Blind Promises

48. Fruit Stand

Gwen yelled, "Stop, there it is!"

"A little more warning would have been nice!" Liam said as he pulled into the turn lane abruptly, gravel from erosion and runoff caused the truck to slide as the brakes did the best they could to come to a stop. Cooper lunged forward, even in the seat-belted harness, she held him steady. Rich looked back at her, "No, really, Gwen, more warning next time."

"Sorry, it's been a while, guys. Like, ten years awhile. The scenery has changed quite a bit."

She looked sheepish, she had such a baby face, it was so innocent with those bright eyes and slightly upturned nose. Gwen had a natural pout, her bottom lip was full, larger than her top lip by a bit. Ugh, the kid was hard to stay mad at. That first day with her, even as aggravated as he was, he couldn't stay mad. Watching her sleep, the young woman stole a piece of him he knew he'd never get back, bright and funny, she was what he hoped Lacey would grow to become someday. He shook himself, Liam had pulled out and over into the parking lot of the odd fruit stand.

He jumped out of the truck and stretched, he went around to the weird little plant stand so they could shop for a minute without him hovering. It wasn't long until she had come to drag him inside, "What are you doing, I need your opinion, you're the one who cooks the most! No one needs plants."

"It's called giving you privacy, third wheel, three's a crowd..."

Her brows met, "Stop it. No, that's not... Just no. Stop talking. You are not going to put yourself out on the curb. Now, what flavor jalapeno jam do you think sounds best? My favorite is peach mango, but I've already got a jar of it, you pick another flavor. Or another pepper combination if you wanna, the jelly is good, too. We have to get regular jelly also."

"What? Jalapeno?" Rich let the third wheel go for the moment, jalapeno jam was more his speed. He perused the selection of jam and jelly flavors, he put some jelly in her basket. "How about plum bourbon jalapeno?"

"Sure, put it in there. Sounds good."

Liam was behind her, his smile ridiculous. He shook his head. He loved that girl more than anything, but he knew she was quirky, it was part of the reason she was so appealing to Rich's man. She turned to ask him a question, "Anything you want? Oh, by the way, can I have some blue streaks in my hair?"

"I am going to hold off on the jelly and shop at the summer sausage section. No, sorry." Liam put his finger under her exaggerated pout, "It's the military, not my rules."

Rich rolled his eyes and walked over to the meat. Gross.

They were back on the road within thirty minutes and ten of those were waiting on Cooper to find a proper place to shit. The damn dog was picky as hell sometimes, too many smells. The last hour of the trip seemed to take the longest, but they arrived at Corbin and Carly's before late afternoon.

"Daddy!" Lace flew out of the house and into his arms. It hadn't been but six months since he'd seen her but it felt like she'd grown two inches. She pushed away from him before he was ready to let go, "Daddy, I have to hug Uncle Liam and Aunt Gwen!"

Liam picked her up and spun her around when she jumped up into his arms. "Hey sweet pea, how ya been?"

"Better, but now everything is cool. Where's Gwen?" Lacey asked, confused.

Liam laughed, "Oh you know, that baby your dad was bitching about you abandoning him for? I imagine you'll find her right where you left off." Lacey bounded right back into the house. "It looks like you've been abandoned again, amigo."

"Funny, real funny." Rich cuffed his head. Cooper didn't know what to do, he barked once at Liam. "Your dog is confused as shit, Ace."

"Yeah, I heard." Liam gave Coop the commands he was looking for, which was fortunate. A big, black lab bounded out the door in front of Corbin's cabin, he hoped it was as well trained as Cooper. Corby called it back and it stopped just short of them but didn't return. Home trained model, hunting dog. "Sorry ya'll, she's still young and learnin'."

Rich smirked, "Not a problem, this guy is trained so well it wouldn't have mattered. And this guy is trained so well that she wouldn't have had a chance to get at his throat."

"He means that he had every confidence the dog would stop." Liam held out his hand. Corbin shook it and offered his to Rich who took it. "Totally what I meant, my bad!"

Corbin wasn't offended, "Cooper is more of a gentleman than anyone I know, thought I'd practice with him before I introduce 'er to the real dogs first. I hope toddlerhood is easier to get through than she's been. Fuck me."

"I'd say you're safe, but it's not pleasant, Lace was a mess. Not as bad as a puppy though. Screw that shit." Rich said. He looked down at Cooper, they hadn't gotten him until he was well trained, nine months old and he was somethin' else. "Coop was never a puppy with us, even at nine months old, he was like this already. The organization that trained him is serious business, I assume she's just a hunting dog?"

Corbin tossed his head a little in confirmation, "Yeah, gotta have somethin' to bring in my ducks and grow up with Anabelle."

Gwen came out to the door with a bundle of pink and white in her arms, "Liam, come meet the baby, she's so sweet! Oh my gosh, she is stunning. Look!"

Liam started to walk to where she was to look at the little thing, "Well, I guess I better go have a look for myself. What is she, about ten weeks old now? Don't ask how I know that," he sighed. Corbin slapped him on the back and laughed.