Reincarnate | ✔️

Chapter 6

"Thank you, I hope you enjoy your new pair of shoes." Tanner called as I heard the front door bell ting as I entered the back of the store to bring in the new leather for the shoes. "Have a good day!"

"Thanks, you too!" I heard a young man's voice call.

"Yes, we appreciate your help!" A young woman called back.

"Of course, come again!" Tanner called to them as the door closed. He wandered back to where I was started to smooth the leather out on the table to stock on the rickey shelves. "How's the new shipment of leather?"

"Good. Who were the customers?" I asked as he grabbed a piece to fold.

"Oh, just Laine and Owen."

I frowned. "I can never get over that day."

He smiled as he gave me a side hug. "I know, Cia, but he's gone now. He's dead."

"Good riddance for that." I said folding a piece before shelving it. "That man would've never given up if it weren't for Gavin."

He chuckled. "Well, at least he managed."

I smiled. "Yes, and he lived to tell about it with Sam, too."

We both smirked.

"They were perfect for each other, weren't they?" Tanner sighed as if to say "So were we."

"Yes, they sure were."

"Mom, Dad, hello?" Our daughter called from the front of the shop. "Are you here?"

"Guys, why are you here?" I sped into the body of the shop.

"Grammy!" My granddaughter, Nena, called rushing over to me and hugging me.

"Hi, Nena!" I smiled, although, mine wasn't near as bright as hers was.

"Hi, Nen!" Tanner said as he picked her up and twirled her around before carrying her in his arms. "Why don't we let the girls talk and we go play in the back?" Just before he walked out of sight in the back, he looked at us with a smile and said, "It's good to see you guys."

"Anyway, how are you guys, Mom?" Our son, Ben, asked as he came up to me and gave me a hug.

"I'm great." I bent down to look at Collin. He had turned two just last month in June. "Hi, Collin."

"Gammy..." He said as he waddled up to me and gave me a hug.

"You're so big, now!" I picked him up and held him on my shoulders. "How about we go outside and play?"

"Yay!"

I made the sound of a plane as we walked to the back door.

"Honey," Ben called to Jamie at the same time Darcie called for Evie. "come on! We're heading out back!"

"Alright, alright," Jamie exclaimed as they followed us. "I'm coming, yeesh."

"Yeah, you guys are the same." Evie laughed as she did the same.

That night, we spent out time near the bright sparks of the fire, while Owen and I grilled ribs.

"I'm glad you two decided to come, tonight." Owen said at last.

"Yeah, we thought it would be a nice surprise." Evie said as she shifted her weight on the bench against Darcie. "We hope it wasn't too sudden."

"Not at all." I smiled as I flipped a rib. "It was a wonderful surprise if you ask me."

"I'm glad." Jamie smiled as she walked out with lemonade for the kids. "Kids, lemonade!" She called.

They had been playing in the large field behind the shop for a good half hour. "Yay, lemonade!" Nena practically screamed as she ran over and grabbed her cup. Of course, hers was bigger than Collin's, since she was three and Collin was only two.

"Wemon-aid..." He stumbled in the dark, therefore, Ben had to get up and carry him to get his drink in the sippy cup.

"There you go, Collin. I hope you like it." Ben said before we all laughed.

He had spilled it all over his baby blue shirt and tan pants.

"Oh, goodness, Collin, what a mess!" Jamie laughed as she rose and picked up Collin to change. "For some reason, I knew this would happen the moment he picked up that cup."

I snickered. "He's young, Jamie. I would've just been like, 'suck it up and go play.'"

She looked at me with a smile. "Of course, you would have. Darcie and Ben were raised well."

"Well, we tried." Owen chuckled as he flipped a rib.

Not long after ten, the kids long since asleep, they decided it would be best to go home.

"Well, it was a lovely visit." Evie said as she gave Owen and I a hug at the same time. "I hope we get to visit again, soon."

We all smiled.

"We'll look forward to it." Owen said before everyone else gave us a hug separately. "Have a safe trip, everyone!" Owen waved before they got in the car.

"You, too!" Ben and Darcie called before driving away.

"Tonight, was nice." I sighed before walking back inside to shut down the shop and head home.

"Yeah," Tanner gave me a side hug. "I'm looking forward to their next visit."

~THE END~