She sighed. “Sadly, I do. I’ll be on my best behavior, which probably isn’t as good as others, but I won’t ruin the party. Where is everyone? Jo Ellen said she was going on the boat with Tessa.”
“Aunt Vivien went, too.” He purposely didn’t mention Meredith, who was upstairs in her room, secretly pregnant and certain a trip on Tessa’s boat would have her blowing breakfast. “We wanted to keep this first meeting as small as possible, just my dad, Kate, me, and, of course, Atlas.”
“And your grandmother.” She splashed cream in her coffee just as Kate came in, holding Atlas in the bouncer, and Eli was right behind with an empty baby bottle.
“Mom?” He blinked at Maggie. “When did you get back?”
“Frank dropped us off last night and Jo and I just tiptoed into our apartment. No need to wake anyone.”
Eli narrowed his eyes. “What time?”
“Oh, I don’t know but we were sound asleep by ten, like good little grandmas.”
“You didn’t hear that rumbling engine around one?” he asked, taking the bottle to the sink. “I could have sworn it was like someone was on a hog out there.”
“Ahog?” she asked.
“It’s a nickname for a Harley, Grandma,” Jonah told her. “You wouldn’t know.”
“I certainly would not,” she tsked, taking a sip. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
“I’m surprised,” Eli said. “It was loud enough that I almost got up to see what it was, but I was too tired.” He gave her a light kiss and smiled at her. “We’ve missed you, Mom. How was your time with the Cavallaris?”
“Peaceful and uneventful.” She practically cooed the words. “Exactly what we needed. And now what we need is some ammunition against these people.”
Jonah choked. “It’s not a battle, and I’m serious about reining it in. No criticisms, no digs, no demands, no judging.”
“In other words, no Maggie.” She tempered that with another rare smile. “Consider me declawed, Jonah.”
“Thank you,” he said on a sigh. “Just remember these are people in mourning. They are not the enemy. They’re not here to steal Atlas.”
“Now, that we don’t know,” Maggie muttered. “Do you want me to leave? I can hide in my apartment like a crazy Dickens character in the attic.”
Dad stepped in, putting a gentle hand on his mother’s shoulder. “We’d love for you to be here, Mom,” he said. “You’re our matriarch. We want Carly’s parents to know we are a multigenerational and strong family, ready to keep Atlas safe, thriving, and surrounded by love.”
Kate cleared her throat, gently placing the bouncer on the island in a safe place. “You certainly can help us assess whether this visit is just a visit—or the start of a custody claim. Do listen to their subtext. You’re so good at that, Maggie.”
She sliced Kate with a classic Maggie glare. “I don’t know what subtext is. Why don’t you just ask them?”
“Because we don’t want to fight!” Jonah said, hearing his voice rise and snap. As all three of them turned and looked, he held up a hand. “Sorry. I’m just stressed out of my mind.”
None of them said a word, which just made the air thicker than his broken béchamel sauce.
Before the tension could crack wide open, two car doors slammed and punctuated the moment.
Dad took Kate’s hand and stepped away, closing his eyes for a second, making Jonah think he’d just sent up one of his power prayers.
“We’ll go meet them,” he said. “And you stay here with Atlas and Maggie.” He huffed out a breath. “This is going to go well. I promise.”
The two of them walked out and around to the entryway, hand in hand in a show of solidarity that touched Jonah down to his last strand of DNA.
Surprising him, Grandma Maggie put a hand on his back and eased him closer. “Don’t be afraid, Jonah. Everyone wants what’s best for baby Atlas.”
He gave her a quick smile, grateful for her support, then turned to get the baby out of his bouncer. He wanted to be holding his most prized possession when they came in…to take it away.
Jonah heard voices in the entryway, small talk about trips and weather, happy the introductions had been made in the driveway. He was so nervous, he might have forgotten someone’s name.
He waited with Atlas in his arms as they came around the corner, his fingers fidgeting over his son’s tiny bare feet sticking out of a baby-blue onesie.
