10. Aubrey

10

Aubrey

Luke and I are enjoying a rare moment of peace on the porch of the Airbnb, him with his collection of toy cars and me trying to get some work done on my laptop, when the tranquility of our morning is interrupted by a new arrival.

She walks with the confidence of someone who knows they're about to stir up trouble, and even from a distance, I can see the family resemblance—she's definitely an Ice, with that same striking look that seems to run in the genes.

Luke, ever the social butterfly, decides this is the perfect moment to embark on a toddling expedition towards the main house. With a sigh that's half amusement, half resignation, I follow, curious about the newcomer.

Stepping into the kitchen, the scene before me is one part family reunion, one part soap opera. There's Jake, looking like he's just swallowed a lemon, and the young woman, slender and pretty.

"Oh, Jakey, it's been forever! I've missed you all so much," the girl gushes, her voice dripping with a sweetness that feels about as genuine as a three-dollar bill.

Jake forces a smile, the kind you give when you're trying not to let on how much you'd rather be anywhere else. "Yeah, Sadie, it's...great to see you too."

Sadie—the name sounds familiar. That’s when it hits me that this is the cousin that Emma had been crying about, the one who’d stolen her boyfriend.

I hang back, observing the dynamics, when Sadie's eyes land on me. "And who's this? Another one of Sean's flings?" she asks, her tone sharp enough to cut glass.

Before I can take offense, Jake jumps in, a protective edge to his voice. "This is Aubrey, Luke's mom. She's staying at the Airbnb."

Sadie's eyes flick to Luke, who's blissfully unaware of the tension, busy investigating the nooks and crannies of the kitchen. "Well, isn't that just adorable. An Airbnb guest with a kid," she says, her words laced with an insincerity that sets my teeth on edge.

Just as I'm about to retort, the cavalry arrives in the form of Jack Ice, the patriarch of this lively bunch. Sadie's transformation is immediate and astonishing. Where moments ago stood a conniving drama queen, now there's an angel, all smiles and innocence.

"Uncle Jack! I was just catching up with Jake and meeting Aubrey and little Luke," she says, her voice now as sweet as honey, a stark contrast to the venom from moments before.

Jack raises an eyebrow, a silent acknowledgment of the sudden shift in Sadie's demeanor, but greets her warmly nonetheless. "Sadie, it's good to see you. And Aubrey, Luke, always a pleasure."

I exchange a glance with Jake, a silent conversation that says 'Can you believe this?' without a word. As Jack ushers Sadie into the living room, leaving us in the relative peace of the kitchen, I can't help but feel a mix of amusement and admiration for the Ice family's ability to navigate their internal dynamics.

"Well, that was… something," I comment, earning a knowing chuckle from Jake.

"Yeah, Sadie's always been good at playing to the audience," Jake agrees, glancing towards the living room with a resigned shake of his head.

As Luke continues his exploration, blissfully untouched by the family drama, I find myself feeling oddly at home among the chaos. After all, every family has its quirks, and if nothing else, the Ices certainly know how to keep things interesting.

***

Later that morning, Luke and I find ourselves swept up into the bustling, heartwarming chaos that is breakfast with the Ice family. It's like stepping into a scene from a feel-good family sitcom, where the jokes are plenty, the pancakes are fluffy, and the family dog, Pokey, is practically another sibling, sticking close to Emma as if he's her personal bodyguard.

Jack doesn't fit the grandpa stereotype—unless your idea of a grandpa includes lessons on motorcycle maintenance over knitting. Yet, his warmth envelops the breakfast table like a cozy blanket, making even the newest additions (us) feel right at home.

Jack passes me the syrup with a smile that's all welcome and no reservation. "How's the ranch treating you and Luke, Aubrey?" he asks, genuinely interested.

"It's been fantastic, Jack. Luke's probably going to want to trade me in for a horse by the end of our stay," I joke, earning a chuckle from around the table.

Luke, meanwhile, is on a mission to turn his pancake into a work of abstract art, smearing syrup with the focused intensity of a toddler Picasso.

Sadie decides this is her moment. "Aubrey, must be nice getting away from it all, staying here like you're on permanent vacation," she says, her voice sugary enough to give us all cavities.

Before I can craft a reply that's equal parts grace and zing, Emma jumps in, the eternal diplomat. "We're just happy to have them, right, Sadie?" she says, a look towards Sadie that could freeze boiling water.

And then there's Pokey, making his presence known by nudging everyone under the table, a reminder that, hey, dogs are part families, too.

Jack, sensing the need for a topic change as keenly as he senses a coming storm, regales us with tales of pancake breakfasts past. "Back in my day, pancakes were a campfire affair," he claims, sparking laughter and effectively smoothing over any ripples in the conversational waters.

The meal unfolds like a well-rehearsed play, each Ice playing their part with a blend of humor, affection, and the occasional eye roll directed at Sadie's antics. Through it all, Luke's laughter and Pokey's occasional interjections remind us of life's simpler pleasures.

Post-pancake euphoria has set in, and I find myself absently wondering about Sean's whereabouts. It's odd, considering our rocky start, that his absence feels like a missing piece in an otherwise perfect morning puzzle. I shake the thought away, focusing on the more pressing matter at hand: ensuring Luke's attempt at conquering the sandbox doesn't end in a sandcastle civil war.

As Luke commands his toy troops with the determination of a pint-sized general, a familiar car pulls up, and out steps Sean. There's something about a man in perfectly worn jeans and a T-shirt that can make you forget the chaos of toddlerhood and family drama, even if just for a moment. Today, Sean is that something.

Luke's reaction to Sean is instantaneous, a blend of excitement and toddler babble that translates loosely to "You're back!" Sean, for his part, looks slightly taken aback by the enthusiastic greeting but recovers with a nervous chuckle.

"Hey, guys," Sean greets, eyes darting between Luke and me, the latter of whom is trying to pretend she wasn't just caught staring.

"What's got you looking like you've lost your best hockey stick, Sean?" I tease, trying to ease the palpable tension. His usual swagger seems dialed down to a hesitant shuffle today.

He takes a deep breath, the kind you take before diving into uncharted waters. "Actually, Aubrey, I was wondering... would you want to go out to dinner with me tonight?" The question hangs in the air, a bold stroke on our ever-evolving canvas.

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise, a smirk playing at my lips. "A date, Sean Ice? Are you sure you can handle the wild ride that is dining with an Airbnb guest slash toddler mom?"

He laughs, a sound that's part nervous, part genuine amusement. "Yeah, a date. And Emma and Pokey said they'd watch Luke, if you're okay with that."

The offer sends a flutter of something like anticipation through me. Sean, asking me on a date with all the awkward charm of a high schooler, is not something I would have predicted, yet here we are.

I glance at Luke, who's currently trying to appoint a stuffed dinosaur as his sandbox's new defense minister. Emma watching him means I'd actually get to finish a meal while it's still warm, a luxury I haven't enjoyed in what feels like decades.

"Alright, Sean, you've got yourself a date. But fair warning, I have high standards for dinner conversation. No hockey talk," I say, the challenge clear in my tone.

Sean's relief is palpable, his usual confidence inching back. "Deal. No hockey. I'll even wear my fanciest jeans."

As he saunters off, presumably to plan our evening, I can't help but feel a spark of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of curiosity. A date with Sean Ice—tonight might just be full of surprises.

And as I turn my attention back to Luke and his sandbox diplomacy, I can't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this unexpected turn of events could lead to something truly interesting.