‘That’s amazing,’ I exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug and slapping his back. ‘I’m proud of you.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Isn’t my husband clever?’ Sophie placed the tray onto the coffee table then joined him. He wrapped an arm around her and she leaned against him, looking up at him with an adoring expression that gave me a slight pang.
‘He sure is.’
‘It feels like it’s been a long time coming,’ David said. ‘But at the same time, I’m one of the youngest associate professors the college has had in its history, so I suppose I should consider myself grateful.’
‘You should do no such thing,’ Sophie scolded him. ‘You’ve worked extremely hard to get where you are.They’rethe ones who should be grateful.’
‘Mark my words, you’ll be a full professor before you’re forty-five,’ Dad agreed, draining his glass.
‘You must be so pleased that your career is on track and progressing exactly as you’ve always planned,’ Mom said. ‘You’ve always been our ambitious child.’
The smile briefly faltered on my brother’s face, and I felt my jaw clench. I hated when she did this. Turned what should be a celebratory moment for him into an opportunity to take a shot at me.
‘Subtle, Mom,’ I said, refusing to let her see how pissed off I was. ‘Real subtle.’
Dad waved a hand. ‘Leave the boy alone, Eleanor.’
‘The “boy” is almost thirty-two,’ she retorted. ‘And still floundering about without a career.’
‘I have a career.’
‘No, you have a hobby. And a dangerous one at that.’
I shot Sophie a look. ‘What was it you were saying in the kitchen about having one night without any fighting?’
She sighed and lifted her wine glass towards her lips. ‘Don’t drag me into it.’
‘When are you going to stop playing around on that boat and get serious about your future?’ my mother continued. ‘Your father isn’t getting any younger. You need to learn the business from him so he can retire.’
I shook my head. ‘How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not taking over the hotel before you start believing me? Find someone else to manage it. I’m not interested.’
‘Someone else?’ She placed a hand against her chest. ‘Are you trying to kill me? Is that what you want? You are aSawyer, Jonah. It is in your blood.’
‘I’m not the only Sawyer though, am I? David and Anna share the same blood.’
As if on cue, my sister, Anna, came into the room, concentrating on tweaking the dials on a baby monitor. She was followed closely by her husband, Myles. My best friend growing up, he’d done me dirty by hooking up with my baby sister. I’d forgiven him, though, when I realized how much they actually loved each other. I’d even stood beside him as his best man at their wedding three years ago. As usual, he was weighed down by a nappy bag and an assortment of baby accessories that, apparently, they couldn’t travel anywhere without these days.
‘Right, Isabelle is down for her sleep,’ she said. ‘She should be good for a couple of hours.’ She put the baby monitor down on the table and reached for a prawn, noticing me. ‘Oh hey, Jonah,’ she said, then poked out her tongue. ‘You’re late.’
Myles held out his hand and I slapped mine into it, before we pulled each other in and lightly bumped shoulders. ‘Run while you still can,’ he whispered into my ear. ‘Your mother has been ranting about you for the last half an hour, at least.’
‘Nothing new, but thanks for the heads-up.’ I peered closer at something white on his shoulder. ‘Is that…?’
He sniffed it. ‘Baby vomit. Yup.’
‘Gross.’
Anna rolled her eyes. ‘It’s just my breast milk regurgitated.’
‘That doesn’t make it any better.’
‘You’re so immature.’
Myles fished a baby wipe out of the nappy bag and wiped his shoulder clean. ‘It’s nothing compared to what comes out the other end.’ He shuddered. ‘Who knew a human being could poop those colors?’
