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“If you’re ready,” I sang. I opened the car door. “Don’t sign anything she gives you. It might be a marriage certificate.”
He snorted behind me.
The door swung open before we reached it. “Welcome!” My mother stood in the doorway, arms akimbo. “Oh, what a beautiful baby! You must be Ares. It’s so nice to meet you! Hi, peaches. Hi, Tweetie! Want to come to Grammy?”
Only by transferring Brayleigh into my mother’s waiting arms could we enter the house. Even then, we only got as far as the hallway.
“So, Hope tells me you’re a photographer?”
“Uh, yes,” Ares answered, bemused.
“Maureen!” My father called. “Bring me a beer, honey.”
My mother smiled as she carried Brayleigh into the kitchen. “I swear that man doesn’t know his way to the refrigerator.”
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“About what?”
“My mother is a bit much.”
His mouth quirked. “She’s cute. Babbles when she’s nervous. Reminds me of you.”
I jerked back, my hand on my chest. “Bite your tongue!”
Chuckling, he handed Inky to me so he could take off his coat then took her back before we headed to the family room.
I didn’t want to give her to him, but he needed the buffer.
Traditionally, Lucky and I spent Christmas Eve with my parents, then Christmas morning at Lucky’s place before heading to his sister’s place to celebrate with the rest of the family. The addition of Minty, Ares, and Sia, required a bit of juggling. For the first time since she was born, I would not be waking up at Lucky’s and spending Christmas morning with him and Brayleigh.
Instead, Brayleigh and I were staying at Ares’ place and heading to Lucky and Minty’s for lunch. I would miss going to his sister’s place for the afternoon festivities, but I wanted to ease Ares into my life, not throw him into the deep end.
Not that the water wasn’t plenty deep with the number of references my mother made to marriage, family, and the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom. For once, I was thankful for my father’s overbearing ways. It seemed to be the only thing that stopped the barrage of words shooting from her lips.
Lucky was amused as hell. Going so far as to egg her on at times until Minty leveled him with a look.
He grinned back at her, but at least he stopped.
Mom’s happiness over Ares could not be contained. “So! Do you want more children?”
Ares’ eyes widened as he cleared his throat.
“Maureen…” my dad warned.
Ares flashed him a look then glanced at me. “No, it’s a fair question. I never intended to have children. Sia was a surprise. I love having her, but I won’t be giving her any siblings.”
I swallowed my disappointment. I didn’t even know I wanted another baby.
But a baby with Ares’ dark hair and my curls? His dark eyes? Another little girl or maybe a little boy who looked just like his father?
I’d even gone so far as to picture myself as a stay-at-home mom. Looking after our kids. No night nanny required.
I looked up to find my mother’s sympathetic eyes on me, Ares engaged in conversation with my father. Minty busied herself with Brayleigh but somehow, I knew she was aware. Lucky didn’t hide the fact he’d heard.
Suffocating on their sympathy.
After dinner, my mother cornered me, grasping my arms and squeezing me gently. “I’m so excited for you! Are you happy?”
