Things are about to explode.
42
DERRICK
Things went south after Isla’s talk with Finn, but I am proud of her for doing it. Finn will eventually come around, he’s having a fricken baby. Isla knocks on my door, and she looks exhausted when I open it.
“Hey, beautiful,” I greet her with a warm hug, it looks like she could use one. “You’ve got yourself in a real pickle, haven’t you?” Isla bursts out crying as soon as I embrace her. “Come. Let Uncle Derrick sort it all out for you.” I walk her into my living room, where I have some tea brewed for her and her favorite cookies, Tim Tams. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking by keeping it a secret, Derrick. I just … Mom is pissed. Oscar is upset. Finn wants nothing to do with me. It’s just one giant mess of my own creation.” She cries.
“The whole situation was probably overwhelming, especially living so far away from everyone.” The old saying out of sight out of mind was probably what she was thinking, but she was never going to be able to hide that gorgeous little belly.
“We just found out today that Sebastien got the TV show in LA. So, he’ll be moving here soon,” she murmurs.
“Oh my god. Seriously. Yes! That means you’ll be so much closer to everyone. You’ll have support. You know you can come live with me if you want,” I tell her excitedly.
“Thank you, but it might be time that I have my own place, especially with the baby coming.” She rubs her round belly. I get that. Sienna and Vanessa went crazy in their nesting phase of getting ready for the babies, and Isla is going to be no different.
There’s a knock at my front door. I hope I don’t push Isla into early labor with my meddling, but it’s too late now as I get up and open the door to a pissed off Oscar.
“Behave,” I remind him. Which earns me an angry huff from the Viking. Isla looks freaked out when I bring her brother into the living room. “I thought this would be a safe environment. Sit, Ragnar. And if you upset the pregnant lady, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”
Oscar rolls his eyes, he may be big, but I am mighty. I could take him on, and for Isla, I would. I excuse myself and head to the kitchen to give them some space.
Derrick: Oscar is here.
Stacey: I warned him that if he didn’t make amends with Isla, he could sleep in the other room.
Derrick: Withholding sex from the Viking. Good one.
Stacey: It drove my point home.
Derrick: You think he and Finn are going to be able to sort their shit out.
Stacey: They are going to have to because they are family. They share that little baby boy in her belly.
Derrick: You think Isla and Finn are going to be able to sort their shit out?
Stacey: I hope so. You’re brave or stupid doing this.
Derrick: It needs to be done, otherwise everyone is going to stay in limbo.
Derrick: Oh shit. I hear crying. Got to go.
Stacey: Good Luck!
I rush back into the living room, thinking World War Three might have erupted, but instead I see a tender reunion between a brother and sister.
“I love you, Oscar. I’m about to start a new phase of my life, and I need you to respect it. Respect my choices,” Isla tells him. Oscar nods and hugs her, and I see he’s just as emotional as she is.
“Damn you, Ragnar, you beautiful beast.” I grin, looking at the happy reunion. This is what I wanted to achieve today. There’s another knock at my door, and my stomach does somersaults. I hope the next phase of my interfering works as well as I excuse myself from the living room and head to my front door.
“Hey, Finn,” I greet him.
“You wanted to see me?” Finn says, looking disheveled, lost, and utterly miserable.
“Come in, you look like shit.”
