“It is. Even more now because Wilma is a shrewd businesswoman.”
“You’re not angry you didn’t get any of that wealth?” George knew Andi wasn’t the type, but he had to ask.
Andi scoffed. “Please. I got the house and her most precious babies. What would I have done with even a silent part of the company? Wilma loves antiques and the business. It’s only right for her to reap the benefits of her hard work.”
“You never cease to amaze me, dear. Have I told you that?”
“Not today.” Andi put his hand on George’s right thigh, letting it rest there for the remainder of the drive.
The following days George was busy redecorating Gran’s—now his—room, placing the new furniture and directing the contractor who did the tiles in the guest bathroom. Before he knew it, it was Wednesday, his birthday looming on the horizon and the arrival of his family imminent. Their plane was scheduled to land at 10 a.m. the next morning, and George would pick them up at Charleston International. They were staying at the Hyatt Place Charleston in the Historic District, about twenty minutes from their place on James Island. George felt a strange ball of anxiety pressing against his sternum from inside his chest when he thought about his family and their meeting Andi. There was so much to unpack, he wasn’t sure he wanted to get started. Luckily for him, the spies in the house told his man how rattled he felt, and Andi put him in front of the TV with a beer and some usually highly regulated snacks, snuggled up to him and told him everything would be fine.
Nothing would be fine.
From the way his mother approached him at the airport with the determined gait of a lioness going in for a kill, George knew it would be a long and tiresome day. His father and Daniel and Griff followed at a slower pace, dragging their luggage. When his mother reached him, George could practically see the steam coming from her ears. She must have worked herself up on the flight.
“George, did Andi not come?”
“Hello to you too, Mother. Hi, Dad, Griff, Daniel. It’s nice to see you.”
George very pointedly nodded toward his father and siblings, determined to take the wind out of his mother’s sails. While he usually took her input seriously, this, Andi, was the hill he would die on.
“George, son, good to see you.” Ayden Donovan didn’t let on whether he shared his wife’s opinion or not. He was in some ways harder to read than her.
Daniel, on the other hand, hugged him, while Griff settled for a handshake with pats on George’s back. “It’s good to see you, little brother. Ready for your birthday?”
“Well, as ready as I can be. Let’s get you to the hotel, and then we can have a light lunch before I show you around a bit.”
“I assume your partner won’t be joining us?” The venom in his mother’s voice had George wincing. She was already at high speed and still accelerating. He couldn’t wait for this day to end and was eternally grateful that he had left Andi at home. This would have been an absolute catastrophe.
“No, Andi had a few things to look after, and I thought it better to spend today just as a family.”
Translation: I wanted to see if you could behave, and so far, I’m not impressed.
“How thoughtful of you. I’m delighted by how much your family means to you.”
Translation: I can spot an evasive tactic from ten miles against the wind, and I’m calling your bluff.
“You know me so well, Mother. And it’s been some time since we were together like this. I can’t wait to hear what Daniel has to say about his new job.”
Translation: I may be bluffing, but you have more than one son, and could you please distribute your motherly disdain evenly?
“Well, Daniel at least told me when he planned to make a change in his career.”
Translation: I’m mad at you on so many different levels, I can keep going for weeks.
“I guess that’s because Daniel’s change in career was intentional while mine came as, albeit pleasant, a surprise. It took me some time to adjust.”
Translation: My brother might seem to be more organized, but my new job is definitely better.
“And time you took.”
Translation: You’re not off the hook.
Luckily, Ayden Donovan decided it was time to run some interference since Daniel and Griff were just watching the show like deranged fans at a tennis court and couldn’t be bothered to save their younger brother. George wouldn’t forget that.
“Darling, why don’t we leave the airport and find George’s car? I could do with a light refreshment, and then I can’t wait to see Charleston. I’m sure George can show us the nicest parts of the city.”
“Of course, Father. Please follow me.” He led his family through the airport to the parking garage where his Escalade was waiting. The drive to the Hyatt Place in the Historic District was uneventful. His mother opted not to distract him while driving, for which George was grateful. After his family had checked in, they had a light lunch at a small Italian restaurant nearby, just salads and some soup, and then George took his family to explore Charleston. He had decided to do a walking tour that explored the city’s historic downtown district, and while he had been tempted to do the tour about paranormal activities, he had abstained because now that he knew ghosts were real, he didn’t want to possibly incur their wrath by traipsing around their haunts.
