Six months later they were married at her father’s house in the Outer Banks. They’d chosen that location because most of her friends were there, and Ten’s family wouldn’t have as long a trip since the majority of them lived in neighboring Virginia.
Ten became the special-agent-in-charge of the San Francisco office. Lana continued to work as an interior designer. And nearly a year after they were married they welcomed Tennison Jr. into the world.
Three years after they were wed they were visiting Aaron and Ellen at their house. Lana and her dad sat on the back deck observing Ten and two-year-old Ten Jr. playing Frisbee on the beach with Bowser. Ellen was inside working on her first novel. With encouragement from Aaron, she was turning her love of reading into a writing career just as he’d done many years ago.
It was a beautiful summer day. Lana looked out at her husband and son with a contented smile on her face. Her dad, though, frowned. “When are you going to cut that boy’s hair? He looks like a girl.”
Lana laughed. She’d let Ten Jr.’s hair, which was thick and curly like his father’s, but reddish-brown like hers, grow down his back. She loved his hair. “He does not!” she disagreed. “And I don’t want you saying that around him.”
“I’d never do that,” Aaron was quick to say. He smiled at the sight his grandson made. He was big for his age, and strong. He would probably one day surpass his father in height.
“What are you hoping for this time?” he asked his daughter who had a noticeable baby bump.
Lana put her hand over her belly. “I don’t have to hope, I know we’re having twins.”
“Boys, or girls?” asked Aaron.
“Girls,” Lana said.
“Ten and Ten and a half will be outnumbered by females,” Aaron said. “Ten will want to try for another boy.”
Lana sighed. “That’s what I get for marrying a tenth son. And don’t think I don’t know you’re just trying to wangle another grandchild out of me.”
* * * * *