now.”

She went to the driveway to retrieve the paper.  It had rained overnight.  She smiled.  The weather had finally broken and her sinuses felt great.  Lord, had it only been a week since she found Paul Gardner?

She was sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper and was sipping her Diet Dr. Pepper when Ben came into the kitchen.  He was wearing his weekend “uniform” a polo shirt tucked into khaki slacks. He had shaved and his hair was damp. She watched, as he stood over the stove lifting lids, smelling, stirring, and tasting.  He got a teaspoon, dipped it in the sauce, and carried it over for her to taste.

“Mmm, good.  You’ve made so much, but I still need to get started on some eggs, bacon, ham, biscuits, and hash browns. Do you think I need French toast or pancakes?”

“God, woman, I know the guest list has grown, but are we cooking for an army?”

She laughed.  “No, just two growing boys, and their sister of course.  What do you mean the guest list has grown?  I thought you, me, the kids, Uncle Sal, Uncle Vi

“Zia Elena will probably come, but Jess invited Colin Burke, and Meg Kelly who may or may not bring her daughter. Of course, that was the guest list as of two o’clock this morning.  The kids have had hours to invite more friends.”

“If Meg is bringing Abbey, then yes we need pancakes.  Pancakes are easy for little fingers.  And I need to clean in the dining room.”  She jumped up from the table nearly knocking him over.

“The dining room’s fine.  You just need to decide tablecloth or no tablecloth.  Remember we’re having red sauce. Tell me what dishes and glasses, and I’ll give them a quick wash while you get the American cuisine started.”

“Okay, that’s ten and possibly a high chair.  I don’t have a high chair.”

“Red, you have these counter height chairs, it’ll be fine.  Sit down.”  He led her back to the kitchen table. “Relax.”  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little blue Tiffany’s box. “I have a birthday present for you.”

She looked at him through squinted eyes.  Every female in America knew what a Tiffany’s box looked like.  She held up her left hand, and shook the wrist where she wore the te