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It’s a dig at my mother. We all know it is. My mother nods. “I used to, but now I have someone who does it for me. Surprisingly good for an American.”
“Americans are good with food,” Penny says.
“I can tell from your size,” my mother sneers.
“Mama,” I hiss.
Penny touches my arm. “Mrs. Milov. I love your son very much. If you think we’re unsuitable, I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“I just want what's best for my son,” she says as she starts to dish up food.
“I want what’s best for the family,” Penny says. “And that can include me.”
There’s a silence around the table before Luka cracks out laughing. “Mama, leave her alone. She’s not going to give in.”
I smile as my mother purses her lips. “I am sorry if I offended you. Americans are easily offended.”
“Not this one,” Penny says and starts to dish up food.
As we eat, my mother talks more to my brothers than me, and I know it’s her way of punishing me. To be fair, Penny hasn’t been rude at all, but I know my mother is irritated that Luka likes her so much.
I clear my throat. “I would like to make a toast to Penny and me on our engagement. Although she’s got the engagement ring I chose for her, I wanted to make her feel more part of the family.”
My mother stares daggers at me.
Good, she’s figured it out.
I pull out the little box and open it. “Penny. I didn’t get to ask you officially.” I move to get on one knee next to her as I hold my grandmother's wedding band up. “Will you marry me?”
The dinner table is silent as Penny nods and smiles. “Yes. Of course.”
My mother clears her throat and carries on eating as though nothing has happened while my brothers reluctantly start to clap and congratulate us.
I slip the ring on Penny’s finger and smile brightly at her before I kiss her softly.
I sit back in my seat and look around cockily at my brothers, daring them to say a word.
Chapter 22 - Penny
Everything has been perfect, even if Kervyn’s mom took long to warm up to me. She’s still a little snippy, but mostly, she leaves me alone because she cannot get a rise out of me. That was the best plan I ever had, not to react to anything she said.
I wake up in Kervyn’s arms. He’s spooning me. I yawn and nudge him. He rolls over, and I stretch. I’m just wearing a nightie because of the warmer weather. I get up to get washed up and changed. I have a doctor's appointment today that I need to go to. When I’m dressed, I come back into the room and find Kervyn sitting up sleepily.
“I’ll be ready shortly,” he mumbles.
“Are you coming with me?” I ask curiously.
“Yes,” he says, moving toward the bathroom.
I’m moving into the third trimester, and I’m getting nervous and excited at the same time. I’ve heard a lot about people having premature births, and I’m so worried about our child. I want to protect them at all costs.
We have a quick breakfast at the table in the kitchen, much to Mrs. Beth’s chagrin. She hates us being underfoot but wouldn’t dare say a thing.
Currie takes us to my appointment, and Kervyn grabs a bunch of pamphlets about being a parent and reads them while we sit in the waiting room, waiting for Sofia to finish her current appointment.
When she’s done, she takes us in, and I get changed before climbing onto the bed. Sofia quickly has to go out and chat with the receptionist about something, and Kervyn grins at me.
“What is so funny?” I ask.
