Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Dax doesn’t say anything, just puts Guinevere in her bouncer and picks up the footstool. I pick up the side table and we swap places. Again.
“It doesn’t look like it did in the shop,” I say. “It’s bluer.”
“Then we’ll get a new one,” Dax says. He’s being so bloody patient with me it’s annoying. I know I’m being irrational, it’s just that I’m so nervous. I expected Dylan and Eddie to meet people and start families. I always saw myself as being the aunt who would visit each of them. I didn’t expect them to be the ones visiting me and my new family. It’s not that I don’t think they’ll accept Dax. I’ve spoken to them both by phone and they’re delighted that I’m so happy. The reality is so different from what I’ve kept in my head all these years, I just need time to get used to it.
The doorbell rings and my stomach churns like I’m on a ship in the North Sea. “Shall I get it?” I ask.
Dax laughs. “Well one of us should.”
I start toward the door. “Yes. I should.”
Eddie’s grinning at me as I open the door. “This is a bloody nice house,” she says. “I’ve brought my swimming costume.”
She catches sight of Dax behind me and barges in, thrusting her case at me.
“Dax!” Despite never having only met him once before, she wraps her hands around his waist and pulls him into a hug like he’s her long-lost brother.
She steps back and looks him up and down. “Yes, as I remember, very good-looking,” she says as if he can’t hear her. “And you’re definitely not after her money?”
I groan and shut the front door. “Stop with the inappropriate questions!”
“Absolutely never,” she replies. “You might think you only have to look after us, but I’m here to tell you that we’re here to look after you too. In fact, Dylan and I have put together a list of questions.”
I put my face in my hands. It’s only Guinevere letting out a squeal that stops the argument before it’s started.
“Baby!” Eddie says as she follows the noise.
“Wash your hands before you pick her up,” I call out, but she’s already made the detour to the sink.
“She’s super-cute.” She flings the towel on the counter and bends to the bouncer. “I’m your auntie Eddie,” she says, and my heart hooks onto my ribs.
Dax slides his arm around my waist. He asked me last night whether or not I wanted Guinevere to call me mummy and whether we should look into me adopting her. We had to park the issue because I couldn’t stop the tears. Happy tears, but lots of tears nonetheless.
I’m thinking about it. I’m so used to being a nanny, I need a little time to get my head round the possibility of being a mum. I won’t love her any differently, whatever she calls me.
“Built-in babysitter,” Dax says.
“We don’t lack for those,” I say.
“I hear you have four brothers and none of them are still single?” Eddie says. “I have to ask before Dylan gets here. He wouldn’t allow it on our agreed list of questions. He said it was inappropriate.”
“He wasn’t wrong,” I say.
“Your intelligence is correct,” Dax says. “Five brothers, if you include my cousin Vincent, and we’re all married or engaged or about to be.”
Eddie groans. “Your timing is shitty,” she says to me. “You could have found him a little earlier.”
I glance up at Dax and then kiss him on the shoulder. I think I found him at the perfect time.
“Wait, what did you say?” Eddie asks. “Are you two engaged?”
“Not yet,” I jump in to reassure her. “I wanted you and Dylan to meet Dax and then…we need to find a ring.”
She turns to Dax. “So have you asked her or not?”
“Not officially,” he replies.
Eddie nods. “Okay. And you’re going to get pre-nups?” she says.
It’s such a relief to hear her be so practical. So grown-up. When she turns twenty-five, she’s going to be a very wealthy woman. She needs to be sensible.
“We went to see lawyers last week,” Dax says. “Because Eira bought half the house and it’s now also in her name.”
“And you checked this with your own lawyer, Eira?” She uses the tone I’ve used with her a hundred times—the one that says, Are you looking after yourself, are you protecting yourself, have you thought this through?
“Yes. Everything’s fine.”
“So if I spill or break something, I’m in my sister’s house, so I don’t need to have a panic attack?”
Dax laughs. “You’re in your family’s house.” He pats her on the shoulder. “So no, you don’t need to have a panic attack.”
“But try not to spill or break or set fire to anything,” I say, rolling my eyes.
The doorbell goes again and I jump, even though I’ve been expecting it.