wooden swing set and climbing structure Adam had just installed.
“Don’t you think it’s a little soon to be putting up the monkey bars? You’ve got at least a year before you have to worry about that,” Jeremy stated.
“You sound like Meg,” Adam retorted with a shrug. “But you know me; I don’t wait around. I saw it online, so I ordered it. Took me all weekend to put it up too, but I think it looks great.”
“Is it safe?” I asked with some concern. Adam wasn’t the best at building things. Or grilling, obviously. I watched Katie scramble up the ramp, Whitney carefully watching her the whole time.
“Of course, it’s safe. Don’t be an ass,” Adam scoffed, though his eyebrows knitted together as if he wasn’t so sure.
“It’s fine. Clayton from the hardware store came by and checked it over. Says you did a great job too, babe,” Meg interjected, always coming to her husband’s defense. It had been that way all through middle and high school too. But then there were those years where they tried to pretend the other didn’t exist, even though they weren’t really fooling any of us.
I glanced up at Whitney at the same time she looked my way.
“Your sister really has a way with kids, Meg,” Rob said as Katie squealed with delight. Whitney pushed her on the swing, sending her a little higher—but not so high that I would have a heart attack watching them.
“Yeah, she is. I hope one day she has some of her own.” Meg smiled indulgently at her sister. I started imagining Whitney as a mother and watching her, I could almost see her as one that a child would be lucky to have. I was close to sliding down a dangerous slope when Jeremy and Adam started talking about the new development being built on the outskirts of town that they were hired to litigate, and I could focus on something else.
“It’s been a nightmare. Some out of town buyer snatched up all that land out by the lake. I had no idea Mr. Johnson was even trying to sell. Next thing I know, some woman named Kyla Reed is calling the office asking if Robert will handle the paperwork around the sale. Plans on building a bunch of condos and even some shops. Once old Marla Delacroix found out, she was none too happy, let me tell you. Says it will take away business from the downtown area.” Adam leaned over to check on the coals, smoke billowing into his face.
“Why did she want you to handle it, Rob?” I asked. Robert Jenkins’ face was shuttered, per usual, but he seemed stiffer than usual.
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it, Robbie” Jeremy added with a smirk.
“Do you know her?” Skylar asked with a frown.
Rob looked at Skylar, and it seemed as if something unspoken passed between them, though I couldn’t be sure. “I passed it on to Adam. He was better able to help her with what she wanted. My experience with real estate is limited.”
I noticed he never answered Skylar’s question, and she did too. Her frown deepened, but for once she didn’t pry, shocking the hell out of me.
“The firm doesn’t handle real estate transactions, but when she told me the number she was willing to cough up for the work, I told Decate he’d better take it on, or I’d kill him.” Jeremy laughed.
“So, guess who’s been stuck doing all the grunt work,” Lena said, coming over to join them. Daisy was starting to cry, rubbing her eyes. Lena bounced her on her hip. “She needs a nap. Jer, did you bring the porta-crib?”
Jeremy winced. “Uh, actually, I think I left it by the front door at home.”
Lena groaned. “What the hell, Wyatt? I told you right before we left to put it in the car. Do I have to do everything myself?”
“I have Katie’s in the truck if you need it. I’ll need to put Katie down in a little while, but you can borrow it,” I offered, intervening before the soon to be newlyweds erupted into one of their notorious arguments. Lena and Jeremy had matching tempers, which made them an explosive pair.
“No, Web, Katie needs it. Jeremy will just need to go home and get it,” Lena seethed, glaring daggers at her fiancé.
“Babe, I can’t. I’ve already had four beers,” Jeremy said and braced himself for Lena’s reaction.
Adam’s sister looked ready to burst a blood vessel, but Meg quickly jumped in. “Lena,