“Kam spilled the beans. She’s good at that. I talked to my mom this morning. And my dad. He wanted to make sure you weren’t taking advantage of me.”
Liam grimaces. “Oh, boy.”
“Please don’t start sweating and looking like you’re about to haul yourself over a balcony every time you look at me.”
“You’re terribly mean.”
I laugh. “No, I’m not. Let’s just agree that nobody will be cutting off relatives after this. Not even the ones who can’t keep their mouth shut.”
Liam’s phone starts ringing, lighting up with Jack’s name.
“Speaking of,” he says, letting go of my hand and picking up his phone to take the call. The car’s Bluetooth takes over, so I hear Jack’s hello, mixed with the background noise of light music, laughter, and the light clatter of dishes.
“I take it you’ve arrived?” Liam asks him.
“Oh, yeah. I was told to be here early, which makes no sense because I’m not allowed to help with anything. The staff knows what they’re doing.”
“You’re on speaker with Rosalie, by the way.”
“Hi, Rosie.”
“Hi, Jack.”
“Are Mom and Dad there yet?” Liam asks.
“No.” He sounds put out but also happy to have something to complain about. “And as thrilled as I am to have Rosalie with us, you two have left me at the singles’ table alone. Mom says you insisted on sitting with family. And yet, she won’t let me get out of it. She’s made promises.To ladies. Ugh, here comes one now. Rosalie, you don’t happen to have a sister, do you?”
“No,” Liam and I say in unison.
“Oh, ho. That means you do. Is she way younger or something?”
Liam looks at me, and I throw my hands up in defeat. Jack knowing about her won’t hurt anything.
“She has a boyfriend,” Liam finally says. “She would not be interested in you.”
She would absolutely be interested in Jack, especially as a rebound, but it doesn’t matter because we’re not setting the two of them up. Ever.
After reassuring Jack that we’re only five minutes away, Liam ends the call and we check in with the kids at Esther’s. They’re having a blast. They started the day with a donut run, and they’re about to get out of the hot tub and go in and watch a movie. As nice as it is to dress up for a party, I’ll admit that sounds like a great Saturday night to me.
Chapter 37 – Metaphorical Chickens
Liam
The expression “all your chickens have come home to roost” is not scary enough for the way I feel at this very moment. Chickens aresupposedto return home. It should be the thought of chasing chickens that gives people nightmares.
Anyway, my metaphorical chickens have scattered.
Maggie’s here.
Not only that, she’s talking to my mother.
Dinner hasn’t started. Everyone is milling around as much as they can in one large narrow room with long narrow tables making walking around like entering and exiting a freeway system. I’ve never said “pardon me” so many times in my life.
There’s a stage on one end where I assume you might put a small quartet or a conference speaker with a microphone. In our case, it hosts the little round table where my parents will sit. I’dlike to walk over and look at all the enlarged photos in beautiful frames and the themed décor representing all their favorite things, but not right now. Now that we’ve found a place to stand out of everyone’s way, I’ll just stay right where I am and hope for the best.
I’ve introduced Rosalie to a few people, but at the moment, she’s staring up at the gorgeous wood beams overhead and all the twinkling lights. Despite the odd shape, it really is a beautiful restaurant, and she loves beautiful things. Is there a way I can absorb her chill without exchanging it for my panic?
Every time Maggie’s gaze sweeps the room, I brace myself for when she’ll spot us.