“We did. I wasn’t worried.”
“I wasn’t either, but I am proud of you.”
I could have hated the hubbub or cursed everything, but I only thought about the love in her voice and this sweet look on her face. She was downright adorable.
“So, everyone knows,” Cici said. “Not just us now.”
“And despite Betty’s insistence that we’d lose our minds, we haven’t,” Betty’s mother confirmed.
So, they’re not upset?
“Mamma, you can calm down!” Betty shot back in Norwegian before switching to English. “She thinks I’m hiding something. I explained it wasn’t that I worried she’d disown me but the optics for the competition weren’t good and… I’m rather private about these things.”
“I’m glad you all are chill,” I said. “But can I make a suggestion?”
“Sure, go on,” Queen Kiersten said.
“I’d just love for us to stick to English if we could. Because the back and forth is doing my head in.”
“They do that,” Ingrid said. “It’s exhausting.”
“We forget. I used to get whiplash, too,” Betty’s mother agreed. “We’ll do our best.”
“We forget,” Keir said. “Blended family and all.”
I realized he had a kid on his lap—a toddler with a cheeky grin.
“And who is this then?” I asked.
“This is Paulie,” Ingrid said. “He is a tiny terror somedays and sweet as pie the others.”
“He’s been both today,” Keir said, “but he’s overtired and excited to be in a new place.”
“Hei!” He waved.
“Well, that is heart-melting,” I said. “I love kids. Don’t feel bad pawning him off on me. Contrary to what everyone I know who has kids—which is everyone—I really do love them.”
“She isn’t much for animals, though,” Betty added.
“Bets, that’s not true. I tolerated your horse!”
“Tolerating isn’t loving.”
“They are huge beasts,” Keir agreed. “How do you feel about dogs?”
“I’ve never had a dog,” I admitted.
“Betty wants one and won’t shut up about it,” Ingrid laughed. “That’s why he asks.”
“Really? You want to bethosepeople?” I joked.
“Would it be so bad” Betty asked. “I need to settle down first, but yeah, I want a dog.”
“I could tolerate a dog,” I said. “Even love one… someday.”
Betty’s face lit up in a way that made me weak-kneed. I’d take it. A house. A dog. A life with Betty. I could play it off as a joke, but the truth was, I was dying to have it—with her. Hearing her say it made it real.
I squeezed her hand, grounding myself.
