as dark as the ebony sky, a mouth too sensual to resist, and deep, deep blue eyes that spoke of on open wanting but also hid a world of secrets.
“Jenny? We’re here.”
The sound of her sister’s voice startled her back to the present. Jumping up, she went out to the hallway. There, Anna and Cody waited for her. It was Saturday, and that meant another weekend with her nephew.
“I didn’t hear you pull in.”
“We’ve been hanging outside for a few minutes. Cody wanted to watch the plane take off.”
Jenny smiled at her nephew. “Hi, Cody.”
“Hey, Aunt Jenny.” He looked only marginally happier to be here this weekend.
Anna set his small carry-on-size suitcase on the floor. “When I talked to Mom this week, she said you were so preoccupied at lunch on Wednesday, you hardly said a word.”
“Seems like the two of you would have something better to talk about than me.”
“You’re all Mom ever wants to talk about.”
“We both know that is so not true,” Jenny replied curtly.
“I didn’t mean to start an argument.” Anna let out the barest of sighs. “Cody has a another game this Sunday. Can you take him.”
It wasn’t a question. Once again, her sister just assumed that Blue Sky was a recreational pastime. Jenny wanted to refuse, to tell her sister she needed to start understanding that Jenny’s job was just as important as hers.
“Big surprise,” Cody said with more disdain than Jenny thought possible in a thirteen-year-old. “Another game you’re gonna miss.”
“Cody—” her sister started.
“Forget it,” he snapped and stomped off to the family room.
Anna smoothed her perfectly done hair and gave Jenny a smile. “Don’t worry. He’s just going through a stage. The game is at two. Will you be able to take him?”
Jenny looked down the hallway to where her nephew had disappeared. She couldn’t shake the feeling that under all that malcontent was an aching little boy. “Yes, I’ll take him.”
“You’re a lifesaver. The game is on Whitman Field this week.” Anna dug in her designer purse and pulled out a slip of paper. “Here’s the address. And, Jenny?”
“Yes?”
“Please make sure he completes his homework this weekend. He was up until ten last Sunday.”
Not waiting for a response, Anna breezed past her and headed toward the family room. Jenny followed but at a slower pace. Her sister was nothing if not consistent.
“Bye, Cody. I’ll see you Sunday night.”
He didn’t answer, and when Anna leaned down to give him a parting kiss to the top of his head, Jenny saw how he tipped away to avoid the contact.
Anna straightened, smiled one last time at Jenny, then was out the door. Several long moments passed before Cody spoke.
“Thanks for taking me to the game, Aunt Jenny.”
All of a sudden, he seemed so young and forlorn, she wanted to get up and hug him. But she knew he wanted that as much as he’d wanted to wear the orange life jacket. How many times had he told her he wasn’t a baby and didn’t want to be treated like one? Still, she found it hard to stay seated. “I’m looking forward to it.” She searched for something else to say. Something that would help ease that look of hurt in his eyes. “You packed light this time.”
“Huh?”
She motioned to the backpack next to him on the couch. “Only a backpack and a small suitcase. Where are all the bags of groceries? Or does your mom trust my cooking now since you came home alive last week?”
A tiny crack of a smile appeared and brought out his right dimple. “No. I told her you weren’t doing the cooking, Jared was.”
“And she trusts him, without even trying what he’s made?”
“Yeah.”
“Sisterly love.”
Cody giggled, and his smile made her feel like she’d accomplished something worthwhile for the first time this week.
“Oh. Aunt Jen?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s my turn to bring snacks to the game for the team.”
Thanks, Sis. “This doesn’t involve cooking, does it?”
Cody laughed harder. “Naw. Just some pop and candy.”
Jenny highly doubted that, but she’d figure it out tomorrow. And the more she thought about Cody’s game, the more excited she actually got. For a few hours at least, she’d be away from Jared and all the emotions he kept stirring awake inside of her.
Sunday morning, Cody woke to the sound of the plane starting. Jumping out of bed, he shucked off his pj’s and pulled on his jeans, T-shirt, and the Mariners hooded sweatshirt he’d worn yesterday. He hurried down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as