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Isabella and Santiago are looking at each other knowingly, parents of five children.
You could hear a pin drop on the table.
“Thank you, everyone, for inviting me today.” Matty looks around the table at us, breaking the silence.
We all respond with various versions of “lovely to meet you” and “you are welcome anytime.”
“Alice, if you need anything…anythingat all,you know which is my tiny house and which is Santiago’s.” Teagan manages to talk finally.
Alice is thirty-five. She is a grown woman, and Matty is a grown man. Why are we all weirding out at them spending alone time together in the tiny house? But it is hard not to. Even I am weirding out.
“I will look after Alice for you. She is my angel. I love her,” Matty says with great affection.
Heart. Explosion.
Water in eyes.
Lump in throat.
“When is yer dad coming to pick you up?” Angus’s shock is wearing off.
“He told me it could be as late as I wanted.”
“Fu—I mean, that is great, Matty. Really good news,” Angus mutters.
“Okay, bye,” they both say together and turn, walking away holding hands.
The table stays silent until they are through the gate.
We all know the tiny houses don’t come with televisions, and the accommodation is designed for a romantic weekend away.
“Um…” Teagan is at a loss because even though Alice is her older sister, there are unsaid things we are all thinking about. “I have been through the birds and the bees with Alice, but they wouldn’t… Would they? Not that it is my business,” she adds.
“If it helps, I am sure Matty’s father has been through everything with him when he saw Alice and his son were dating,” Wiley adds his sage words but doesn’t look like he believes what he is trying to sell.
Yeah-nah,this still isn’t easy for Teagan or the MacDougall men.
“I agree.” Santiago is rubbing his jaw, not at all looking convinced.
“What would Tucker say if he was here? A brother will always be protective of his sisters, whether younger or older, especially when they start dating.” I don’t doubt Wiley is correct.
“Not helping,” Angus complains.
“This is the first time my sister has wanted to be independent and not talked to me about something big like this beforehand.” Teagan sounds confused by this turn of events. “We talk abouteverything.My Alice is growing up.” Teagan’s eyes are watering. “I always knew this day would come sometime. Of course, they see themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend. I just haven’t wanted to connect those dots to reality.”
“We can be happy for them,” I say, hoping I am not overstepping our friendship.
“Yes. We can.” Teagan nods as though trying to cement this new side of Alice into her head.
We all stay quiet, letting her process.
“Maybe I’ll go get my WIFI projector, and they can put their smartphone on it and screen a movie on the wall to keep themselves busy,” Angus offers.
“I’ll get it for you,” Teagan says helpfully, “and maybe you can go see if they need anything. That way, I don’t look like the nosy sister. It sounds like something Tucker would think to do.” Teagan is battling her sister’s new interest in… well, being a woman with a boyfriend.
“Okay, Wiley, we need to fan out, not get caught. We have a mission.” Angus is turning into a stalker. I should shut him down, but it is not my business to poke around in Alice Royal’s personal life, but it does feel like overnight she’s blossomed into a woman.
“Sounds like a plan,” Wiley pipes up.
