Shameless(96)

He pulls out his phone and glances at the time. “Half an hour. Mom said she’s bringing that recipe you asked for.”

“Oh, good.” Turning around, I thread my fingers through his damp hair. “See how nice it is to have them close by?”

He grumbles because they call him every ten minutes, but I know deep down he likes being needed by them.

Turns out they sold their landscaping business to Jose, who had been running it in Brady’s absence. And they realized that if they sold their house in Boston, they could get something much more affordable here. I might have sent them a few property listings. Anyway, they bought a small home two miles away from us and still had plenty left over in savings for their retirement.

I love his parents. Adore them. In fact, his mom was a big advocate of Brady staying here and fighting for our relationship. His dad supported it too, but his mom was the one who told him she’d kick Brady's ass if he let me go.

His parents aren’t the only ones doing better financially. Brady’s situation has turned around too. Fortunately, his roommate in Boston had his girlfriend move in, so Brady was off the hook for the lease.

Once we settled in here after the holidays, he offered me a partnership to help him run the farm, which I gladly accepted, and my first order of business was to expand our bath products. I didn’t have to look that far because Frank, one of our customers at the farmers’ fair, loved my lotions and soaps so much, his company bought the exclusive rights to sell our whole body line. And since Frank and I hit it off so well, he hired me as a part time consultant, which means I can work from home.

So for the first time in ages, the farm is doing really well. Now, Brady only works in Austin when he wants to.

He thought about quitting the parlor, but I know he loves having that creative outlet, so I encouraged him to continue. He works by appointment one or two nights a week, and that gives him time to draw and paint. I love that he’s putting his MFA to good use. In fact, his artwork hangs all over our house, and I’m setting up an online Etsy store so he can sell his art directly to clients.

And I’m happy to say my ex finally got a clue and has left us alone. But Eric’s also been pretty busy lately with that payoff scandal that landed him and his father in some hot water with the feds. Can’t say I’m surprised. Or particularly heartbroken.

“My parents are watching Izzy tonight, right?” Brady murmurs in my ear.

I nod and fight a smile when I feel him harden against my belly. “Babe.”

“What?” He laughs as his hands lower to my ass.

“Seriously. We can’t. People will be here soon.” But oh, God, I want to.

He groans and peels himself off me before he reaches down to adjust himself.

“Later,” I promise, kissing his cheek. “We just have to be quiet.”

Brady scrubs his face. “Fine.” Then he grumbles, “Was it my imagination or did I hear we’re supposed to dress up tonight?”

“Hmm. Yeah, I think our mothers are pretending we’re the Brady Bunch. Heh. Get it? Brady Bunch?” I make a silly face, and he rolls his eyes, a smile ghosting his lips. “Speaking of getting ready, I need to get dressed, and I won’t if you’re here being all handsy, so scoot.”

“You like when I’m handsy.”

“I love when you’re handsy, just not when I’m getting dressed.”

Laughing, I push him out the door with instructions to change into something more appropriate and then try to entertain my parents. They’ve been staying in my old bedroom for a few nights while we harvest the lavender.

Neither Brady nor I could really deal with sleeping in Mel and Cal’s bedroom, so we converted it into an office, and we turned the old office into our bedroom.

When I exit my room twenty minutes later, I’m glad I took the time to put on makeup. This dress is too pretty to have me looking like a haggard mess. My sister and I were out shopping last week, and she talked me into getting it. Of course her prompting is the only reason I’d be fool enough to get a white sundress. I’m sure Izzy will get her handprints all over it in five minutes.

When I step out into the living room, my dad wraps me in a big hug.

“Mija, you look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Then my mom, who I swear was wiping her eyes a second ago, gives me a hug. What in the world? Is this because she’s happy I’m finally wearing a dress?

“Tori is setting the picnic table out back,” my mom says, sniffling.

I swear she’s going through menopause.

We head outside where we have a picnic table set up under the shade of the big oak tree. Brady’s parents, my sister, and the Macs are already back here. My parents follow behind us with an armload of casseroles.

Izzy jumps out of Tori’s arms and comes tearing across the yard toward us in a little red tutu and Boston Red Sox t-shirt. “Daddy! Daddy! Upsies! Upsies!” She lifts her hand to Brady, wanting him to pick her up.

He adopted her in late January. Watching how wonderful he is with her, how much he adores her, makes my heart feel like it's going to burst.

Brady’s explained to Izzy that he’s her uncle because he’s afraid to take that away from Cal, but she insists on calling him daddy. Of course, he realizes she doesn’t understand right now, but he doesn’t want her to wake up one day and be shocked by something she could just know all along.