Page 35 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)

Chapter Thirty-Five

Eric

By Tuesday morning, the household was decidedly not back to normal, but I called a family meeting anyway. Even though Magnus had had an attack of doubts last night, I didn’t want to wait longer to go public as a couple. We’d had enough close calls already, and Rowan’s knowing chuckle yesterday warned that discovery was inevitable. Heading that off seemed kinder and less dramatic than rumors and secrets, but as everyone gathered in the living room, I second-guessed my determination.

“Please tell me you’re not calling a family meeting about diaper duty or noise curfew.” John flung himself onto the far end of the couch.

“No one is asking you to do diapers,” Maren said serenely. We’d installed her and Destiny in my recliner, along with several pillows and blankets. A large water bottle and the remnants of an omelet and toast Magnus made her earlier were on the table beside her.

“If this is about my charts, I could move them.” Wren narrowed their eyes. At some point before morning, a trio of color-coded charts had appeared on the refrigerator to track the baby’s eating, diapers, and sleep.

“The charts are fine on the fridge, but maybe let Maren decide if she wants to use them.” I spoke quickly before one of the others could put down Wren’s ideas.

“How else are we supposed to collect data?” Wren frowned deeply from their spot on a floor cushion next to the recliner.

“Only for you, Wren, only for you.” Maren groaned and chuckled at the same time. “I’ll try to remember to fill in the chart.”

“I’ve provided a selection of dry-erase markers.”

“Thank you.” Swiveling, Maren craned her neck as Rowan floated down the front stairs in an old T-shirt from his high school years and unicorn pajama pants. “And hey, nice of you to join us, Rowan.”

“I wasn’t sleeping in. I had a call with my agent.” Rowan squeezed in between Diesel and John on the couch. “I’d hoped to stay a few extra days, but I’ll need to fly out tomorrow.”

“Do you need a ride to the airport? I’m on duty, but?—”

“The shuttle is fine. I’m not that much of a diva. Yet.” Rowan smiled, eyes twinkling. “And I wouldn’t dare miss this meeting.”

Rowan gave a wink in the direction of Magnus, who had pulled a chair in from the dining room. And hell, I better talk before Rowan beat me to sharing my news.

“Now that everyone’s here, I suppose I should start.” I took a deep breath. The meeting had been a horrible idea. Maybe a group text? A sign on the fridge? Letting the inevitable discovery happen? But here we were, and everyone was looking at me expectantly. “I guess there’s no easy way to say this?—”

“Are you sick?” Wren demanded.

“Are you retiring?” John matched Wren’s suspicious tone.

“I’m fine. More than fine.” I gulped. I couldn’t continue to drag this out. “I’ve decided to start dating.”

I’d practiced in my head the night before. I want and I think statements seemed to invite more discussion and debate than I wanted. I wasn’t asking for permission or taking a vote, although I did intend to listen to their thoughts and feelings. I opened my mouth to continue with the who part only to be cut off by another round of interruptions.

“Oh.” Maren’s mouth made a perfect circle.

“You’re letting Jonas play matchmaker?” John scowled, the thundercloud of a mood that had accompanied him downstairs worsening.

“Statistically, most people widowed young do date eventually,” Wren mused.

“I knew it.” Rowan released a triumphant crow before waving a hand. “Go on.”

“There’s more?” John rocked back against the sofa as if he were seconds from bolting upstairs.

“I’m going to date Magnus.” Again, I chose my words carefully. “And yes, I know it’s a little unexpected?—”

“Just a bit.” John wasn’t done dripping sarcasm.

“Does he know?” Wren swiveled in Magnus’s direction. “Were you aware of this plan?”

“Yes, he knows.” I resisted the urge to chuckle as laughter wouldn’t help the situation any. “Our friendship has been…evolving for a while.”

“Is that right?” Rowan cackled.

“Behave.” Maren shot Rowan a sharp stare.

“I win.” Ignoring her, Rowan nudged Diesel. “Guess you’re dyeing your hair black this weekend.”

“I can’t believe you two were right.” Diesel groaned, but he didn’t appear nearly as shocked as I’d expected.

“You and Rowan had a bet as to whether Magnus and I were dating?”

“Rowan bet you two were hooking up.” Diesel gestured vaguely even as Magnus made a strangled noise over in his chair. “Maren bet you at least had feelings, but she supposed neither of you had figured it out yet. I bet you were just really good friends and roommates.”

“And they were roommates.” Rowan gave a triumphant grin.

“You’re having entirely too much fun with this.” Maren shook her head at her brother.

“Yeah.” John bumped Rowan’s shoulder with his own. “This isn’t some practical joke.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Wait. Is it a joke?”

“It’s not.” Magnus spoke up for the first time. “I care about your dad a lot.”

“This changes things.” Wren stared down at their hands.

“I’ll say.” Diesel whistled low.

“I know it will take some getting used to.” I tried to meet Wren’s gaze, but they seemed intent on tracing a stray thread on the couch cushion. “It’s not either of our intents to disrupt the household, but I can’t deny that I also have feelings. And hiding isn’t fair to anyone.”

John snorted. I wasn’t surprised that he was the one taking the longest to warm up to the news. He had always been my most routine-driven and change-adverse kid.

“John?” I prompted, trying to make space for his emotions in the midst of all the other reactions.

“I want you to be happy. I do.” Leaning forward, elbows on knees, he exhaled hard. “But you two dating is going to bring yet more gossip.”

“Probably.” I nodded slowly. I hadn’t thought of that angle, but John wasn’t wrong. Mount Hope was a small town, and our family already stuck out more than some. “I want to think our friends will be happy for us, but you’re right. People may talk. But they’d do that regardless.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay friends?” Diesel gestured back and forth between me and Magnus. “It’s going to be so awkward if you break up before our wedding.”

“I don’t think that’s happening,” Maren said slowly.

“The wedding?” Diesel went as white as his T-shirt.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Maren shifted the baby to her other arm so she could reach for Diesel’s hand. “I doubt they’ll break up. When Dad falls, he falls hard.” Her tone was remarkably pragmatic when I’d expected her to join John in the actively hostile camp. “We’re alike in that regard.”

“Thank you.” I held her gaze for a moment, trying to convey how much her support meant to me.

“I’m still worried.” Diesel continued to hold Maren’s hand. “My dad doesn’t exactly have a stellar track record with dating.”

“I don’t.” Magnus’s chiseled features drew together. I walked over to stand behind his chair, trying to be quietly supportive as he continued, “But I want this to work. I’m going to do everything in my power to make it work. This isn’t a fling for me.”

“I wouldn’t have called the meeting if we weren’t both serious,” I added.

Rah. Rah. The baby made a fussy noise in Maren’s arms, and she released Diesel’s hand to pat the baby.

“The baby does complicate things. And the wedding. I think we can all admit that.” Magnus’s tone was rather pained, so I set a hand on his shoulder.

“It could be a disaster.” Wren’s face wrinkled like they were doing intense math. “But like Magnus said yesterday, maybe it’s better to have hope that things will work out than to worry about the worst-case scenario.”

“We’re not planning a party to celebrate,” John huffed, turning some of his ire toward Wren.

“I can’t lie and say this doesn’t change anything.” I moved to crouch in front of John on the couch. “It does change things for all of us. But what doesn’t change is that I love you, and I’m always going to try to put you first.”

“Yeah.” John’s voice was thick. He gestured at Diesel, Maren, and Rowan. “But apparently, I was the last to know. As usual. The three of you had your betting pool?—”

“Excuse me, I didn’t know,” Wren interrupted, tone indignant. “Although, I should have considered the evidence more closely.”

“Exactly.” John flopped back against the couch. “I’ll get over not knowing. And the cringe of my dad dating my sister’s father-in-law. But don’t expect me to cheer.”

“Fair.” I patted his knee. I’d known John enough years to understand that what he needed most was time and space to process.

“I’m not sure cheer is the right word.” Maren’s tone was more thoughtful as she rocked the baby. “But you deserve having someone in your life you care about.”

“Thank you.” My voice was as thick as John’s had been.

“And you could have chosen worse.” Rowan grinned.

“Thank you, Rowan.” Maren rolled her eyes as most of the room laughed. The noise startled the baby, who let out an angry cry.

“Meeting adjourned?” John stood up. “No offense, but baby sounds hungry. And it’s a snow day, maybe my last one ever.”

“Okay.” I let all my conflicting emotions reflect in my voice. “I love you.”

“I love you both as well.” Maren moved to stand as Magnus and Diesel rushed to assist her. “I’m going to return to my bed nest to see if Destiny wants to eat.”

“Be sure to log the feeding!” Wren called after her as Diesel helped Maren and the baby down the hall.

“Coffee.” Rowan glided toward the kitchen, motioning for Wren to follow. “Come on. Let’s see if there’s bacon.”

And just like that, the room was down to Magnus and me. Taking a page from John’s book, I flopped next to him on the couch.

“Well, I guess that could have gone worse.”

“It could have.” Magnus’s expression was surprisingly solemn, eyes dark and serious.

“You okay?” I asked, shifting to peer more closely at him.

He released a heavy sigh. “There’s a lot riding on this working out.”

“There already was,” I pointed out.

“True. You’ve had my heart a while now.” Magnus offered a crooked smile.

“Likewise. And I’ll try to be gentle with yours.” I put an arm around him, gratified when he relaxed against me.

“I guess I need to take my own advice and hope for the best.”

“That’s all we can do.” I squeezed his shoulder. I felt lighter now that the family knew, and I could only hope Magnus found similar peace as we figured out what being an actual couple looked like for us.