Jennifer didn't know what to say. What could she say?
Garrett stared at her in confusion. The boys stared at her in expectation. Her heart pounded at the sheer terror at being made responsible for Garrett's children.
But did Garrett trust her with his children? After all, she'd told him about Carrie.
As if he sensed her thoughts, Garrett took her hand. "I'll let them stay, Jennifer, if that's what you want, but you don't have to say yes. They can go with me and wait in the doctor's lounge. We have the routine down pat."
"Please," Ethan pleaded. "We'll be good. We promise."
No matter how much she wanted to say no, she didn't have the heart to do it.
"They can stay."
The boys cheered, high-fiving each other.
Garrett squeezed her hand. "You're sure?"
Not really, but she nodded. "Hurry back."
Leaning in, Garrett pecked her on the cheek. "Thank you. I'll be as quick as I can. Call me if you need me." He turned to the boys. "I expect your best behavior."
"Yes sir," they said in unison, grinning at each other.
Jennifer sat on the porch steps, watching as Ian, Ethan and Benji hopped around until they fell back in giggles to stare up at the sky.
"Will you jump with us, Jennifer?" Ian called.
The last thing Jennifer planned was to jump on the trampoline, but she climbed up and crawled over to where the boys laid.
"I'm not much of a jumper, Ian," she told him.
"That's okay. Sit there. We'll jump and make you bounce."
Nodding in agreement, the boys began to jump. Higher and higher. Keeping her legs crossed Indian-style, Jennifer bounced from the aftershocks.
The boys' giggles lightened her heart and she soon found herself laughing along with them, feeling lighter than she had in years.
Until Ian landed at an odd angle, falling onto Jennifer. She grabbed hold, steadying him, but Benji and Ethan both lost balance at the change of bounce dynamics.
Benji fell forward, smacking into Jennifer's shoulder, throwing her back. Ethan landed on Ian, mouth smashing into head.
Eyes round, Ethan sat up, blood covering his face.
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