“I’m so glad Ares had such a wonderful family to live with.” Tessa clutched the cup to her chest before she shook out the dice.
Sally’s eyes softened with emotion. “We’re so glad to have you and Tyler and Kathy with us now too.”
Sally had more than enough love to share. She would never be jealous of Tessa’s sudden return.
As for Ares, he didn’t seem to be as tense or upset. wanted to believe he was enjoying this. But what did he truly feel?
She longed to get him alone to find out. Longed just to be alone with him. Even though that was bound to be impossible this
weekend with family all around.
Still, she had faith that more magic would happen between them soon. Magic so powerful that he wouldn’t be able to walk away this
time.
In the meantime, she was delighting in all the things she was learning about him. With their scorecards almost filled and Ares neck
and neck with Tyler, the intensity of the game punched up. There was whooping and hollering with every throw.
“I’ve still got a really good chance against you two,” Kathy groused as she took her throw. And came up with zilch.
“Hah!” Tony crowed.
She leaned over to rap his arm lightly. “I’ll get you next time.” Kelsey sensed the love there, the deep twin bond.
Then it was Ares turn. “You’re going down, dude,” he boasted to Tony as he shook and threw, then punched the air when he rolled
four fives. “Gotcha.”
“No way. I still beat you.” Tony pointed to his scorecard, then Ares, and punched the air too.
“Let me double-check.” Kathy grabbed the two cards.
“Now don’t cheat just because he’s your brother,” Ares warned.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re my brother too.”
Ares leaned in. “But he’s your twin,” he emphasized.
The three siblings were so easy with each other, as if they’d known one another for years. Ares laughed and joked and teased. God, it
was so good to see him smile, especially with his family. Kelsey caught Sally’s eye, and she was sure she saw the mist of happy tears
there. This trip had truly been an engineering masterpiece. Even Tessa was smiling as she gazed at all three of her children.
“I declare it a tie,” Kathy said. “And we’re going to need a rematch so I can beat the pants off both of you.”
They were all competitive, but what Baddrick wasn’t? Tyler and Kathy clicked with Sally, George and Ares as if they’d been born
Baddricks.
With the game finished, Sally announced, “I’m starving. Let’s take a dinner break.” Then she said that she and George were going to
make grilled cheese sandwiches.
“My favorite,” Ares said as he hugged her off her feet. “I’ll help you.”
As the two of them headed off to the kitchen, Kelsey watched Tessa, looking for signs of jealousy over Ares relationship with his
foster mom. It would be natural, as much as it would be a consequence of her own actions.
“I’m very glad you and the twins came,” Kelsey said as an icebreaker.
Tessa turned, a sheen in her eyes. “I am too. Sally and George took such good care of him. He obviously loves them very much.”
“All the Baddricks do.” Throughout the game, Sally had talked of her other foster sons and of her own children. “Sally and George
have a lot of love to give.”
“So does Ares,” Tessa said in a soft voice, one that was filled with so much longing it nearly broke Kelsey’s heart.
She wished she had the right words to make it better. Something more than, “This trip is a good start.” One small step on what
Kelsey hoped was the road to forgiveness.
Tessa clasped her hands, as if in prayer. “He seems to really be bonding with the twins. I’ll be patient. It can’t happen in one
weekend.”
Kelsey felt a great kinship with Tessa in that moment.
Because patience where Ares heart was concerned was something Kelsey knew all too well.
* * *
After they’d eaten, Ares said, “It’s been a great day, but I’ve got a few things to take care of before bed. I’ve got a room at a local hotel so I won’t crowd anyone out. I’ll see everyone in the morning for breakfast.” He pulled Sally beneath his arm. “You haven’t eaten breakfast until you’ve had Sally’s eggs Benedict.”
“Kelsey,” Sally said suddenly, “it would probably be best if you stayed at the hotel too.”
Kelsey couldn’t hide her surprise at this suggestion. A beat later, however, she wondered if this was Sally’s way of not only saying
she approved of what might be going on between her and Ares, but also giving them a helping hand in making it happen.
Still looking at Sally as if she’d just lost her mind, Ares said, “There’s always been plenty of room here for Kelsey before.”
She wanted to smack him, even if he was running scared after the three deliriously glorious kisses they’d shared. But she wanted to
hug Sally.
Especially when she said, “The bathrooms will be crowded when we’re all trying to get ready in the morning. Not to mention the hot
water with all those showers.”
With that, Ares didn’t have a single excuse left.
While everyone hugged Ares good-bye for the night—even Tessa, who, miracle of miracles, he didn’t push away—Sally gave
Kelsey a hug.
In a low voice, she said, “He needs to decompress and talk through the day’s events. This has been a big step for him.”
“I know.” Kelsey nodded. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t hold it all in.”
“Thank you, honey. I can always trust you to take care of him. And I know he’ll always be there for you too.”
Sally could have simply been talking about their friendship. But Kelsey was certain that she heard something more in his foster
mother’s words.
Something that sounded a lot like love.