Callum’s hand flexed on my waist, and I could sense his hesitation. “Soon! It just happened!”
“You absolute little shite?—”
I was still spiraling. “I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to?—”
Malina turned dramatically toward Dougal, flinging one arm in the air as the other clutched her chest. “Dougal. Our baby boy is getting married and he didn’t even tell us!”
Dougal blinked. “We’re on the call now, aren’t we?”
“Not the point!” she snapped, then whipped back toward us with a new wave of hysteria. “You didn’t open the call with thatnews? I’ve been sitting here babbling about oats and fennel like a fool when my only child is engaged!”
“Oh my God,” I whispered, clutching Callum’s arm. “I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t—Callum.”
“We’ve triggered the ancestral wedding protocol,” he muttered, glancing at me. He looked dazed as his mother continued her antics. “We’re in it now.”
“Look at her! Look at the way he’s looking at her! That’s my boy!” Malina crowed, practically glowing.
“Least we didn’t need the oats after all,” Dougal deadpanned.
Malina gasped again. “Oh my God.You’re asking about fertility.” Her eyes went round as saucers. “Are we gettin’ a wee little babay soon?”
My mouth dropped open. “What? No! We hadn’t even—oh my God—we hadn’t evendecidedwho or when we’re telling anyone!”
“Well, the lavender balm clearly worked,” Malina announced to Dougal, who was just sipping something out of a chipped mug like this was a football match. “Itoldyou they were destined! I’m going to need to find the christening shawl. Do you think it’s still in the attic?”
“Mum,” Callum said tightly. “This just happenedliterallylast night.”
“Then you better get movin’, sweetheart. That was yesterday.” Her eyes locked onto me through the screen, and her voice dipped to a reverent hush. “Aurélie, my darling, you arealreadypart of this family. But you give me a grandbairn with my son’s eyes and your strength, and I will die a happy woman.”
I might’ve passed out a little bit. Just a touch.
Callum turned to me slowly, mouth twitching. “You okay?”
“I am deeply unwell.”
Dougal, in the background, said, “Aye, son. You did good picking her.”
Malina gasped again, clutching her heart like she’d just been hit by Cupid himself. “Wow,” she whispered, tears practically welling in her eyes. “I always thought my boy would be too much of a wee stubborn shite—pardon my French, Aurélie—but here he is. Engaged. To the most beautiful woman.”
She bounced. “Oh my God.Oh my God.” Dougal put his hands on her shoulders, hauling her backwards into him. She leaned back into him, eyes glittering. “Why wait?”
“Wait for what?” Callum asked warily, like he already regretted asking.
“To get married,” Malina explained, like this should be obvious.
None of this was obvious.
“You’re already on holiday. It’s a perfect location.”
“Wait, what?” Callum and I said simultaneously.
“You two could elope. Oh, I love that word. It sounds soromantic. Like something out of a movie! You’ve got the ring, you’ve got the backdrop, you’ve got the love of your life. What more do you need?”
Callum shook his head like he was short-circuiting. “Time. A plan. A—I don’t even know what’s happening right now.”
Dougal pushed her thick braid over her shoulder. “Malina, love, slow down. They both look like they’re about to bloody pass out.”
But she didn’t slow down. In fact, she revved up.
