Found by Love (37 page)

"O... Don't pay attention to him. It'll be alright like last time. Just give him a little while and he'll be groveling at your feet in no time begging for forgiveness."

"Oh I know but he's acting like I got pregnant on purpose again and I didn't I swear! I really didn't think I could get pregnant while breast feeding. I'm not the happiest person let me tell ya that because the twins aren't even a year old yet. I swear if it's another set of twins I'm giving you one of them."

"Oh I don't think so. If it makes you feel any better Caleb is hoping I AM pregnant and with TRIPLETS!" She looked at me with pure shock in her eyes.

"Oh he's crazy! Hahaha! But that would be funny! Hahahahaha!"

"See! I've got you feeling better already."

"You always have a way of doing that Claud!! I know he'll be fine in a few days after the shock wears off." We heard Cash yell from the other room which had us all curious as to who was here.

"What in the HELL are YOU doing here?" We heard a loud feminine voice answer him with the most southern twang I've ever heard in my life.

"Cash Kingston! Now that ain't no way to greet yer cousin! Come here and give yer cousin Josie a big hug now ya hear! Wow! Now if this ain't a castle for sure. You got a extra room for me here or am I gonna stay at Uncle Gid and Aunt Amelia's house?"

Olivia and I keep looking at each other wondering how Josie managed to show up for dinner when we had no idea she was coming. I looked over at Gid and Amelia and they both had confused looks on their faces.

"Gid honey... I thought you said Josie wasn't coming until the first of the year?" He nodded his head at her.

"Honey that's what she told me a few days ago in her last email but I guess she ended up tying up all of her loose ends sooner than she thought she would. It'll be alright Sweetheart. We still have an extra room ready for her. Maybe she didn't want to spend the holidays by herself." He looked around at everyone. "Let's make her feel welcome alright?" He was specifically looking at Caleb when he said that and I looked over at him and he straightened up in his seat and nodded at his father after he crossed his arms across his chest. I soon realize that Cash answering the door probably wasn't such a good idea by the way the conversation is going.

"Josie! No! I don't have enough room for you. I already have Caleb and Claudia here along with her son and his Uncle and not to mention I have four and a half kids of my own. You can stay at Mother and Father's house! They have some spare bedrooms you can stay in. You might as well come into the dining room and meet everyone. I guess!"

"Well I never remember you being as rude as you are now when we were kids. You probably have what? 20 bedrooms in this place? Well fine Cash. If you want to just throw me out to the wolves and not even offer a place for me to stay than maybe I should leave."

"Josie! Mother and Father's house is not throwing you out to the wolves. Trust me! You'll enjoy the peace and quiet and tranquility feel of the place much better than my house. I'm only thinking of your needs first I assure you."

I felt and heard Olivia wince at Cash's words at how quiet and peaceful it is at his parents’ house. I patted her on the back to reassure her and got up from Cash's seat to sit back where I was next to Caleb. I wanted to be ready for the booming voice that was on her way into the dining room.

When she came around the corner I tried not to bust out laughing. I know her name is Josie but boy if she didn't have the whole Scarlet O’Hara look about her from the top of her head of big long curly red hair and bright green eyes to the bottom of her 6 inch heels. The only thing missing would be a big blooming hat on her head. I heard Caleb inhale a big breath of air and exhale it through his nose. What is it about this woman that had both Kingston men squirming in their seats?

"Well hello y'all! How's yer Thanksgiving dinner going so far?" Gid was the first one up and out of his seat to pull her into his arms for a big hug.

"Josephine! Your last email said you weren't coming until after the first of the year. If I would have known you were coming today I could have picked you up at the airport."

"Oh Uncle Gid you're so sweeeet! I wrapped everything up in Georgia real quick like and didn't see no need to wait since I didn't have anything else ta take care of. I drove straight through. Well... I did stop for one night to rest but I'm here now! It looks like I showed up just in time too because I'm ravished!" Carmen miraculously appeared with an extra plate and set of silver ware and started making Josie a plate between Mattie and me.

"Oh yes dear... Have a seat and eat because we have plenty." Amelia stopped her before she sat down and pulled her into her arms for a hug.

"It's so good to see you sweet Josie! My! Haven't you grown up into such a beautiful woman. I haven't seen you in what? 10 years? Every time we would go visit your momma and daddy you never seemed to be in town and we would always miss you." She hugged her back but I noticed Josie get a panicked look on her face.

"Oh you know how it goes Auntie Amelia. When you have the chance to visit the world you never say no to the opportunity. I've sure missed you Auntie."

"I’ve missed you too Honey but go ahead and sit down and have you some dinner. We can catch up when you finish."

Josie nodded and looked around the table and grinned at everyone. Mattie seemed uncomfortable for some reason and I didn’t miss that Josie got a weird look on her face when she looked at him. She looked over towards Caleb and he barely acknowledged her.

"Caleb Luke! Are you not gonna be nice to me either? What have I ever done to you or Cash to get such a rude reception?"

"Pfft! Are you kidding me Josie?! You were horrible to Cash and I growing up and do you not remember what you did to us the last time we went to visit you and your parents? If you don't remember I'll sure tell you and everyone else sitting here." Oh I love a good story and I couldn't help but ask.

"I would love to hear the story. I bet it's not as bad as you and Cash think it is. Come on Caleb. Tell us." Caleb was shaking his head no and I started poking at him to get him to relent and he finally pushed my hand away and gave in.

"Okay... I'll tell you but only if the kids leave the room."

"Uncle Caleb! We never get to hear the good stuff! That's so not fair!" Cash arched his brow at Gideon and he knew that he had messed up once again by the look on his face.

"Gideon, you take Grayson and Eden and go get that tea party ready for your sister that you promised to have with her." Gideon went to say something and Cash frowned at him. "Now Gideon."

"Yes sir." I waited patiently for the kids to leave so that Caleb could start telling the story. After they were all gone no one was saying anything so I looked at Josie and then Caleb.

"Well? Who's gonna spill? I wanna hear the story."

"Claud... Leave it alone. All the story is going to do is make you like Josie and make her feel welcome and then we'll never be rid of her!" Man! Cash is being a hard ass today!

"Okay Cash! So what if Olivia is pregnant again! That's no reason for you to be a dick to everyone today. This is the day of THANKS so try to be a little thankful that she still actually wants to be around you after the way you've once again diminished all of the great qualities about you that she loves the most. Which are how sweet and kind and loving you usually are to her and everyone else?" He went to open his mouth but closed it realizing that I was right and went over to Olivia and apologized to her.

"I'm sorry Liv... Please forgive me. If you're happy about having another baby then I'm happy as well."

"Thank you Honey and I'm not going to lie. I'm just as scared as you are but we will get through it."

"Okay… yada, yada, yada. Thank me later O! I want to know what Josie did to the guys to make them hate her." I heard a giggle to my left and it was Josie laughing in my direction which had me grinning.

"What is your name? Claudia? I think you and I are going to be pretty good friends. I like you." I laughed because of the way she said like with the longest sounding I I've ever heard. She liiikes me.

"Well since they're not saying anything how about you tell me." I looked over at Caleb and Cash and neither of them seems to want to share the story.

"Well the only thing I can think of that they're talking about would have ta be when me and my boyfriend Johnny took them to the lake when they came down ta visit. Is that what y'all are all upset about boys? It was just a funny prank is all and it was sooooooo long ago. I mean we was kids for goodness sakes!"

"A funny prank? Cash and I had to dig through the trash to find something big enough to cover our private parts and our asses and we walked 2 miles, ON the highway mind you, in front of everyone back to your parents’ house! A funny prank?? It was CRUEL is what it was! We couldn't even put our hand out to hitch hike because we had to cover our.... Our junk!" Caleb slammed his hand down on the table and I laughed so hard and not only did I have tears coming out of both eyes but I fell out of my seat!

"Josephine! Did you really do that to them? I couldn't for the life of me figure out why they were so mad at you the rest of that week and that's what you did? Whatever in the world made you do something like that?!"

Oh pit bull momma Amelia didn't think it was funny which made me straighten up really quick. I looked over at Mattie and Olivia and they couldn't keep a straight face and we all lost it again! The only one not laughing other than Amelia and the guys was Josie. She has turned in to a 10 year old who just got reprimanded by the head master at school she looked so scared.

"Well now Auntie. It really wasn't as bad as Caleb just said it was. Honest."

"Not as bad? NOT AS BAD?! Are you kidding me? It wasn't like we were little boys. I was 15 and Cash was 17 at the time! It wasn't like we could use a little Dixie cup to cover everything up either." I lost it again and stayed on the floor. There was no use in trying to sit down in my chair.

"Oh my god! Stop it! Has anyone ever died from laughing to death because I'm about to if you don't quit giving me the visual of you and Cash! Oh my God! Oh man! This is great!"

"Yeah you would think that it's funny Cruella. I can see you doing something like that to someone as well."

"She did remember? To me! In college!" I guess Caleb had forgotten about it but I knew by the knowing look on his face that he remembered and he shook his head.

"Great! Now we have two of them! Two vicious, vicious women! The both of you! May God help us!"

It took me a few more minutes to compose myself and not bust up laughing every time I looked at either of the guys but I somehow managed to get back into my seat without laughing. I looked over at Josie and patted her hand and grinned.

"I can't wait to hear more stories from you but in the meantime would you like to try some of my apple pie? I promise you'll love it." She grinned back at me and chuckled under her breath.

"I'd love some Claudia and I can't wait to get to know you and Olivia better. I have lots and lots of stories.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The evening went better than anyone expected after Josie's unexpected arrival. Cash and Caleb finally quit scowling at her after a couple of hours and started letting her join in on their conversations.

The kids wrangled all of us adults into a card game and I must say it was rather enjoyable and especially when we all decided to have teams of the women against the men. Eden was our youngest player but proved that she could hang with all of us and was a big help in beating all of the men. Gideon of course took it personal but Grayson reminded him that it was just a game and said that he had a lot of fun. At bedtime I pulled Grayson into my arms and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

"Did you have fun today Gray?" He had a twinkle in his eye as he smiled at me because I know that he loves it when I call him by his shortened name.

"Mom... Today was one of the best days of my life. I'm so glad you talked me into coming here. Everyone is so great and cool and funny. Oh and you were right about my grandparents. They sure love to hug don't they?"

“I told you we were a crowd full of huggers. Everyone is crazy about you and I'm so happy that you want to stay. I'll agree with you about today being one of the best days of MY life. Come here because I need another hug." He walked into my arms and squeezed me as tight as I squeezed him and raised his head up to look at me.

"I love you Mom. Thank you for coming to find me." Ah... Tears again but very happy tears.

"Oh I love you too baby. All the way to infinity and back my boy." I wiped the tears off of my cheeks and laughed because I'm sure I seem upset but I'm so happy I can't stand it. "Now go to bed and try not to stay up so late because I'm taking you and Mattie to show you around tomorrow remember?"