Taking the seat Lily vacated next to Lucien, I bring Charlotte down into my arms, but she isn’t happy with this position and tries to pull herself up. So with her sitting on my knee, I gently bounce her up and down, which is followed with lots of baby giggles.
Hearing a camera shutter, I turn and grin at my mom, who, if she isn’t holding one of her grandbabies, is capturing them and us with the digital camera.
“Hmm,” Mom sighs, “so, which of my babies is going to be next to fall.”
Sebastian roars with laughter while I feel pressure in my chest as Rosie pops into my head. Trying to ignore mom, I glance at Lucien as he fidgets in his seat like he used to do when we were kids and he wanted to avoid a conversation. Some things never change.
“Lucien will be next…then again, I bet Ruben cracks soon as well, so I guess it’s going to be a pretty close race.”
I’d love to be able to knock the shit-eating grin from Sebastian’s face with my fist.
“What about Ramon? Why didn’t you mention him,” I counter.
“What about me?” Ramon questions as he walks around the end of the porch.
I’d had no idea he was already here as his wheels aren’t out front.
“Mom wants to know who is going to be the next to fall.” I chuckle at the look on his face. “She’s after more grandbabies.”
“Oh, you hush up,” Mom clips me on the shoulder. “I’m hoping Sebastian will be helping me out with more grandbabies.”
“Hey now,” Sebastian interrupts. “I want time alone with my woman before we have a baby.” He pulls Carla up from the chair, sits down in her seat before pulling her into his lap. She snuggles into him, and I realize I want that—my own woman. Rosie.
“Well, with all the practicing you’ve been doing I’m sure you’ll get it right when needed.” Mom never ceases to amaze me with the things she comes out with. And at least Sebastian is keeping his mouth shut—probably because Carla is sitting with us and looking embarrassed.
“You can all laugh, but I want to see my other three son’s having the love of a good woman. There’s nothing more satisfying seeing the love Lily and Carla have for your brothers. I want you three to have that.” When Mom finishes, she dabs at her eyes. We groan knowing Mom is on a mission to get us all hooked up and off her hands.
Ramon cringes before turning and heading back around the porch while I try to look anywhere, but at Mom. The last thing she needs is to have one of us acknowledge her comments.
Lucien ignores her and plays with Jr., but unfortunately, I’m the one Mom has her eyes on. I can hope it’s because I’m bouncing Charlotte on my knee.
“Ruben, I’m worried about you.” Her tone is quiet but it makes me meet Mom’s gaze. “You work too much,” she gives me the ‘look’ as in don’t even think about opening your mouth right now, “and regardless of how much you and your brothers wish I was deaf, I’m not and I know you’ve been having trouble at the club,” Mom stops talking and starts to bite her lip. A sure sign she’s worried.
How the hell do moms always manage to find out what you don’t want them to? “I didn’t want you to worry.” I lean over and kiss Charlotte on her head before Mom takes her out of my arms and starts making silly noises in front of her face.
“I always find out these things. You should know that by now. Just please tell me you have it in hand.”
“He’s going to be fine Mom and so is the club. I’m going to hang out there a few times a week and we’ll get Ramon down to the club; see if we can figure out what’s going on,” Lucien states.
“Hmm. Well, although I think it’s a good idea for my two single sons to be hanging out at the club of another of my single boys, I’m going to worry triple time now. But if you all should meet a nice young lady there, then I might not worry as much.”
I choke back a laugh knowing it won’t be appreciated, and say what I know Lucien is thinking, “Nice young ladies don’t hang out at Kenza. If they do they’re usually with their significant other.”
“These babies are going to have no fingers left if we don’t feed them soon, and don’t think you guys are off the hook,” Mom says, ignoring my protests. I laugh as I watch Charlotte and Jr. shoving their fingers in their mouths and sucking on them. “And you, Lucien, can take Sabrina to the club. She doesn’t really have any friends here apart from Lily, Carla and Sylvia. Those are two young ladies that I’d like to see find the one true love,” Mom adds, clutching her chest with a sappy look crossing her face.
“I think it would be much better if you concentrated on fixing Sylvia and Sabrina up instead of us.”
Standing, I follow Mom with Charlotte in her arms into the house as I hold the door for Lucien and Jr.