Of course it would take time to get here, too long for me to stay on my feet, pacing by the door while I waited for my brother to arrive.
“Do you think they’ll be hungry?” I asked. “Maybe we should have refreshments waiting. I do hope Ionus gives us a few minutes before he starts firing questions Upalo’s way.”
“If I know my brother, the inquisition has already begun.”
“He’d better not scare him off,” I yelped, trying to come out of the chair again.
My devious mate cranked the lever and reclined it instead, effectively trapping me in the chair.
“Oh you, I’m going to get you for this,” I said as he backed away, snickering while I kicked my feet.
“You’ll thank me for it when you’re feet aren’t more swollen than they already are,” he said.
“What!”
Screeching, I tried lifting both legs, but that was utterly futile, so I lifted one and peered down at my toes.
“Oh. My. God!” I yelped. “No wonder they won’t fit into anything but bedroom slippers.”
“And some rather adorable pairs,” he pointed out. “No one will mind if you show up wearing them.”
“Now I’m glad I ordered a few sets to match my dresses and joggers.”
“Want me to go upstairs and get you a pair?” he asked.
One more glance at my feet and the answer was easy. “Yes, please. They’re in the front of the carousel.”
“I’ll be right back,” he said, eyes raking over me before I left.
I’d have done a better job of preening if I hadn’t been trapped in the chair. Next time he was going to be the one trapped in it, when I fell asleep in his lap. That would be a suitable punishment for his transgression. When he returned, I realized the real reason he’d stared at me before leaving the room. The slippers he brought back coordinated beautifully with the dress I had on.
“You already know me so well, mate,” I praised as he slipped them on my feet. “These are the ones I’d have chosen too.”
“Now you just sit there and relax, and I’ll go whip up some sandwiches and drinks.”
“Thank you,” I said, the girls’ eggs poking around in my belly like they were repositioning themselves. “Oh, do you have time to make deviled eggs?”
“I’m sure I can manage,” he called back before disappearing into the kitchen.
Click. Click. Click. I abused the hell out of the button on the remote, scrolling through the steaming service guide, nothing catching, let alone holding, my attention. I was too anxious about seeing Upalo and getting to ask all the questions I’d had since he left. Like why he never came back for me and if he’d ever found our mom.
Every few sections I squirmed and it wasn’t the girls’ fault either. The eggs had settled into a comfortable spot the way they always did when I was in the chair, but I was a restless mess, glaring at the guide screen because oh my Goddess I just wanted something to serve as a distraction. When I spiedThe Devil Wears PradaI clicked on it and tried to settle in. The movie, which had never failed to entertain me in the past, could barely hold my attention. I was drumming my nails on the arm of the chair when I heard the door open and Ionus’ voice as he stepped into the house.
“Get me out of this chair!” I bellowed, which took way more effort than ever before.
It got the eggs rolling too and I pressed a hand to my belly to help settle them when I heard Upalo holler back.
“Ronan! Are you okay!”
He came thundering into the room a half step behind my mate, who scooped me out of the chair and placed me on myfeet, barely having the time to steady me before Upalo engulfed me in a hug, being careful of my belly.
“I’m fine,” I said as I hugged him back as best I could. “Better than fine now that you’re here. Where were you! Why did you stay gone for so long? Why didn’t you come back for me! Did you find our mother? Where did you go when you left?”
“Whoa, whoa, slow down little brother, I’m not going anywhere again,” he replied. “I’ll answer all your questions, and your brothers-in-law’s too. He wasn’t happy about bringing me here before I’d tell him anything, but you deserve to hear the answers before anyone else.”
“I missed you!” I wailed, clinging to him, fat tears, no doubt hormone fueled, rolling down my cheeks.
So much for holding the questions until I had time with him. There were more threatening to tumble out but I wanted the answers to those first.
