Page 5 of The Homemaker

I release the suitcases to hug her. “It was fine, thanks. Where’s Hunter?”

Blair scowls at me for asking, and I smirk.

“He’sin his study,” Vera says. “Get unpacked and settled. I’ll see if lunch is about ready.”

“Who’s the woman out front?” Blair asks, finger-combing her hair in the entry mirror. She added a few dark purple streaks before we left California just to piss off her father.

“Our house manager.”

“A house manager?” Blair scoffs. “A maid?”

“No.” Vera fiddles with her diamond ring. “Rayne still comes once a week to perform a deep clean. We hired someone to take care of more mundane tasks like preparing meals and gardening.”

“I thought you did that.” Blair wrinkles her nose.

“I did, but not very well. I’m not domesticated enough for your father’s liking, so we thought hiring a house manager would ease the tension around here.”

Vera isn’t the nervous type, but she seems off. I don’t know her well enough to pinpoint anything beyond just …off. She won’t look at Blair or me for more than a few seconds.

“Well, let’s get unpacked,” I say to Blair, carrying the suitcases toward the guest room on the main floor that used to be the primary suite until they converted most of the second floor to the new one. It doesn’t have the lake view of the new space, but it’s on the opposite side of the house, which means we won’t spend the summer wondering if her parents hear us having sex.

“Do you think my mother’s acting weird?” Blair asks, carrying a pile of clothes from her suitcase to the closet. “Do you think she’s sick? Jesus, what if she has cancer but doesn’t want to say anything until after the wedding? What if the house manager is actually the woman she’s chosen to replace her after she dies?”

“What?” I laugh. “I think you’re jumping to conclusionswaytoo quickly. Maybe she wants to pacify him and hisneedswithout sacrificing her free time by doing all the domestic things he expects.”

Blair pokes her head around the corner. “You know as well as I do that my mother has always done what she wants, regardless of my father’s opinion.”

I shrug, unpacking my jeans. “You’re right. Let’s just say what we’re both thinking.”

“What’s that?” Blair calls from the closet.

“Polygamy.”

“Stop.” She snorts.

“Sex therapist?”

“Murphy!” Blair continues to giggle.

“What’s all the ruckus?” Vera asks, standing in the doorway.

“Sorry. Your daughter has a wild imagination.”

Vera peeks her head around the corner into the closet. “Well, lunch is ready.”

“We’ll be right there,” I say as she turns to leave the room.

“You’re nothing but trouble, Murphy Paddon.” Blair wraps her arms around my waist.

“That’s why you love me.” I kiss the top of her head.

She lifts her chin to kiss my neck. “I love you because I’m the best version of myself with you. Come on.” She clutches my hand and leads me to the dining room.

“Kids,” Hunter says while standing from his chair at the end of the oval dining room table. “Welcome home.”

“Father,” Blair replies in a begrudging tone before hugging him.

“Mr. Morrison,” I hold out my hand.