I chuckled as Morgan offered her the flowers and then bowed low, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. “Mrs. Goode,” he said. “I’ve heard so much about you from Devin.”
Mom laughed. “None of it true, I’m sure,” she said, settling the flowers in her arms, still clasping my medal tightly.
Marta wanted to hang it in the store and I doubted she’d be discouraged, but if Mom had her way, she’d keep it. She had a whole box of things for each of us where she kept what felt like every award we’d ever earned.
She said it was just the important ones, but apparently they’dallbeen important.
“Let me look at you,” Mom said, standing in front of Morgan and touching a finger to her lips. “Hmm. Tall.Verytall. Handy to have a man like that around, especially for you, sweetheart.” She reached out, patting my arm.
“Hey!” I objected, but Mom was already considering Morgan again, a twinkle in her eye.
“You are kinda short.” Morgan shrugged.
“Hey!”
“Agrees with me,” Mom interrupted. “Always a good sign, smart boys agree with me. And he’s handsome,lookat that smile.”
Morgan beamed at her, showing off the kind smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle, blushing along the ridges of his cheekbones.
“What did you say his name was?” Mom teased.
“Morgan, ma’am,” Morgan responded before I could. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Good manners!” Mom enthused. “What do you do for a living, Morgan?”
“I own the flower shop in town, ma’am,” Morgan reported, still humoring her.
“Ownit!” Mom grinned at him. “What an accomplished young man. How old are you, Morgan?”
“Twenty-seven,” he said, as though Mom didn’t have his birthday marked on the wall calendar.
“Okay, Morgan, I think you might just be good enough for my son,” Mom said. “Come on through, meet the rest of the family.”
Morgan burst into laughter as he followed Mom through to the kitchen.
“Who’s this, Devin?” Kieran called from where he was setting plates out.
“Veryfunny,” I said. “You’re all hilarious.”
“Wow, who’s the new guy?” Aiden asked, going in for a hug from Morgan and chuckling the entire time.
“Hilarious,” I repeated. “Can’t imagine a funnier joke.”
“Lighten up,” Kieran said, ruffling my hair from behind. “Where’s this medal you won?”
“I’ve still got it,” Mom called out, putting it down on the kitchen counter and sliding it over so Kieran could grab it.
“Second place.” Kieran turned the medal over in his hand, letting out a low, impressed whistle. “Look at that. Second best kayaker in the world.” He grinned, passing it to Aiden.
“Not in theworld…” I bit my lip, embarrassed. I should’ve known they’d all make a big deal out of this, I couldn’t doanythingwithout them making a big deal out of it.
I was grateful, but I wished my face wouldn’t get so hot when they did.
“No, definitely in the world,” Carter said, taking the medal from Aiden, inspecting it, and then passing it to Felix. “I don’t know how kayaking works, so you can’t tell me otherwise.”
“I know even less about how kayaking works,” Felix said. “But I might need to pick your brain about it sometime. I actually have questions about sleeping bags for a thing I’m starting this week,” he added. “But first: congratulations. Can I take a photo of this and tell everyone my brother-in-law is ridiculously cool?”
“Uh. Sure,” I said, surprised by how much of a big dealeveryonewas making about this.
