down, the best part of the house. It was set into the deck, and a little arched bridge went over it. You could start by the fire pit on one side, walk over the bridge, and end up at the covered picnic table and grill that were on the other side of the pool.
Finished getting everything ready for lunch, Diane went to change into a bathing suit, but she didn’t even make it upstairs before the doorbell rang.
“Coming!” she called, thinking it would be her parents.
Instead, it was Kai’s mom and dad.
Diane’s jaw dropped. “Oh hi! What are you guys doing here?”
“Surprise!” Kai’s mom sang out, wrapping her arms around Diane.
“Hey, Diane!” Kai’s dad boomed. “Where’s that sweet pea?”
“Right here,” Kai called from the entrance to the bottom hallway, which led to Mackenzie’s playroom.
“Why didn’t you tell me your parents were coming?” Diane asked.
He grinned wickedly. “I wanted you to be surprised.”
“Consider that a mission accomplished.”
“You’re not upset, are you?” his mom asked Diane.
“No, of course not. You guys are the best.” Diane gave her a side hug. It was the truth.
Plus, she had never minded people dropping by, and there was plenty of room in the house.
There was another ring of the doorbell, and this time Diane answered it to find her parents had finally arrived.
“Hey, Mom.” Diane touched Ruby’s shoulder. “Come on in. We’re having a little party.”
“Parties are nice.” Ruby looked around at the assembled group.
Moving to Florida had improved Ruby’s disposition on a consistent basis. The live-in caretaker that the family had hired proved to be a huge blessing, too. Ruby considered the caretaker to be her special friend who enriched her life. Trevor was free to go out and socialize, then come back home and have energy and patience for Ruby.
One thing that really had changed Ruby’s life was Mackenzie. She didn’t always remember the baby was her granddaughter, but the second she saw the infant she lit up. Hearing that they were related was the icing on top.
“Mom,” Diane said, “do you remember Mackenzie?”
“Mackenzie?” Ruby’s eyebrows furrowed together, but then she saw the baby who had been transferred to the other grandma’s arms. “Oh! Yes. Of course I know my own granddaughter.”
Diane smiled big. Today would be a good one.
They all made their way to the back deck, taking with them the fruit salad and beer the grandparents had brought.
“Dat!” Mackenzie squealed, pointing at her floatie.
“I’ll take the baby in,” Ruby said, immediately tossing her bathing suit cover.
“I’ll join you,” Kai’s mom supplied.
While the grandmas swam with the baby, Diane opened up the grill that she’d had going for a while and laid out the chicken strips. The men husked corn at the picnic table, talking about sports and the new gym down the street.
“Need any help?” a sultry voice said from right behind Diane.
Biting into her smile, she turned around and flattened her palms against Kai’s chest. “You mean with grilling?”
“Unless there’s…” He lowered his voice. “Something else you need.”
Heat rushed through Diane, and she stifled a laugh. “Stop.”
“It’s hard when you’re wearing that bathing suit.”
She swatted him away with tongs, and he backed off to a respectful distance—though hopefully that would change later, once their parents weren’t around.
A while later, with the meal ready, everyone moved to the picnic table.
“Dat, dat.” Mackenzie clapped her hands over the corn.
“Let’s see if Mama says you can eat it.” Ruby bounced Mackenzie on her knee.
“Hey, everyone.” Kai stood at the head of the table. “Before we get started, I’d like to say a few words.”
Diane, sliding the veggie kebab platter onto the table, turned to him. “What’s going on?”
He only smiled in that way that said he had a clever plan.
“Okay then.” She took a seat and spread her napkin across her lap.
“First of all, I want to thank you for being here today.” Kai paused and took his time looking at everyone around the table. “I’m living my dream life here, and it means the world that I have such great people to share it with.”
“You too, bud.” Trevor sniffled and blinked back what Diane was pretty sure were tears.
Kai took a moment and looked down. His hands were in the pockets of his jeans, and he seemed to be fiddling with something.
“It’s extra special having you all here today, since this is the day I’m proposing to the love of my life.”
Someone gasped loudly. A second later, Diane realized it was her.
“Oh, how lovely,” Kai’s mom whispered.
Kai was pulling something from his pocket,