AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We can invite them to dinner. My treat,” Erin offered.
“Are you a millionaire now?” Reece rubbed his thumb and fingers together.
“Hardly. But what they pay for each script is over half of what I make in a year of teaching. Fingers crossed the series gets picked up and I stay on as part of the writing team. Long-term, it could be more money than a movie.” Once she got her first check, it would give her an emergency cushion, but she wasn’t quitting teaching until she was on solid financial footing again.
“It will be so exciting to see your story on TV.” Megan gave a dreamy sigh as the cats raced past the kitchen. “Was that two cats?” She pointed and looked from Graham to Erin.
“I’ve been feeling guilty about leaving Tink and Smokey alone, so we’re testing how they do on visits here.”
“It would be more convenient than you two alternating between here and the condo.”
They had never come out and said they were practically living together, but Megan knew and seemed perfectly fine with it. In the week since Bryson’s wedding, Erin’s relationship with Graham had gotten even better. Everything was coming together, and she’d never been happier.
Graham’s phone dinged from an incoming text. “Jace said they already have plans tonight.”
“Don’t tell him the news in a text,” Megan warned him.
“He’ll probably hear you’re pregnant before dinner Sunday,” Reece said.
“No, because I’m not telling anybody but family. It’s too early. Let’s go to dinner. Is it normal to feel overly hungry this early?” Megan asked Erin.
“Didn’t you say you skipped lunch to get the Bundt cakes?” Reece said.
“Oh, yeah. That could be why.” She helped herself to two of the cakes.
* * *
“She’s already glowing,”Graham said as they drove home after dinner.
“She’s not the only one,” Erin teased him. “You haven’t stopped smiling the whole night either.”
“I didn’t think I’d be this excited—at least so early.” He was still trying to believe it was true. “I know how much she wants this. It’s been a rough year and a half with losing her mom and the aneurysm. Getting pregnant now might not have been intentional, but it beats months of trying.”
“True.”
“I’m sorry she bombarded you with questions.” Though Erin wouldn’t replace Bethann as Megan’s mother, he liked that his daughter was so accepting of Erin in his life.
“I didn’t mind. I’m touched by how your kids have accepted me and made me feel like family. You’ve met Piper via video chat, but I want you to meet Madison. And not just video chat, though that needs to come first.”
“I’d like that,” Graham assured her.
“I was thinking you could meet when they come to Charlotte for her friend’s wedding, but that’s not until October. I don’t want to wait that long. Did the general approve your leave?”
“He did. He also suggested we go to Vegas, and . . .”
“And get married?” Erin guessed.
Graham nodded. “I told him that wasn’t happening and used the excuse that I haven’t met your girls.”
“I’m glad he understands.”
“I’m not saying that. He mentioned your girls coming here for a Thanksgiving wedding. And where there are openings for potential assignments. Overseas ones.” His chest constricted at the likely alternative. While he and Erin loved each other, and she’d wear an engagement ring to keep him here, they wouldn’t be tying the knot. At least not in time to make the general change his mind.
McKittrick had never experienced the profound loss of a spouse through death or divorce. Or been to a grief support or divorce care group to hear the warnings about subsequent relationships. Graham had told Erin about his dad rushing into later marriages. Now that she knew about his complicated relationship with his father, she understood his reasons for not agreeing to the general’s timeline. And why Graham wouldn’t pressure his newly divorced girlfriend to cross the boundary she’d made clear when he’d proposed their arrangement.
“We may need to call in a big-gun reinforcement,” Erin said.
Graham eyed her as he waited to pass through the security gate onto the post. “Reinforcements?”
