Chapter 12
DYLAN
“Gently, for goodness’ sake. Don’t beat it like you're angry.” Mom swats my hand away, then demonstrates how to stir the mixture a bit less enthusiastically.
“Okay, Mom, I've got it now. Thanks.”
I start stirring again while she sprinkles various spices into the giant bowl of egg goop. I only get to have her Christmas quiche this one week of the year. I certainly don't want to mess up.
It might actually be dangerous for me to be helping at all, though, considering I'm still high as a kite from last night's…festivities.
Emma is always sexy, but when she let go like that… The image of her coming in my arms is burned into my retinas. Every time I blink, I see it again.
I give my head a shake, take another sip of hazelnut coffee, then get back to stirring the eggs. Finally Mom pronounces the goop finished, dumps it into a pan, and places it in the oven.
I take my coffee and a muffin out to the couch and zone out, idly scrolling my phone to check the weather and to see if any interesting jobs have come in for January.
Halfway through an email about a potential kitchen renovation, I hear Mom gasp from a nook in the kitchen where she has her laptop set up.
"What the actual hell?" she shrieks at top volume.
Dammit. I was hoping Emma would be able to sleep in.
Dad shuffles into the room. "Miriam, please. It's very early."
Mom spins the laptop to him, and his mouth falls open. "What the…"
This isn’t good. Something is very wrong if they’re both this stunned. "Did someone die?" I ask softly.
Mom lifts her laptop and marches into the living room with it, thrusting the screen in my face.
Dammit.
Her glare could pierce concrete. "You’re engaged?” From her tone of voice, you'd think Mom had just discovered I murdered somebody.
Shit. Think fast. I don’t want to lie to her. But maybe one more little white lie will balance things out and make it okay?
"You proposed to a girl we hadn't even met yet?” Mom's volume is still at a level that there's no way Emma is still asleep.
"You only mention you're bringing someone home the day before you arrive.
Then I find out that you got engaged to her at her company Christmas party?
Just how long have you been seeing her, anyway, young man? "
Dad takes the laptop from her hands and carefully backs away.
"I was just searching Emma’s name and yours to see if there were any photos of the two of you I could send the gals in my book club who were asking about you,” she continues.
“And then I find out you're engaged. Why didn't you tell me immediately?
Why? Why wouldn't you share something like this with your mother? "
A shadow shifts in the hallway. Emma is on the stairs, probably too nervous to come into the room.
"Calm down, Mom. Please." I pat the couch cushion beside me, trying to smile. "Of course we were going to tell you. But we thought it would be nice to announce our engagement tonight at the Christmas Eve Eve Ball. You know – surrounded by family."
Mom’s expression completely shifts. She shrieks again, this time in delight as she claps her hands together. "Oh! Yes! And I can get the mayor to make an announcement!"
"No." My hands are already in the air in protest. "This is not the entire town's business. We don't want everyone descending on us."
Shit. Think faster.
"Emma is…a bit shy," I add quickly. "At her company party, she knew everyone. Here, she doesn’t.
The entire town doesn't need to know our business until the wedding – which might be years away.
So tonight we were just going to announce it to the immediate family.
You and Dad, Josh and Sadie. That's it."
My gaze darts to the hallway, and I catch Emma giving me a quick thumbs up.
"Everything has happened very quickly between us,” I continue. “Things are wonderful, but we don't want the added pressure of everyone in town knowing our business and asking a million questions. Is that okay?"
I turn from Mom to Dad, who yanks me to my feet and squashes the life out of me in a bear hug.
"Both of my boys getting married to such nice girls.
" He flashes Mom one of his trademark expressions, halfway between a smile and a glare.
"Hopefully they don't shriek like demons when they're excited, unlike a certain someone I know. "
I force a laugh, hugging first him and then Mom, even as my head is spinning. This had better not scare Emma away. Although we share an incredible bond, talking about forever feels pretty ridiculous while we’re still getting to know each other.
Even though I already know in my gut that it's the truth.
We belong together.