Dad slips his glasses down over his nose and offers me a supportive smile. “It’s nice to hear you three are getting along. Certainly makes me happy.”
Macie does not look happy.
She’s wearing the expression of someone who chewed on a sour candy.
“Oh, you don’t want to do that,” she says hurriedly. “Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if she isn’t packed and gone by morning.”
I chuckle. “I would certainly hope she’s packed. We have a long drive from Texas to New York. We want a head start before the traffic.” I wait for the second when it registers across Macie’s face before adding in the same tone, “Isla’s moving in with us. We thought that would be best given that we love her and intend to be with her.”
Dad doesn’t get it.
I can see him struggling to do the math, but Macie... Macie’s entire face is a crimson pool of outrage. Her very nostrils flare.
“Why would you do something so... ridiculous?” she grits out through her teeth.
“Because we love her. It seems like a good idea.” I cock my head to the side and study my stepmother. “Is something wrong?”
Her head snaps from me to my dad like she’s hoping he will reprimand me, but that isn’t how dad does things.
“She is your sister, Nicky,” she hisses, careful to keep her voice low. “That’s... abhorrent.”
My expression goes stiff. “Be very careful about what you say next.”
She must sense the thin ice she’s treading. It’s in the nervous giggle she gives before answering.
“What will people think?”
“They’ll think I’m the luckiest man alive to have two partners I’m hopelessly in love with. Also, I don’t care what they think. I’m taking Dom and Isla back home to New York where we will start our lives together. I suppose, since Isla is no longer welcome for the holidays, that gives us more time together.”
“That is not at all what we were saying,” Macie protests sharply, a little too loud.
Loud enough that heads turn in our direction. Including Isla and Dom who have forgotten about the dishes and stand watching us.
“So, Isla’s welcome?” I challenge.
Even Dad notices her lengthy hesitation.
“Macie?” He nudges her.
“Of course she’s welcome.” Her long fingers twist into knots at her stomach like she’s trying to restrain herself from saying anything more.
It wouldn’t take a degree in rocket science to know she’s lying. Even if it didn’t look like she was trying to chew steel.
“That’s good.”
But we won’t be coming back. I’ll make the trip down to visit Dad. Maybe we can have a boys’ weekend and go camping for a few days. He’d love that.
As far as Macie goes, she can stay in my life. There aren’t many opportunities where our paths will cross, but I will make sure she is not included in my family.
I move away from her and Dad, and start in the direction of the kitchen where Isla is watching me with big eyes and her lip caught between her teeth. The nervous expression has me framing her face and pulling her to me.
“Breathe,” I tease her. “No one’s taking you from me.”
She offers me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “They could change your mind.”
I snort and kiss her. “That’s not possible.” I kiss her again when her lashes lower with uncertainty. “Go sit. I’ll help finish.”
She doesn’t argue, but presses the dishtowel into my fingers and shuffles to stand behind the sofa and watch the ongoing poker battle between my uncles, including Jacob who has been telling everyone he broke his leg saving an old lady from getting hit by a car.
