Nuts For You

A Few Years Later

“How many life jackets do we need now?” I can’t keep track of how many grandkids I have these days. It’s not because of my ADHD. It’s because our kids keep having so many damn babies. Every time I blink my eyes, somebody else is pregnant. 

Celeste scrunches up her face to count. “Walt has Nora and K-2. Rosie has Ayo. Liam has Arlan and Celinda. Now, let me think about Cal’s kids. The twins, and Ethan and Siobhan. And Zack just has Finn so far.”

“So far?”

She smiles. “I’m sure they’ll want to keep up with everyone else. How many was that?”

“Ten.” I nod. “I’ll just buy a dozen. Finn will probably throw someone’s in the river anyway.”

“Michael Brady, be nice. You, too, were a rowdy menace in your youth.”

I grin at her and pull her in for a kiss. “And how long ago was my youth? I’m still pretty spry.” With a playful smack to her tush, I hop up and click order for curbside pickup at the outdoor store. I have to make sure all my kids are safe for the fireworks cruise I’m planning. 

Nicole would probably want me to christen the adventure Hot Brady Summer or something, but I don’t have that kind of time. I gave Cal and Logan my old boat, the Erin Go Braless. I wanted something a little bigger that would fit all of us comfortably. 

Celeste told me she doesn’t want to be married ever again, and since I’ve also had my fill of that arrangement, I decided to do something else to demonstrate my affection each summer. Last year, I hired contractors to chop a hole in the floor of my condo and put in stairs down to hers, so we have one giant love pad.

Arlan immediately tried to sled down the new stairs on a mattress and knocked a tooth out, so we haven’t done too many sleepovers despite having the room. I thought maybe I could get the gang together on the water instead.

“I’m going to pick up the food and the life vests,” I tell her. “You good with the drinks?”

She nods. “Esther helped me place the order yesterday.”

I smile, pausing in the doorway to marvel once more at my life. I’ve got a woman who loves me, and I wake up beside her every day. And she puts up with my nonsense and loves this big, boisterous family. She even rolls with us to all our marathons and puts up with sweaty finish-line hugs as long as I take her to the ballet a few times a year to balance everything out. 

Tonight’s going to be amazing. “I’ll meet you at the dock.” I plan to just yell this from the doorway and be on my way, but instead I spring over to her for another kiss. I can’t help it.

“Michael!” She’s breathless when she pulls back, like it’s still too much for her to handle my passion. I’m a little winded, too, in a good way.

By the time I get to the dock, most of the family is already there roaming around. I spring out of the car and immediately begin buckling kids into life vests, excited to see I counted correctly. Liam stands to the side with his arms crossed, frowning. “I’m not sure if this seems safe, Dad.”

“Did you give Arlan a booster med? I took one of mine!” I clap my son on the back as he rolls his eyes at me. “What could go wrong, son?”

“There are a number of things that could go awry.” Jake, Elizabeth’s son, looks as stern as Liam as he stands with his arm around his girlfriend. From what Kellen says, things are pretty serious there. 

“What are the things, Jake? Give me your top three.” I’m relieved to see Cal and Kellen start unloading the trays of sandwiches and things from my car while Jake unloads his concerns about engine failure, getting caught in the rain, and running aground.

“Okay, tell me if this helps,” I tell him. “I’ve got a solar powered radio all charged up if we need to call the Coast Guard. And the dock master reports the river level is normal. It’s been a wet summer, bud.” He ponders this information and nods a few times. “Excellent. I’ve gotta load up all the grub.”

I bound up the steps onto the boat and I see Celeste emerge from below deck, looking right at home in a navy blue top and red shorts. And of course her pearls. “I think we’re all set in here,” she says. “Can we do the unveiling now?”

I scratch my chin and think about the best way to do the big reveal of the boat’s name. “All right,” I shout, but nobody hears me. I walk over to Bisi and nudge her with my elbow. “Can you give me a whistle so everyone shuts up?”

Once she gets everyone’s attention I hop up on the rail and cup my hands over my mouth. “Okay, everyone. Here’s how this is going to work. Brady family on the dock, and my lady up here with me.”

Celeste rolls her eyes, but smiles and makes her way back up to where I’m standing. I climb down from the rail and kiss her, dipping her as my family all erupts in wolf whistles. When I set her upright, I wink at her and turn back to the dock. “All right, all right. So, I know you’re all actually here to see the fireworks later, but I thought before we set sail, I’d ask you all to join me while I show Celeste how much she means to me.”

She grins and clutches the railing while Nicole and Maddie yell “awww.” I walk over to the black sheet I clipped up to cover the name of the boat.

“Celeste Sheffield,” I say, aware that my boys are working hard to hold back their rowdy offspring and I better be quick. I yank up the cloth and hear my family draw in their breath. “I’m nuts for you, honey. Every damn day.” She glances over the rail at the boat, where Nuts for You is embossed in glinting silver letters. “You make me happier than my favorite snack and I love you more today than yesterday.”

“Oh, Michael.” She places her hands on my cheeks and shakes her head, grinning. In the background, Cal makes a choking sound and Logan elbows him in the stomach. Celeste kisses me softly and smiles as the Brady family streams onto the boat. “It’s perfect,” she whispers, nuzzling her head against my shoulder. In my pocket, the baggy of pistachios crinkles beneath her cheek. 

Once everyone is aboard the Nuts for You, we shove off and drop anchor as close as we can get to Point State Park. The barges holding the fireworks are already set up in the Allegheny River and the kids start cramming sandwiches and chips in their mouths as they wait for it to get dark. In an attempt to avoid my sons fighting over the guac, I ordered everyone an individual portion, but of course they’re still elbowing each other trying to get more.

I’m delighted that nobody falls overboard, yet everyone is laughing and conversing loudly as the sun sets around us. The sky glows orange and pink as my chest swells with pride that I get to spend every day with this band of grumpy, brilliant people. I smile at my brother, leaning against the railing with Elizabeth in his arms. And then I decide I’m missing the warmth of my own snuggle partner, and I reach for Celeste. 

I pull her against my chest just as we hear a whistle as the first firework gets set to explode. The dark sky suddenly glows with shimmering red and green sparks as the light bursts around us. “I love you,” I whisper into her ear. I feel her squeeze my forearms. I bend down to kiss her and she turns to meet my mouth.

After a few fireworks, she pulls back, resting her nose against mine. “I love you, too.” She settles against my body, warm and soft, for the rest of the display, and I notice that she, like me, is watching the faces of the Brady family as they stare up in delight at the splendor all around us.

Never fear! The Brady Family shows up again in my Bridges and Bitters series. It all starts with Samantha’s book, Fireball.