out I like Scott way more than I thought I did,” Penny said.
“It’s funny how that creeps up on us, isn’t it?” She glanced at Quincy and said, “I’m head over heels for you know who. Even hearing his voice makes me happy.”
“I’m glad because he is crazy about you, too. He was really distraught after he told you about his past. I’m glad you took a chance on him, because he’s worth it.”
“I know he is. But I don’t like thinking of it as me taking a chance on him. Don’t we all take chances with every relationship? I know the risks of dating someone in recovery are different, but he’s not a chance. He’s who I want to be with, and I’ll support him however I can.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Penny said.
“What about you and Scott? Do you think it’s serious? He seems great with the kids.”
“He is, but I don’t know if we’ll ever get that far. I don’t think kids are in Scott’s future,” Penny said forlornly.
“Why not?”
“I think the abuse he went through with his parents scares him. He makes comments about how being an uncle is enough for him. And I’ve always wanted kids, so…”
“I hate that they went through so much. But we don’t all become our parents. I get why Scott’s scared, but look at Quincy and Tru. Quincy might have fallen down a rabbit hole, but he climbed out, and he’s on a great path. Look at Sarah and Josie. They’re great with their kids. If they can move past the way their mom treated them, I’m sure Scott can, too.” She glanced at Quincy as he tried to stick his spoon in Lincoln’s ice cream, and Lincoln covered it with his hands, making Kennedy roar with laughter. “I keep wondering how Quincy and Tru learned to be so patient and loving when their mother was so awful. I don’t think Quincy gives himself enough credit where the kids are concerned.”
Penny turned her back to Quincy, speaking just above a whisper, and said, “He feels bad for not getting them into a safer situation sooner than when Tru found them.”
“But he tried several times. His mother kept sending people after him,” Roni said quietly. “He got beat up for it, and he never left the kids alone.”
“Really? I didn’t know he tried to get them out.”
Roni’s nerves prickled. “Oh. I assumed he told you.” She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake.
“He didn’t, but that sounds more like the Quincy I know.”
Lincoln put his hand in his ice cream, and Kennedy yelled, “Lincoln!”
Quincy picked up Lincoln’s hand by his wrist and said, “Hey, beautiful, think we can get those napkins?”
“Igoticeceambooful!” Lincoln said.
“I see that,” Roni said with a laugh. He was so stinking cute. She went to the table and wiped Lincoln’s hands, then tapped him on the tip of his nose. “There you go, little man.”
Kennedy popped out of her seat and said, “Penny, wanna see me dance?”
“Let’s get those sticky hands clean first,” Roni said, and Kennedy held her hands out for her to wipe them.
With clean hands, Kennedy sashayed and twirled around the room and said, “Look at me, Penny! Look what I can do! Will you come to my dance show?”
Lincoln toddled behind her, yelling, “Metoo!”
“Absolutely,” Penny said, wiping down the table as they danced.
Quincy put his arm around Roni and said, “There’s never a dull moment around them.”
Her nerves prickled again. “I think I made a mistake.”
“Just now?” he asked as the kids giggled and danced around the store.
She nodded.
“I doubt that. What happened?”
“I thought Penny knew that you had tried to get the kids away from your mom. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a secret.”
“Only Tru and Gemma know, but it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“But you guys are so close,” she whispered. “Why didn’t you tell her?”
He held her tighter and lowered his voice. “Because she’s a friend. She didn’t need to know all the gory details.” He glanced at Penny, sweeping Lincoln into her arms and dancing with him, then turned his honest eyes on Roni and said, “She was never going to be in my bed or in my life the way I’d hoped you were going to be. I wanted you to make your decision knowing absolutely everything, the good and the bad, so there were no surprises, no skeletons that could ruin us later.”
“I appreciate that, and I’m sorry for mentioning it to her.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,