I’m actually kind of, sort of, ecstatic. Super thrilled.
But I’m not a big change kind of gal, and this is feeling like a lot of change.
Michael and me in Lucky Bay together.
MAA back in the picture. With a promotion attached.
But not if I accept the gift of a lifetime and live in Maine part-time.
Fred is not a believer in a virtual office. Many have tried—and failed—to get him to allow them to work from home even one day a week.
He always says no.
“It doesn’t mean he’d say no to you,” Lynn says.
I slap my forehead. “God, why do I always speak things out loud?”
She and Michael both laugh.
It breaks the tension in the room, and then the doorbell rings, and guests start arriving.
Ayden, Bella, and Hal come through the front door.
Everyone coos over Hal, and when he starts to fuss,Michael takes him in his arms and walks around the room with him until he settles.
Seeing Michael with his baby nephew in his arms melts my heart.
“He’s so good with Hal,” I say to Bella.
“I know.” She smiles. “Michael is a real softie underneath all those walls.”
He is. And he’d make a great father.
I have no doubt about this.
He’s patient, kind, and takes the time to learn what a person is feeling and thinking. He’d be a doting dad and a present one.
It breaks me a little bit inside to know that he doesn’t plan to ever have a family of his own. Because I know he wants one.
After a while, Hal starts to fuss, and Lynn helps Bella set up a portable crib for him in her guest room.
That’s when my parents arrive.
“These are my parents, Gail and Jack,” I say.
Mom rushes Michael with a big hug. “Aren’t you handsome?” she says with a smile. “My daughter has said so many wonderful things about you.”
I quickly maneuver Dad into the conversation.
“Dad, Michael and Ayden are from Lucky Bay, Maine.”
My father steps closer to them. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
I hadn’t thought it through that my dad would be emotional meeting Michael and Ayden.
“Our dad was on Lucky Queen.” Michael speaks quickly like he’s been practicing letting the sentence roll off his tongue without getting stalled by the pain. “He and Tony were best friends.”
“Hal Wild,” Lynn says from beside me.
