“February 19th. That’s all the time we have, less really to finish the building renovations when you consider decorating.”
“Tim will manage. With the three of us helping.”
“I have that OHS charity gala the week before Christmas. I asked Raven to go with me. I was hoping all six of us could go home for it and then have Christmas and New Year’s in Muskogee. All three girls want to see Wolves. We could plan dinner there one night.”
“I would like that. I’ll let Sara know to have the house decorated for the holidays and see if Mom wants to fly back for a couple days. We can’t stay long. Having all three of us away from the renovation project too long isn’t wise.”
“I agree. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having Raven out of Ireland so close to the due date. She would be upset if her grandma couldn’t be there for the birth.
“Rowan and River agreed to let Saoirse find them a temporary apartment so the flat can be renovated.”
“Thank fuck.”
Moving quickly on from that grenade, Bran told him about the girls then moving into the guest rooms on the first floor until they felt they could afford to get a place of their own.
“They never have to leave. I don’t like guests anyway.”
His dad could make things so hard. So exasperatingly difficult.
“Noted. All three are on board to hire Dom, the Fitzwilliam butler, as an office manager if he agrees. He would move into the upstairs flat. But... they wouldn’t agree toanyof it unless I agreed to own a percentage of the business.”
“You can’t expect them to take handouts with no expectation of paying you back. You know them better than that.Iknow them better.”
“I just don’t like taking anything that they’ve worked so hard for.”
“What you proposed, and are helping them achieve, has the potential of increasing their earnings tremendously. They know that.”
Patrick just walked in and, after a quick good morning, started eating everything on the table that was left. Dad should have named him Hoover after the vacuum cleaners. He didn’t chew so much as inhale.
“Why didn’t I get an invitation to breakfast?”
“Bran texted me, and last time I checked, I’m not your personal event planner.”
Ignoring Pat’s tapeworm, Bran finished his conversation with his dad. “Okay, you’re right about Triskelion. Raven is meeting her sisters at the flat to pack the rest of her things while I meet Dom at a downtown café before he heads to work.”
“Who is hauling Raven’s things here?”
“Front desk called a service. Do you guys want to go meet the girls’ potential store manager with me?
“Fine.”
“Sure. River told me about that last night. Brilliant plan, brother. Oh, and we’re meeting everyone for lunch, Honey Bunny’s choice, according to Jo. She’ll text ushisplans. Youshould have stayed last night, Dad. How MacGregor doesn’t strangle Jo is like... a Wonder of the World.”
“The Tulsa detective called me last night.”
His father gave his children so many reasons— daily— to strangle him. “For fuck’s sake, Dad, do you think you might have started with that gambit?”
“I didn’t want to interrupt your proposal last night, and you were late this morning.”
“Three minutes,” Bran ground out.
“Wait, you proposed? Jesus, do you fucks share anything with me? Did she say yes?”
“I didn’t tell anyone, Dad guessed. She said yes. I would tell you I’m having a son, but I’m guessing your bestie told you that already.” Patrick smiled. River obviouslyhadtold him. He congratulated Bran on the engagement and the little boy.
Back to stalkers. “What did the detective have to say? Anything new?” For the first time this morning, Bran saw a crack in his father’s somber façade.
His dad placed both hands flat on the table, either side of his breakfast plate, and sighed. He appeared to be steadying himself, which made Bran extremely cautious, as it must have his brother, because Patrick put his cutlery aside and placed his hands on the table as well, bracing for a blow. Their father didn’t let emotion get the best of him often.
