Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“How many people have the fucking Bishop as their advisor on field strategy? How many people train on their off days with the vice-captain of the national team? How many people have a brilliant rugby mind as their father? I’ve got no fucking excuse.”
Catie had no idea what had led Danny to this point, but his words made her think that the issue wasn’t with his body or his reflexes. It was in his head. “Danny,” she murmured as they reached their gate, “you might’ve been born into rugby royalty, but you put in the hard time doing the training, you played the games, you impressed the scouts. This isn’t some royal lineage thing where you were anointed because of your family name. You won your place with sheer hard work.”
Danny didn’t answer, his jaw grim.
They boarded the plane soon after, and from that point on kept any conversation light and suitable for public consumption. Catie, however, was determined to continue their earlier discussion once they landed, get to the heart of the matter. But it wasn’t to be, because when they walked out of the gate, it was to find Jake and Jules waiting for them with eight-year-old Esme and her toddler cousin, Joseph Connor, known to all as Connor.
Probably babysitting the little guy to help out Sailor and Ísa.
Esme screamed, “Uncle Danny!” and made a beeline for Danny while little Connor ran over to Catie. Guess everyone knew who each one’s favorite was, Catie thought with a grin as she bent to cuddle her nephew’s pudgy cheeks. Even so little, Connor had learned that he couldn’t run straight at Catie’s legs. Which was why Catie had zero patience for adults who didn’t understand simple courtesy.
“Hey, my cutie, cutie pie,” she said, her ovaries singing. She had no desire to have babies anytime in the near future, but gosh, Sailor and Ísa’s baby boy was adorable. Happy and smiley and with those little round cheeks. Catie had no idea how her sister and brother-in-law got anything done around him.
Then again, they’d already survived Emmaline’s cuteness—while Catie remained a total pushover for her niece. As she was for Connor. Prerogative of being a doting aunt.
After cuddling Connor, she rose with one of her hands holding his and leaned down so spunky and sweet-natured Esme could kiss her on the cheek. Esme had recently declared herself too big to be in anyone’s arms. The sole exception was her Uncle Danny, but then only for a moment or two when she got excited.
“Catie, I like your eyes,” Esme said with a sigh. “They sparkle like jewels.”
“I’ll show you how to achieve the effect,” Catie said, having received permission from Jules and Jake to teach Esme a few makeup tips. Esme was only little, so for now it was like painting for her, a kind of art. She wasn’t allowed to go out with makeup on and didn’t yet have a palette of her own, but Catie knew exactly the products she’d get for her when it was time.
“Hey, you.” Jules wrapped Catie up in her arms, her presence warm and strong; she was one of Catie’s favorite people.
Jake, meanwhile, was hugging his younger brother and ruffling his hair.
“You guys on babysitting duty?” Catie asked after they drew apart.
“Was meant to be for a couple of hours, but we kidnapped the cutie for the airport run,” Jules said with a smile, wrapping one arm gently around Esme’s shoulders when Esme came to lean against the woman who was technically her stepmother but who’d embraced the role of mother wholeheartedly without ever trying to erase the young woman who’d been Jake’s first love. “Your sister and Sailor went to the prizegiving ceremony at Emmaline’s rugby club.”
“Oh, of course.” Catie’s niece was a phenomenal player. “She told me about it when we spoke on the phone the other day.”
Catie continued to hold on to Connor’s soft little hand as they went to the luggage carousel to pick up their checked bags. Connor held his beloved “Gooey” with the other—a soft and squishy cloth doll in rugby uniform that Alison had made and that was Connor’s constant companion and partner in crime.
Danny, of course, grabbed both their bags—while avoiding her gaze. She was sure Jake had figured out that something was up—why else would he have turned up to welcome them home when they could’ve easily caught a cab?
Oh, the Eseras were crafty when it came to looking after their own.
“I saw the social media posts from the play,” Jules said.
“How did we come across?” Catie took her laser eyes off Danny; she’d get him to herself sooner or later.
“Brilliant.” A sparkle in Jules’s eyes. “As if you’ve been dating forever.”
Catie’s cheeks threatened to burn. “We should get the Oscars for best acting, right?”
“Um-hmm.”
Catie wanted to squirm at Jules’s noncommittal response. Thank goodness they were turning to head out. Esme and Connor went on ahead, Esme keeping a big-cousin’s eye on little Connor. Catie recognized that protective look; she’d seen it often enough on Ísa’s face.