Friends with Benefits - Nicole Blanchard Page 0,32

didn’t mind. Especially not when I was reminded what the alternative was every time Ember’s mom did something spectacularly fucked-up like abandoning the twins.

“Now, when we go inside, you make sure to tell Mrs. Wilder ‘thank you’ for inviting us over for dinner. No playing with your food, and play nice, and use your inside voices. Am I clear?” Ember said to the girls over the back of her seat.

“Yes,” they both intoned.

“Then let’s go get some grub!” I said.

Once Ember unbuckled them, the girls slithered out of their seats faster than a greased pig and darted to the front door where they knocked until my dad answered. I put a hand on Ember’s to stop her from jetting out after them.

“I should make sure they behave,” she said with a look at my hand.

“Wait,” I said.

“Tripp, the kids.”

“It’ll be fine,” I said and lifted my free hand to her cheek. “Don’t worry.”

She snorted. “Fat chance.”

“Well, try not to worry. We’ll figure it out.”

Her expression turned serious. “Don’t be too nice to me, okay? I don’t know how to handle it.”

“Learn,” I said after a moment, then followed the girls inside.

My dad already had them huddled around the train set he’d been building in the den, showing them how to work the controls. He’d slapped a conductors hat on Tillie and was showing Molly how to start and stop the train. He’d been a conductor for twenty years before he retired last fall. Now he spent most of his time making and selling custom train sets like the one he was showing the twins.

One of my earliest memories was going to work with him when they couldn’t afford a babysitter. My parents hadn’t always had a lot, but despite that I had never wanted for anything. They had always made sure I knew I was loved.

“Hey, slugger,” he said as Ember and I walked in. The light glinted in the silver streaks running through his blonde hair. He was only sixty-five, but every time I saw my parents, they looked a little bit older. “Your mom’s waiting for you in the kitchen. She’s got a pile of food, so I hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” said Molly with enthusiasm. Tillie nodded emphatically.

Ember leaned down to kiss them both. “Let me talk with Mrs. Wilder first, and then I’ll come get you both to eat. Behave now.”

“They’ll be fine,” my dad told her. To me, he said, “Sneak me one of her stuffed mushrooms if you get the chance.”

“I’ll try.”

“Are you sure it’s not a burden to her?” Ember said, tugging on my sleeve before we reached the kitchen. She chewed on a nail and glanced toward the open doorway.

“She wouldn’t have offered if it was a burden. They’ve both got a lot of free time since they retired. Honestly, you’re doing me a favor. Having the twins to distract them will get them off my back during the season.” At her hesitation, I pulled her into the kitchen. “It’s fine. I promise.”

Scents of meat and spice wafted from the sizzling pan my mom was stirring. She looked up and smiled at me, her glasses fogged from the steam. “Tripp!”

“Hey, Mom.”

She wrapped her arms around me, still holding the spatula. “It’s so good to see you. I’m so glad you came.”

“You, too. Mom, you remember Ember.”

“Of course!”

Ember looked at me with wild eyes when my mom pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for having us, Mrs. Wilder.”

“Janet, please.”

Ember smiled. “Janet. Something smells great!”

“Sure does. I’m starving,” I said.

“Perfect. The pork chops are almost done, and we’ve got green beans and mashed potatoes on the side.” She went back to stirring the pot of potatoes and said, “If you’re going to take one of the stuffed mushrooms to your father, he likes the ones with the cheese,” without looking over her shoulder.

I laughed and said, “I don’t know how she does that,” to Ember before bringing my dad a couple of the stuffed mushrooms on a plate. I added a couple extra for the twins, who were hesitant at first, but each took one when my dad did.

“—you enough for offering to watch the girls. I’ll admit I’ve been panicking. I’ll pay you, of course.”

“Whatever you feel comfortable doing. I’m happy to help out. To tell you the truth, I’ve been sort of at loose ends lately since I retired, and consulting work hasn’t been as lucrative as I thought it would be. So, Tripp saying you needed help really came at the