I stand in the center of my kitchen, wearing oven mitts, waiting. When she appears around the wall, all I can do is suck in a breath of air, because the smile on her face is beautiful. It’s a smile that tells me she’s happy. That she likes my family, and that, well, she fits.
“Let me just see.” She reaches for the mitts, but I pull them out of reach.
“I’ll pull it out. It’s too hot.”
“I have used an oven before, Nate.” She smirks.
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Whatever.” She places both hands on her hips and watches as I open the oven, reach in, and pull out the large pan of bubbling, cheesy egg casserole.
“Mm, it smells good.”
She looks back at Nick and smiles. “It is good.” She moves in next to me and taps the top of the casserole. “It’s done. It needs to sit for a few minutes, but we can get everyone to sit now. Everything else is already on the table.”
“Time to eat!” Nick shouts.
“I’ll go put Brynn down. Hopefully she’ll nap while we eat.”
Doubtful, but worth a try. “Grab the baby monitor on your way back.”
“Will do.”
“She’s hot, man.” Now it’s Matt’s turn.
“Better shut up, Matt.” Nick chuckles. “He’s in love. And you know how fucking territorial he is about his shit.”
“Boys,” Mom says like she overheard that entire exchange. Because she did. “That’s enough.”
“Sorry, Mom,” my two brothers say simultaneously.
I laugh. Hearing my brothers get in trouble with Mom never gets old.
“Maggy’s putting the baby down for a nap. Let’s get settled.”
It takes her almost twenty minutes to get back. All the while, the rest of us are sitting at the table watching our food get cold. “Oh. You shouldn’t have waited,” Maggy says, looking distressed at the sight of us staring at one another.
“No problem.” Nick reaches for the spatula to dig into the eggs. When he takes his first bite, he moans and nods. “Worth the wait.”
I look over at Maggy, and the only thought in my head at that moment isshe sure was.
* * *
I’m drivingMaggy and Brynn home. Mom insisted on riding along, because she wants to see Brynn’s room at Maggy’s place. After I explained how the room at my place was decorated to match her other one, Mom asked if she could see it. I think, really, she just wants to get a glimpse of Maggy’s style and home.
As the women chat, I drive. And listen. The two are already making plans for future visits. There’s talk of lunch and shopping for Brynn, and I think I heard something about visiting them in Elgin. I’m not opposed to any of that. Actually, I’m—
“What’s happening?” Maggy’s voice sounds shrill.
And I know why. The minute I turned down the street, I saw the lights flashing. The closer we get to her building, it’s obvious the three fire engines, multiple ambulances, and a bunch of police cars are parked all around her building.
“Nate.” Maggy reaches out and grabs hold of my forearm and squeezes. Hard. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, babe. Let me pull over, and I’ll run down there and see.” Since the road is blocked, the closest we can get is about a half block away.
Maggy looks back at Brynn and my mom. “Do you mind staying with her? I’d like to go with Nate.”
“We’re fine, honey. Brynn’s sound asleep. Go.” She waves her hand toward the flashing lights. “Go.”
