We could be wrong. Maybe there does come a time when you’re just done with this world.
“Not that my driveway isn’t aesthetically pleasing, but how about we move the party back inside?” Tarian suggests, urging us all toward the dining table.
As we head to our usual seats, Calanthe asks me, “Are you busy on Labor Day?”
I raise a brow. “Depends. If it’s for another Zumba class…”
Her dimples cave in deep. “It’s for a trip.”
“What sort of trip?”
“A wedding sort of trip. And since you’re my maid of honor, I wanted to make sure you were free, because I can’t get married without my maid of honor.”
“ThisLabor Day? As in,next-monthLabor Day?”
“ThisLabor Day.” Calanthe berths herself beside Tarian, who winds an arm around her middle and splays his fingers on her abdomen.
“Well, duh, I’m free.” Happiness spikes through me.
It’s so all-consuming I wouldn’t even care if Ines came waltzing in on Malachi’s arm right now.
Thirty minutes later, I learn that I do.
I click into my chat with Cillian and drop a pin of my location.
ME:Actually, I changed my mind about seeing you. I need you at this address ASAP.
“I like this new tradition,” Malachi says, lowering himself into the chair Calanthe just vacated to fetch dessert.
Though she has the money to hire full-time help, her passion—besides Tarian—is no-staff after four o’clock.
“Tarian mentioned Callie started family dinners after last year’s Thanksgiving.”
“Can’t believe this is your first one,” I tell him, eyeing Ines, who’s showing something to Dorian on her phone—on the official Guardian chat?
Malachi sighs. “I needed the distance.” He doesn’t have to speak his father’s name for me to understand that’s who he needed to distance himself from.
“I heard you went to see him.”
“I did. To meet my brother. He’s crawling.”
“Was it weird?”
Malachi grimaces. “Painful. Sad. And yes, perhaps a littleweird.”
“Do you think Saul married Bryn out of love?”
The mention of Calanthe’s former best friend has Tarian’s eyes stabbing our side of the table. He hates it when we bring her up.
“Don’t know.” Malachi drums his knuckles. “Don’t care. All I care about is that they don’t bleed my brother.”
“Are they?”
“And risk dying because the blood wouldn’t be freely given? No. Will they try to convince him to give them his blood someday? I’ve no doubt.”
“Will you take him away?”
“I’m thinking about it.” He drums his fingers on the table, glancing toward Ines.
