Until Ashlyn
Page 46

“There you are,” a woman says, and I look behind me at the door that leads into the house and watch an African American woman with rich dark skin, and short cropped hair that accentuates her almond shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and full lips step down the two steps into the garage. Even though she’s dressed casual, in a pair of white Converse, dark jeans, and a plain gray V-neck, she screams elegance.
“Cara.” Dillon lets me go, and her face lights up as he moves toward her and pulls her into a hug.
“I told your brother that we should call to make sure you would be home, but he insisted we surprise you,” she murmurs, hugging him back.
“You never have to call,” Dillon says softly, letting her go as she smiles studying him, then leans up touching his cheek.
“You cut your hair.”
“I did.” He grins, wrapping his hand around mine and pulling me back to his side.
“Maybe you could have a talk with that one,” she nods toward Parker, “about chopping his off.”
“Never gonna happen, baby,” Parker says, dropping his arm around her shoulder, and she rolls her eyes skyward then moves them to me for a brief second before going back to Dillon.
“Is this your wife?” she asks him quietly, and I don’t see his reaction, I just watch her face soften before she looks at me once more.
“Cara this is Ashlyn, Ashlyn this is Cara, Parkers wife,” Dillon introduces us as she steps away from Parker.
“Nice to finally meet you.” I stick out my hand and she shakes her head, wrapping her slim arms around me.
“I’ve heard so much about you, I’m so happy to finally meet you.” She leans back enough to see my face and shakes her head again before hugging me once more, this time tighter.
“Dad, Uncle Dillon has like five bathrooms!” is shouted a second later, and she pulls away just in time for me to watch two adorable little boys in matching outfits bound down the steps into the garage.
“Did you use all of them?” Dillon asks, and the boys each look at him, grinning widely. “Uncle Dillon!” they shout, launching themselves at him. Stepping back, I smile as he scoops up both boys into his arms and swings them around. I’ve seen Dillon numerous times with my niece, Hope, but now it’s different. I can actually picture him holding a little boy who looks like him and me in my head. My heart does a little flip inside my chest at the idea and my breath catches when his eyes meet mine and soften, like he knows what I’m thinking.
“Jordan,” he lifts his right arm holding one little boy, “Kenyon,” he lifts his left holding the other, “I want you to meet your aunt Ashlyn.”
“Hi,” they chime in unison, studying me with curious looks on their faces.
“It’s nice to finally meet you both, your uncle talks about you guys all the time,” I say, wondering how long it will take before I can tell them apart, since they look identical and are dressed exactly the same.
“You do?” Jordan asks, and Dillon turns his eyes to him and smiles.
“Of course I talk about two of my favorite guys.”
“But you haven’t come to visit us in forever.” He pouts and Dillon’s smile fades away.
“I came to visit you guys three months ago.”
“Yeah, and that was forever ago,” Kenyon says, making me smile. I’m sure that at five, three months does seem like forever.
“Well, you’re here now.”
“Yeah, and we brought cupcakes from Mimi’s,” Kenyon says as Parker takes him from Dillon, tickling him.
“Did you really?” Dillon asks and Jordan nods.
“Yeah, we got your favorite strawberry ones,” he says proudly and Dillon smiles, lifting him high above his head.
“Too bad it’s your bedtime, now I get to eat all of them.”
“It’s not my bed time,” Jordan shouts, laughing as Dillon drops him to his feet and turns to look at Cara.
“How many cupcakes did you bring?”
“A dozen.” She smiles.
“So just enough for me.” He grins, looking between the boys.
“Not if we eat them all first,” Kenyon yells, wiggling himself free from his father then tugging his brother along with him, and they run back into the house.
“I should leave them with you tonight after they’ve eaten those cupcakes,” Cara mutters, and Dillon smiles.
“How long are you guys staying for?” he asks, and Parker answers.
“We’re here until next week. The boys are on fall break, so we figured it was the perfect time for a visit.”
“So you guys will be here Saturday?” I question and Cara nods.
“Yes, but if you have plans or need us to find a hotel, that’s totally okay with us. I know us showing up is unexpected.”
“No, that’s not necessary. You guys are welcome here anytime.” I wave her off. “Really, your timing is perfect. My family is throwing us a kind of after-the-fact reception type dinner Saturday, then my cousins are taking me out for a bachelorette party afterwards, in Nashville.”
“I’m in.” Cara grins, and Parker frowns at her.
“You are not in.”
“Oh yes, I’m totally in.” She smiles. “It’s been far too long since I’ve been out, and I’ve always wanted to experience Nashville’s nightlife.”
“Perfect.” I smile at her and she wiggles her brows, leaning closer.