back in a few minutes. Behave yourselves,” he said to the girls, who were now at the side of the pool staring at them both.
Caroline smiled at them. May as well just get the conversation over with. “Why don’t you guys come over here and dry off before lunch.”
The girls grabbed their towels and took a seat on the lounge chair next to hers. Caroline stood up and motioned for them to scoot over so that she could sit in between them.
“So, what’s up?” Marguerite kept her distance, not wanting to get water on her mother’s cast.
Sophie put her arm around Caroline’s good side, leaning into her chest. She was soaking wet but Caroline had learned long ago that little kid hugs were far more important than dry clothing.
“How are you two doing?” she asked them.
“Okay, I guess,” Marguerite said. “Being here is pretty fun.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t go camping,” Caroline said.
“That’s okay.” Marguerite shrugged. “Actual camp was kind of like camping anyway, right?”
Sophie looked up at her mother. “Jack said we could pitch a tent in the yard one night. He even said he’d stay with us.”
Caroline laughed. Jack was the least outdoorsy guy she knew. While Nicky had busied himself with tree stands, shotguns, venison jerky, snowshoeing, and other wholesome activities, Jack was much more inclined to sit in the air conditioning or indoor heat whenever possible.
“I’d pay to see that.” She squeezed Sophie’s shoulder and turned to Marguerite. “Do you like Jack?”
“Yeah, mom,” said Marguerite. “I’ve told you that like a million times.”
“Do you think you’d like him enough to have him live with us?”
“You mean, permanently?”
“Yes.”
“Would we move here?” Sophie asked.
“Not necessarily,” Caroline said. “We might come up here sometimes. Although I do think that might be a possibility, if it’s something you’re willing to consider. We don’t have to think about that for a long time. Rockville is your home.”
“I like it here,” she said.
Caroline still hated the place, but it helped that Jack came along with the package. And some of the perks weren’t too bad. It was difficult to fathom how easy it was to get used to having extremely nice things. She didn’t want her children to be spoiled. They had never wanted for anything but she had always been careful to teach them the value of hard work and personal responsibility, to say nothing of being grateful for whatever you were lucky enough to have.
“Mom, you don’t need to make a big deal out of this,” Marguerite said. “Jack talked to us.”
“About what?”
Sophie smiled shyly. “He wants to marry you.”
Marguerite smiled too. “He was pretty indirect about it but we finally weaseled it out of him. He’s still getting used to dealing with us.”
“Yeah,” Caroline said. “It takes a little work. Good thing you’re so enchanting.”
Marguerite laughed. “I prefer lovely and charming.”
Caroline’s tone grew serious. “How do you feel about the two of us getting married? I know it’s kind of quick.”
Marguerite looked down at her feet, watching the last remnants of water from her swimsuit pooling under the lounge chair. “Jack looks at you the way daddy did.”
Sophie burrowed into her chest again. “Will he take care of us?”
“I suppose so. Marriage is a lot more than that. At least, it is for me.” Caroline turned to her eldest child. Sophie understood what marriage meant, but Marguerite was more perceptive. And more willing to be blunt. “I want to know if you’re okay with this. We can take more time, we can talk about it, just the four of us. I don’t want to do anything if you’re not comfortable with it.”
“Do you love him?” Marguerite asked.
“Yes,” Caroline said softly. “Very much.”
“He told us that he loves us but he didn’t want to replace daddy,” Sophie said.
“That’s true. No one will ever replace your father.” Caroline kissed the side of Sophie’s head. “I still miss him. I probably always will. And every day when I look at the two of you, I see him. You are both so precious to me, and he would be so proud of you. I don’t want you to think that I’ve forgotten him, nor does Jack.” She directed her attention at Marguerite again. “But he wants to be part of our family too, in a different way.”
“Does he make you happy?” Marguerite asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t see an issue with it.”
It was wrong to be suspicious of her children. But she couldn’t help herself. “You seem to be taking this unusually well. This isn’t going