I send my brother a warning look that he seems to find hilarious.
“Well, with all this excitement, I think it’s time we vacate and move to play Monopoly,” Mum says, motioning for everyone to move to the other room.
Gabriel scoops up Callum from his highchair.
“I’ll take Callum, and we can watch a movie,” Lottie says. “Congratulations again.”
She takes Callum from her uncle and leaves us behind. I watch her go. She’s getting so grown up.
Pen has not joined the family for a game of Monopoly for years. I hope she knows what she’s letting herself in for. It’s still as crazy and competitive as always.
“Pen, how long and how did it happen?” Leah says.
I eavesdrop on their conversation, wanting, no, needing to know what she tells them.
Pen laughs at the barrage of questions.
“Brother, are you even paying attention?” Gabriel asks, throwing a cushion at my head.
I scowl in his direction, more interested in Pen and her conversation.
“It just sort of happened,” she says honestly. “Elijah came around and—what more can I say?”
“Well, seeing Lottie caught you in bed together, I take it things are a little more than friends,” April laughs.
“Don’t, you’ll make me blush,” Pen’s hands go to her cheeks.
April and Leah laugh. “Remember, we’re married to Frazer men,” they both say, looking at one another and laughing.
“Hard to resist,” April says.
“Incredibly. When a Frazer man sets his heart on a woman, there’s no stopping them.”
I splutter, but my sisters-in-law aren’t wrong. When we give our hearts, we give them in their entirety. I now understand my mother and father.
My heart stalls when I hear Pen’s next words.
“Elijah and I are having some fun.”
Is that what she thinks?
I know I don’t have any rights to her. She’s only just come out of an engagement.
I try to focus on the game in front of me.
But when I look up, Pen’s watching me. She smiles, and I smile back.
Whatever this is, we need to take it slowly and enjoy the moment.
After we pack up, I make my way over to the women.
“Who won?”
“Kat.”
Kat appears at my side, grinning. I’m pleased to see my sister looking more alive. That’s what beating your siblings does within the Frazer household.
“I’m off to bed,” she says. “I’ll catch up with you in the morning,” she adds pointedly at Pen.
