on the table, I grab the handrail as I descend the four steps to the ground. A shadow covers Lincoln’s face when I loom over him.
“Oh, look, kids.” He points his finger up at me. “It’s a momma.”
Gray snorts, a smile tugging his lips, and Gemma covers her mouth as she giggles.
With a gentle smile, I say, “I have lunch ready on the patio table.”
“Who’s hungry?” Lincoln shouts, shooting to a sitting position.
“Me!” Gemma bounces to her feet while Gray lumbers up more slowly.
I look down when a hand almost the size of mine grabs mine. Gray, who’s looking forward as we walk across the backyard to the deck, doesn’t acknowledge the action. It’s been a long time since he’s willingly offered his hand for me to hold. Lincoln and I have talked about it, and we both agree he knows something’s off with his family, but he has yet to ask us what. I’m grateful he hasn’t, because I still don’t know what to tell him, and I’m not ready to tell him the truth. I’ll never be ready, but I know we’ll have to once we know the results of his and Gemma’s genetics test.
At the steps, he lets my hand go and walks ahead with Gemma at his side. I feel Lincoln behind me. He’s always behind me when I walk up steps now, afraid my legs will go haywire again. If I’m honest, I’m scared too. I hate not having total control of my body. I’m only glad the kids haven’t quite caught on to that fact yet.
We take a seat, and I hand out sandwiches while Lincoln pours the lemonade.
“Did you two have fun helping Daddy in the shop today?”
“Yes! Daddy let me help paint one of the statues.”
“What about you, Gray?”
“Yeah.” He takes a big bite of his sandwich and swallows before he elaborates. “I got to help put one of the horses together.”
Gray isn’t as artistically talented as Lincoln was at his age, but he’s still very good.
“That’s great, sweetie.” I peel off the crust on one side of my sandwich and toss it in my mouth. “Your dad and I were talking last night. What do you say about going to the zoo tomorrow?”
“Please! Please!”
I laugh at Gemma’s pleading. Lincoln reaches over and pulls one of her pigtails. Ninety percent of the time, you’ll find Gemma in pigtails.
“You got it, beauty.”
“Can I invite Andrea to come?” Gray asks.
“Sure.” So Gemma won’t feel left out not having a friend with her, I suggest, “How about we call and ask if Aubree can go?”
“Okay. I hope the wolves are out this time. We missed them last time.” She kicks her legs back and forth under the chair, making her bounce up and down. “And can we feed the giraffes again?”
“If they’ll let us.”
“Goodie!”
“When are the next set of pieces due to Mr. Fischer?” I ask Lincoln.
“Fifteen are due in a month. Another fifteen the next month.”
Frowning, I take another bite of my sandwich. “Will you make those deadlines?”
Understanding my worry, he reaches across the table and covers my hand. Lincoln hasn’t been working as much as he should with this big of a job. Instead, he spends a lot of time in the house. I feel guilty because I know it’s because he wants to keep an eye on me. I’ve taken the month off from work, grateful the vet I’ve hired to take over for me came highly recommended and seems to be doing a good job. I don’t even know if I’ll ever be able to go back to work.
“Everything is covered,” Lincoln says gently. “I was already ahead on several pieces and Owen has been helping me. They’ll get done in time. Besides, Mr. Fischer extended a lot of my deadlines.”
“He did?” I ask in surprise.
Lincoln nods, draining the rest of his lemonade. “Yes. I spoke with him a couple of days ago.”
I glance at the kids and find their heads together talking quietly. I look back at Lincoln and lower my voice. “Is it because…?”
“Yes,” he answers when I trail off, not needing me to continue. “He knows how difficult things will be.”
I dip my chin and pick up the rest of my sandwich. “I really liked him and his wife. They seem like decent people.”
“They do.”
“His wife wants me to have lunch with her sometime.” I shake my head. “But I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
His brows furrow. “Why not?”
I give him a pointed look.
His eyes slide to