“Don’t answer,” Viggo whispered from behind me. “That’s a trap.”
I snorted; Viggo wasn’t wrong.
“Mor!”Lars exploded.
My eyebrow rose. A warning sign. “Don’t push your luck, Lars.”
“You need someone with you. What’s that term for it?” he snapped his fingers and smirked. “A chaperone. Magic might get ideas about tonight.”
“And I’m driving my car. Your sister, not you, has the address. I don’t require a hormonal, angst-filled, temper-ridden teenager with me. One mistaken word and everyone will think the world is ending,” I said calmly.
“Well, I don’t approve,” Lars stated, and I laughed.
“Until you’re eighteen, kid, I’m still your parent and legal guardian. At thirty-eight, I’m not in my dotage. I can kick ass with the best of them.”
“MosterJody,I must insist…”
I made a slashing movement with my hand.
From behind me, Viggo muttered, “Oh, you’re so dead, brother.”
“Babysitting for a month,” I informed them.
Oskar and Lars were outraged. “What?” Lars shouted.
“Yup. The younger kids, which includes that little psychopath-in-the-making, Jesper, are all yours. And Jerrik has a new science kit he wants to test out. How lucky you’re now watching them!” I replied calmly.
Oskar screwed his face up, and Lars looked beside himself. Ha, what was their next argument?
“And you two are in charge of ensuring Jesper doesn’t cause mayhem. If he does, even one little incident, you’re babysitting for six months, and that will be every weekend for a start.” The threat made them both blanch.
“You get the handcuffs,” Oskar ordered Lars, who nodded.
I held a finger up, and both boys stopped. “And let me be clear. If Jesper complains of child abuse, you will babysit for a year.”
With that dire threat, I waltzed out of the house.
“Nicely played,MosterJody,” Viggo said loudly. I chuckled; my nephew wasn’t wrong.
???
“Thanks for explaining everything; it certainly cleared a few things up,” I said as I sipped a milkshake. The diner made ones to die for, and the burgers were extreme!
“It doesn’t change the past, but I hoped it closed some questions,” Magic replied. He had a root beer float, and it made me smile because whenever Magic saw it on the menu, he’d order it.
“It did. I feel better knowing you hadn’t kicked me to the curb because I was pregnant.”
“Never. Tell me about Denmark, and Vulcan, and the man he was?”
“Sure.” I smiled. I began by talking about how Vulcan and I had initially met; I mentioned that he’d supported me and fallen in love with me first.
Magic made a few encouraging noises, but I knew he was listening intently. There was raw grief in his eyes, and Magic realised what his actions had cost. As sad as it was, none of it could be changed. I’d choose this path even if offered a second chance.
“You miss Vulcan.”
“Every single damn day. The worst thing is, I know Vulcan would’ve done his best to get back home to us. We’d have been in his last thoughts,” I murmured.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Magic said, reaching out and grasping my hand. He squeezed gently, and I forced a watery smile.
