Mom came back, jingling as she did from the whatever the hell those little things were in her skirt. "Well, why didn't you say so?"
And just like that, all of us girls went into serving mode, and dinner was on the table, ready to be eaten.
* * *
"That really was a great meal, ma'am,"Shaun said to Mom.
"Thank you, and please, call me Celeste, that seems to be my adopted name," Mom said, her arm through Shaun’s.
They’d had a nice chat through most of the dinner.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think she approved of him.
"Adopted name?"
"My actual, legal name, is Celestial Springs. Most people call me Celeste."
"Seriously?" Shaun asked, his gaze darting to me. It probably sounded like some kind of joke.
Hell, I'd consider it a joke if it was me.
"Oh, she's serious," Autumn said.
"Well, that explains a lot," Shaun said.
I bumped him on the arm.
He stammered. "I wondered where you had come up with the name for the salon."
She smiled. "It sounds fancy, and I like that. It was Winter's idea."
Shaun glanced at me. "Is that true?"
I shrugged. "It was an idea, and it seemed to work." I adjusted my coat. "But I think it's time we--"
"Oh, Winter!” Mom gasped.
I met her gaze. “What?”
“Your birthday present finally came!"
I sighed. “Did you have to gasp like that? I thought something was wrong!”
“Nothing’s wrong, why would you think that?”
“Because you gasped.”
She waved her hand. “You worry too much. Let me go get your gift.” She darted down the hall.
I sighed. Glanced at Shaun. He might have been chortling again.
Will we ever get out of here? “I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“I know you’re ready to go.” Really, I was the one who was ready to go. I’d had enough of my family for the night, and I assumed Shaun was over them as well.
He shrugged. “I’m fine.”
