And then she called Aislinn.
“Madison, hey!” said the sister of her heart.
“I just... I needed to hear your voice. Percy called. The DNA results are in.”
“Yeah. He called me, too. He’s such a sweetheart. I think he wanted to make certain I was okay with the news.”
Madison wanted the same thing. “And, um, are you okay with it?”
“It’s taken me a while to get there,” Aislinn admitted. “But yes. I am—and you?”
“The same. Kind of jazzed, in fact. To have a whole family when I thought I had no one. It’s pretty spectacular.”
“Excellent. And you know I have to ask. Things with Sten?”
He’d disappeared into the master bath. She could hear the shower running in there. “Good,” she said. “Really good.”
“So then, you two made up—as I predicted.”
Madison groaned. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”
“Just don’t you dare break the poor guy’s heart.”
“You assume the heartbreaking will be done by me?”
“What?” Aislinn put on a tough voice. “Is he giving you grief? And I always thought he was such a great guy. Just say the word. I’ll have a long talk with him.”
“Um, we’re having a good time, that’s all.” Hey. It was the safest thing to say. Because they definitely were having a beautiful time and who knew what would happen in the future, anyway?
“You are such a bad liar,” Aislinn chided.
“And you, Aislinn Winter, are a hopeless romantic.”
“Yes, I am and damn proud of it.”
Madison no sooner hung up with Aislinn than Daniel called to welcome her to the family all over again and to remind her that she was invited to dinner on Sunday. She promised to be there.
“Bring Sten,” he added.
She didn’t even ask how he knew about her and Sten. The family seemed to have a very effective communication grapevine. “I’ll invite him,” she promised.
As they said goodbye, Sten emerged from the bathroom in clean jeans and a fresh T-shirt, his hair still wet from the shower.
“The DNA results are in,” she said. “I am officially a Bravo.”
“Great news.” He grabbed her and spun her around.
“It’s not really a surprise,” she said when he set her down. “But still. It feels good to know for sure.”
He kissed her and then asked, “Breakfast at the other house?”
“I’m in.”
In Karin’s kitchen, Coco had set places at the table for them. “Madison, you sit by me.” She patted the chair beside her.
Madison took the chair she offered as Sten grabbed the coffeepot and filled them each a cup. It was the usual, with the kids talking over each other and Otto smiling benevolently.
Sten filled the empty mug at Karin’s place, too. But when his sister finished dishing out the eggs and sat down to eat, she left the full mug untouched and only had a few bites of the oatmeal she’d fixed for herself.
