“No baby bump yet, Anna,” Maggie said, laughing.
“Of course, my beautiful girl. It’s too soon. How are you feeling? Cole mentioned morning sickness.” She ran her hand over Maggie’s hair down to her chin, tilting it up to assess her gaze.
Maggie’s nose wrinkled up in a way that took me back. I remembered her face when she was younger, wrinkling her nose when she didn’t like something Max or I’d bring home, like frogs and snakes. The way she’d look at the two of us after football practice in sweaty clothes. Or the way the nose wrinkle would mesh with an eye roll during one of the many times we’d disagree after we all moved back to Highland after college.
My feet knew where I was heading before my mind caught on. Tugging Maggie from Mom’s grip, I spun her toward me, catching her against my chest.
“What…,” Maggie started to get out.
“Shh,” I whispered as I leaned down and kissed her nose, lightly. “You crinkle your nose a lot. Always have. Drives me crazy, baby,” I said before letting her go.
My parents moved to stand side by side against the counter, watching Maggie and me together. I could see pure love shining in my mom’s eyes as she mouthedbabyto my dad. Here’s hoping she could stay on an even keel and not freak out.
Maggie pushed back, then looked over at my parents warily. “Anna, Lee, I can’t tell you how much it means that you both are here. I love you all to pieces…”
“And we love you,” Mom said.
I watched Maggie, trying to decide where she was going with this. I could almost see the steel reinforcing her spine as she stood tall, then continued. “But I don’t want to give you the wrong idea from this,” she gestured to where I stood, still holding on to her hip.
“Or from the driveway,” I finished for her.
“Or the auction,” Dad chimed in, raising his eyebrows at me. I grinned back.
“Sully,” Maggie hissed.
I gave her a bit of shrug, then let go to head to the fridge, snagging a beer and joining my dad leaning against the kitchen counter. Tapping my can to his in solidarity, I leaned back to watch the show.
Mom swooped in, hugging Maggie, then leaned back before breaking out in a huge grin. “Maggie Jameson, are you telling me that Lee and I shouldn’t reserve the golf course for the wedding reception just yet?”
I soaked in the look on Maggie’s face. Emotions flitted past, and unless I was mistaken, there was excitement mixed with fear and a little heat in her cheeks. That was something to look into. Later.
“What? No. One, I don’t want my reception at the golf course,” she began.
“Legion Hall?” I muttered.
Maggie swung her gaze toward mine as she narrowed her eyes, “Shut it, you. Not. Helping.”
“Watch it, son. She’s feeling feisty,” my dad murmured.
“Pregnancy hormones,” I said, under my breath.
“Death wish,” my dad replied.
“I’m right here,” Maggie gritted out.
“Ignore those two assholes,” my mom said. “Two peas in a pod.”
Maggie took a deep breath. “Okay, contrary to the messages that your son is sending out,” she glared over, and I raised my beer in a salute, “we are just friends.”
“For now,” I muttered.
“Cole Patrick Sullivan, knock it off.” Maggie’s voice was her firm teacher voice. I figured it must work wonders on the kids in her classes, but it made me want to throw her over my shoulder and head to my room. For all I cared, she could order me around all night.
“Babe, just saying, we are having a baby together.”
“Careful, son,” Dad murmured.
“Relationships aren’t built just because the other person is convenient. At least mine won’t be. I deserve more than that,” Maggie’s voice trailed off.
