I was excited, maybe also a little nervous. I invited Lucy and her kids over to Sugar and Spice to make a couple of treats to take on our picnic. Not really sure why I was nervous. Maybe it was because I was letting the kids make a mess in the bakery. I wouldn't be all that bad though, I think. The kids ran in first followed by Lucy pregnant as can be. I thought she had four kids? I counted three but they were also running around so I could be wrong. Summer was strapped to me in a baby carrier watching the kids with the same look. I don't think she's met another tiny human before.
"Thanks for planning all this." Lucy smiled, waving sweetly to Summer as she flailed her arms excitedly.
"No worries, thanks for coming. I thought it would be a fun ice breaker." My eyes followed wildly tracking the kids through the shop.
"Sorry they are super excited about this, they heard sugar and I haven't been able to calm them down since." She chuckled.
"I thought you had four kids?" I asked.
"Yeah, the oldest Lilah is with her best friend. They are inseparable, you know little girls." She smiled softly. I did know, remember how attached at the hip Rachel and I used to be. My heart squeezed at the memory. "That's Lana, my second oldest she's 6, Callum he's 4 and Carter he's 3."
"Can I have a cupcake?" Callum asked.
"You can or you can decorate your own?"
"Oh can we please!" Lana begged.
"Of course we can!" I ushered them to the kitchen where I spread out sprinkles and pre-made frosting and cookies I prepared. Lucy and I supervised the little's as they decorated to their heart's content. Lilah practically dumped rainbow sprinkles on her cupcake. Apparently you could never have too many. I put a small dab of frosting on my finger for summer to try. She looked at me in wonder. First taste of sugar she was a goner. Lucy and I talked about her husband. He was a truck driver. They moved here from the town over. They met when they were younger at a high school football game, she told me everything about it. High school sweethearts it was beautiful to hear. I enjoyed getting to know her. She was a little scatterbrained and overly excited about everything but It was a welcome quality I found in her. I made a few sandwiches and drinks as I packed them in the picnic basket to carry down the street to the park.
I fluffed out a blanket for Lucy, Summer and I to sit on. While the kids played for a little.
"I'm dying to know and I have absolutely zero filter, what's the deal with you, Summer and Luke?"
"Oh right into the nitty gritty." I laughed.
"I'm so sorry I should have never asked." She shook her head clearly embarrassed.
"No, no it's perfectly fine." I waved her off. I leaned back with Summer playing in my lap. "Luke and I grew up together."
"So your sibling?" She cringed.
"NO! GOD NO!" I choked on my water.
"Oh thank god, the way you both look at each other. I thought I would have to start singing sweet home Alabama for you." She laughed, shaking her head in relief.
"No he was my best friend, Rachel's older brother, Summer is our niece." I explained.
"Oh." She seemed hesitant to ask as she understood the was that had been spoken. "Do you mind if I ask?"
"She passed away from birth complications after having Summer. Summer was given to me after." I smiled weakly at Summer.
"I'm so sorry." She rubbed her bump gently with sympathy. "You both are raising her together." She understood.
"Yeah it's a little weird, we both have no idea what we are doing but we make it work." I chuckled.
"And there's nothing going on between you too?" She raised a brow in question.
"No, I mean, I don't know? honestly I don't want anything to." I stammered, shaking Summer's rattle in front of her hiding my flushed expression.
"Ohhhh I see, bullshit!" She grinned wildly.
"What?" I was taken aback by her brash demeanor.
"You like him!"
"SHHHH, I do not !" I whispered.
"Liar, Liar." Her body shook with laughter.
"Okay maybe I used to have a teeny tiny crush on him when we were kids."
"I KNEW IT!" She shouted pointing at me.
"Settle down, nothing is ever going to happen. It can't." I explained.
"Why not?" She whined.
"Because it feels wrong. He was my best friend's brother. It feels like a betrayal." I sighed clearly torn. "He doesn't even think of me like that." I responded remembering the kiss. I touched my lips in remembrance.
"OH MY GOD! He kissed you." She gasped.
"Jesus get out of my head will you." My mouth opened in shock as she read my thoughts. "It didn't mean anything, honestly he had his tongue down another girl's throat moments before that so I'm positive it didn't." Was I that easy to read?
"You know that's more bullshit, I saw the way he looked at you when we met." She rolled her eyes.
"It's complicated I guess." I played with Summer's little pigtails.
"For the record I know I never knew Rachel but if he makes you happy I think that's all you she would have wanted for you both." Maybe she was right about that. I could never imagine Rachel being mad, especially the situation but I never got the opportunity to ask her. We fought over one boy ages ago Todd Matthews and vowed to never to do it again. Would it really be any different?
"She wasn't like that but I'm still hesitant." I sighed.
"Whatever you say, being your neighbor is going to be a wild ride." She chuckled.
YOU ARE READING
RAISING SUMMER
Чиклит(EDITING) Rachel and Jane have been best friends forever. But When Rachel dies tragically after childbirth. She leaves her newborn daughter, Summer, in the hands of Jane. Can Jane handle the new found responsibility that has been pushed upon her or...
