Laughing a little, John cringed.
“Oh, poor Ethel,” he said.
“Maggie and I have been helping,” James reminded him. “Maggie is with Thomas on a stroll right now, in fact, and Quinn and Jacob were running around out here moments ago. I bet Ethel is having a nap.”
“Good. Because she’s beenexhaustedlately,” John said, running a hand through his hair. “It reminds me of how she was when we found out about Thomas.” His eyes flew wide. “Oh no.” He cupped his hands over his mouth. “God, no. Not another one. Not so soon.” He lowered his voice. “Do you think we’re having another one?”
“I believe I’m not supposed to tell you, but yes, Ethel thinks it’s likely.” James cringed. “Sorry.”
Cassian let out a laugh and clapped John on the shoulder.
“Keep this up, Mr. Quinn, and James and I will be forced to separate you two.”
John blew out a breath. “I promise, Cassian, I’m notintentionally—”
“I’m mostly only kidding,” Cassian replied, rolling his eyes playfully. “Really, though, maybe,maybe, slow down alittle bitconsidering how precarious our situation is.”
“Yes. Of course. Done. I shall purchase the, uhm, the, well, the—”
Cassian held up his hand, cutting him off. His face reddened a little.
“I know what you’re referring to, John. You need not embarrass yourself any further.”
“Thank you,” John replied, his cheeks reddening too. He nodded toward the house. “I should bring the bags inside. And see if Ethel might confess the news to me.”
“Act surprised, if you can,” James said.
“Yes,I will. I promise.”
John fetched a couple of bags from the car and then left for the house, stopping to chat with Quinn and Jacob on the way. Cassian and James looked at each other.
“Ethel will know that I let it slip, won’t she?” James asked.
“Indeed,” Cassian said. “Poor John cannot keep his poker hands a secret. He will not succeed in keeping this a secret, either.”
James crinkled his nose. “Do you think she’ll kill me?”
“I think she might be too exhausted to manage it,” Cassian said with a chuckle. He placed his hands on James’s hips. “If she tries, though, I promise that I’ll protect you.”
“Thank you.”
James kissed him and then held up the flowers.
“I need to press these,” he said.
Cassian let out a small, sorrowful-sounding sigh. “Yes, it’s that time of year, isn’t it?”
Together, they started up the walkway to the cottage.
“Jacob and Quinn helped this time, which was sweet,” James said.
“Did Quinn pick an extra bulb because he couldn’t make up his mind about which one was better?” Cassian asked, nodding at the flowers clutched in James’s hands.
“More or less,” James said.
Chortling, Cassian shook his head.
When they neared the door, Jacob sprinted past them into the house, and then Quinn stopped next to Cassian. He looked up at Cassian expectantly. Cassian knelt down.
