a quick decision. “Let’s gather up all the Alien stuff and take it downstairs. What do you think? That way you can really check it out without all this dust and clutter.”
“For real?” Justin whooped loudly, and the figures had entertained him for a good long while before their visit ended. Rather than put it all away, they moved the stuff into her guestroom.
The next time he was over, they brought down all the classic monster movie posters, as well as a few unique Frankenstein items, like a ceramic coin bank, a few models that she’d put together and painted and a windup doll. Pretty soon her guestroom was filled with her collection. Shortly after that, she began gifting Justin with various pieces.
True, it was a valuable collection, but what did it matter when it only gathered dust in the attic? She knew she wouldn’t ever sell any of it. Justin was over the moon for each and every piece she gave him, and that was far more rewarding than hanging on to the stuff.
Lang built a shelf in Justin’s room where he proudly displayed each item, but his favorites were the poseable classic monsters. Corbin said he played with those most often.
They were at her house tonight, lingering over pie at the kitchen table while Justin, with all the animals, flipped through old comic books in the living room. Through the open doorway, Ivey could see him sprawled on his back, Daisy curled up on his right, Maurice right beside her and the puppies playing on and around him.
Corbin took his last bite, then sat back, his hands over his flat stomach. “I think I’ve put on five pounds since you started cooking.”
Ivey grinned. “You have not. You and Justin run too often to gain weight.” Corbin still hadn’t returned to work. Instead, he jogged with Justin. Or took out the kayak. Or swam. They were forever busy.
“When I started running with him, I never guessed he’d enjoy it so much. The kid has mad stamina. More often than not, I’m ready to quit when he’s still going strong.” Glancing toward Justin, Corbin’s voice lowered. “We’ve got a nice pattern going. Jogging in the morning, errands and chores during the day, dinner with you, then swimming or taking out the kayak before a movie in the evening. I hate to switch it up, but I need to get back to work.”
It’d make sense, Ivey knew, if Corbin’s time with her had to be cut short. She understood him well enough now to know he would continually build on his relationship with Justin. Anyone could see that he valued every moment with his son, which meant something else had to give. That would likely be some of the time he spent with her.
She got it, but that didn’t make it easier. “You said you work from home?”
He nodded. “I gave myself all of May and June off, but July is right around the corner so it’s time to get back to it. I’ll start with thirty hours or so, but eventually that turns into forty plus.”
Ivey reached out and took his hand. Their alone time was extremely limited already, but he usually found a way to kiss her at the end of each visit. He had a lot on his plate and the last thing she wanted to do was add to that.
Hoping to make it easier on him, forcing herself to be stoic, she asked, “Are you trying to tell me we won’t see as much of each other?”
“What? No.” He quickly glanced toward Justin, then lowered his voice again. “Hell no. I was going to offer a different solution.”
Relieved, Ivey smiled. “I’m all ears.”
“What would you think of us taking Daisy and the puppies?”
Not what she’d expected. Take the dogs? But...she’d miss them horribly. “I don’t understand how that would help.”
“Ivey,” he said gently. “You don’t want to give the puppies away, and neither does Justin. Lang has said he’d help with them all. He’s also lending a hand with Justin, but I hate to infringe on him too much since he and Hope are now a thing.”
Yes, they were. Nothing too intimate, and they’d yet to share even a simple kiss. But Hope glowed with daily excitement. Lang made a point of seeing her every single night, usually for a walk around the property, or quiet time on the dock watching the sunset. Hope worried that he’d eventually want more and she wasn’t sure if she could