Forever Saved - Kathleen Brooks Page 0,66
brother down.”
“He’ll be proud of you, Park. Just like I am and I’m sure everyone else will be,” Jace assured him.
“Come on in, I don’t want dinner to get cold. Thanks for picking it up for us. It’ll be nice to hang out tonight.” Parker walked up the steps and opened the door. Jace heard the sound of the television as he entered.
“Jace brought us dinner,” Parker told Porter, who was sitting on the couch with his feet on the low coffee table in front of him.
“Great. I’m starving. Where’s Stella?” Porter asked as he looked back to the door.
“With Molly for some girl time.”
“Molly’s cool,” Porter said as he moved his feet off the table. Jace saw the grimace Porter tried to hide. “I even thought about asking her out the other night, but wanted to check with you first.”
“Let me examine you while Park gets dinner ready.” Jace didn’t give Porter time to argue. He was already pulling things out of his medical bag before Porter could even sit all the way up. “Why would you need to ask me first?”
“She works for you and is your friend. Plus, I always thought the two of you would end up together. After seeing you and Stella together, I can admit I was wrong. You and Stella are perfect together.”
“Listen to you waxing poetic,” Parker teased. “High on pain killers?”
Porter shot his twin the bird. “Since I’m stuck here, it’s just got me thinking about life, that’s all. Our sisters are married and pregnant. Our cousins are racing to the altar faster than green grass through a goose. Just gets you thinking about your own situation. And don’t tell me you haven’t been doing the same, Park. It’s completely understandable at this point in our lives.”
Jace let them talk as he did his exam. “You’re looking good. As you know, you’ll continue to be sore for a while. Just keep it easy. No riding. No weight lifting. Just let your ribs mend.”
“You got it, Doc.”
“Now, not to sound like a bunch of gossips,” Parker said as he handed Porter a plate of food. “What’s going on with you and Stella?”
Jace smiled and his cousins sent each other a silent smirk that let him know he was grinning like a fool in love.
“Now, what I want to know,” Porter said with all seriousness, “is if your mom has fought her yet. Kale told us about his mom declaring that she’d fight his future girlfriend since it was sexist if only the guys got picked on.”
“Stella’s in shape,” Parker said, handing Jace a plate and then grabbing his own and joining them in the small living room. “But your mom is like a little Tasmanian devil.”
Jace burst out laughing and shook his head. “No fighting, but today Mom did drag Father Ben over to meet Stella. I think she’s gone from subtle to obvious in a blink of an eye. Not that subtlety was ever her strong suit.”
“Well, I agree with Port. I like Stella. Now when do we get to welcome her into the family, like, the specific date and time?” Parker asked, pulling out his phone.
Stella loved the small house in the cute family neighborhood that Molly lived in. It was in Lexington, but on the side closest to Keeneston. The drive had flown by as she and Molly chatted. Now they were two glasses of wine into their planting party and having a great time.
“This is so much fun. Thank you for inviting me,” Stella told Molly as she patted the soil down in the container. “It’s been so long since I’ve had girl time like this.”
“I know. It seems as if Sarah and Jace are my life,” Molly laughed. “And while I love them, I don’t drink wine and plant flowers with them.”
“Sarah seems lovely, though.” Stella turned the planter so the optimal angle faced the sleepy little street.
“She is. We’re just at two different points in our lives. She’s married with kids and I’m not quite there yet.”
“If it’s too personal, you don’t have to answer, but is there someone special in your life?”
Molly nodded. “There is. I’m just trying to get my nerve up to tell him.”
“Do you think it’s mutual?” Stella asked.
Molly smiled happily as she thought about him. “I do. We’ve had some bumps along the way, but who hasn’t?”
“Very true.” After all, Stella fell in love with Jace in the middle of someone trying to scare the hell out of her and possibly