Lean On Me by Tori Scott

Author:Tori Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: contemporary romance, widow and widower dating, teenage angst, military kids, home and family

CHAPTER NINE

The morning was overcast, but Sandy was grateful for the resulting mild temperatures. Melanie oohed over the bears and squealed at the antics of the monkeys. "Look Mommy! That one looks just like Billy Johnson. He always hangs upside down on the monkey bars at school."

Jason, not to be outdone by a kid named Billy, did his best monkey imitation by swinging himself up into a tree, hanging by one leg, and screeching and scratching until Melanie was doubled over, laughing at his antics.

Sandy laughed along with her daughter and reveled in the family atmosphere, more at peace than she'd been in years.

"Smile." Hunter's camera flashed for the fiftieth time, at least.

"Darn it, Hunter. I told you I don't like having my picture taken." He'd caught her unawares too many times to count. Why did he need so many pictures of her, anyway?

"Too bad. I like looking at you and I'll bet the camera loves you. Besides, it'll be good for the kids to have the pictures later." He slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. Melanie giggled and Jason gave them a sly wink.

Sandy thought they probably looked like a family enjoying an outing on a Saturday morning. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. She pulled away from Hunter and went back to Melanie's wheelchair.

"Mommy, I'm hungry."

"Okay. We'll find a table and eat our lunch." She led the way to the picnic area where they found a spot under a shade tree and sat down to eat the lunch she’d prepared. She had just taken a big bite of her sandwich when Jason asked Hunter, "What are you two going to do tonight without your chaperones around?”

Sandy choked on her sandwich and coughed while Hunter pounded her on the back. Tears ran down her cheeks before she was finally able to breathe easily again, and she hoped the others thought the heat in her cheeks was from the choking spell. When she could finally speak, she looked at Jason and said, "I thought I'd catch up on my reading and get to bed early."

When he sent her a knowing look, one way too old for a sixteen-year-old, she realized she'd only made things worse.

Hunter stepped in. "After I drop you off at Gramp's, I'm going to mow our lawn and wash the Tahoe. Later, if Sandy will join me, we're going out to dinner. Not that it's any of your business."

Jason had the decency to look chagrined and lowered his head to concentrate on eating. They left the zoo as soon as everyone had finished and dropped Jason off at his grandparents' house on the way home. Melanie, worn out from the morning's activities, fell asleep in her car seat.

"I'm sorry about Jason's big mouth," Hunter whispered to Sandy, trying not to waken the sleeping child. "Every time I think he's growing up, he says something more suited to a twelve year old."

"That's all right. I think all teenagers develop a morbid curiosity about their parents' sex lives.

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