Chapter 11 #2
“I didn’t jump the gun,” Victor said, holding his hands up in surrender. “She guessed.” Then he tilted his head toward his sister. “In fact, she used her trip as a way to set us up.”
Belle’s eyes widened at that. “Really?”
“Really,” Viv replied. “And I’m better than okay with this, Belle. The two of you are perfect for each other. It’s like a dream come true for me. You’ve always been the sister of my heart. Now, it’ll be official.”
Belle laughed, even as tears streamed down her face. “I like the sound of official.”
“Me too,” Victor replied, wrapping his arm around Belle’s shoulder and tucking her close. Then he placed a kiss on the side of her head, so grateful he didn’t have to hide anymore. Or at least, he wouldn’t…
“Listen, Viv—” he started.
Vivian raised a hand, cutting him off. “You haven’t told Pip.”
Belle nodded.
“If she had known, it would’ve been the first words out her mouth when I got here,” Vivian said.
“We thought it might be easier to do with you here, because…” Belle swallowed, clearly nervous about the next part.
“Because Belle is going to move in here with me,” Victor said, saying the hard part for her.
“It doesn’t have to be right away,” she rushed to add.
“Wrong,” Victor barked. While he’d tried to reassure her countless times over the past week that Vivian would be okay on her own, he knew Belle couldn’t shake the feeling she was letting his sister down.
“Victor,” Belle started.
“Belle,” Vivian interrupted, “stop. I can see you’ve been worrying about this—about me—but you don’t have to. You and Victor are at the beginning of something wonderful. Your place is here now. With him.”
“I still want to be Pip’s nanny,” Belle said.
“Oh, you can’t be her nanny anymore,” Vivian retorted matter-of-factly.
Victor and Belle were shocked by that, talking over each other as they launched into all the reasons why Belle could continue her position.
Vivian cut them off after a minute or two. Apparently, that was as long as she could manage to keep a straight face before she started cracking up.
“This isn’t funny,” Belle said, truly upset.
“You can’t be her nanny because you’re going to be her auntie Belle,” Vivian said between giggles.
Victor rolled his eyes. “Way to give us both a heart attack.”
Vivian’s eyes twinkled, and it was clear she was enjoying herself and this conversation way too much.
“And I definitely still need Auntie Belle’s help with Pip.
Marrying my brother does not get you out of school drop-off and pickup and holidays and rom com movie marathons and emergency ice cream runs. ”
“I’m in for all of that,” Belle reassured her.
Jet lag appeared to finally set in, as Vivian covered her mouth, yawning widely. “I should probably get Pip home.”
Victor, Belle, and Pip had packed all of the little girl’s things this morning and driven them over to Vivian’s house, “delivering” the clothing back to the named drawers there.
When Pip asked why Belle wasn’t bringing her own stuff, Belle had stumbled for a moment before saying she would take care of that later on her own.
It had been on the tip of Victor’s tongue to say “over my dead body,” but he restrained himself.
The three of them left the kitchen, crossing the wide foyer to the living room. They hovered in the doorway, watching Pip sleep.
“You’ve earned at least a week off,” Vivian said to Belle. “Unfortunately, that’s all I can offer, as school starts soon.”
Belle grasped Vivian’s hand. “I’ll take the week, but I’m still planning to spend a lot of it with you. I’ve missed you like crazy and I’m dying to hear about your trip.”
“We both are. Three months felt like fucking forever,” Victor said, grasping Belle’s other hand, loving the way she leaned into him.
“Let’s go ahead and plan to do afternoons by the pool here, because our little mermaid over there,” he said, tilting his head in Pip’s direction, “will go through withdrawals if she doesn’t get her daily dose of chlorine. ”
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me this summer,” Vivian said quietly.
“She’s an angel,” Victor replied. “No thanks necessary. Besides, this has been the best summer of my life.”
Belle and Vivian giggled at that, aware that Pip wasn’t the only reason he felt that way.
Vivian walked into the living room, gently stroking her hand over Pip’s hair. “I swear I’m never leaving her that long again. It was brutal,” she whispered.
Victor bent over, carefully lifting Pip and trying not to rouse her. It didn’t work.
Her eyelids flickered rapidly before rising. “Uncle Vic,” she said sleepily.
“Time to go home, Squirt.”
She nodded, still drowsy. “Okay.”
Belle and Vivian followed as he carried his niece to the car, placing her in her car seat and fastening it. Vivian walked around to the driver’s side, while he and Belle remained by the open back door.
Victor leaned down and placed a kiss on Pip’s forehead. “Gonna miss having you down the hall.”
Pip smiled. “I still want to come swim every day.”
Victor snorted. “I already sorted that out with your mom. Afternoons in the pool will continue until school starts.”
Vivian, who was in the car, twisted around in the front seat, grinning. “Tonight, you’re sleeping in my bed. I’m going to snuggle and kiss and spoon you all night.”
Pip grinned widely at that. “Okay!”
Victor stepped back so Belle could add her own kiss to Pip’s forehead. “Good night.”
Pip frowned. “You’re not coming home with us?”
Belle shook her head. “Um…not tonight. I was too busy with the party to pack,” she said.
Now probably wasn’t the time to get into their changed relationship status. Best to do it tomorrow by the pool…to ensure Pip was in her best and happiest frame of mind.
“Because you’re dating Uncle Vic?” Pip asked—shocking all three of the adults.
“What do you know about dating?” Vivian asked, clearly surprised Pip even knew the word.
“I know that Uncle Vic and Belle are dating and they’re gonna get married, like you and Daddy did, and then they’re gonna have a baby and I can be the babysitter.” Her eyes widened. “Wait, does that mean I’m going to get a brother or sister?!” she asked excitedly.
Victor shook his head with a grin. “Our kids will be your cousins,” he replied, not bothering to keep the secret any longer.
It was apparent he and Belle had done a shitty job hiding their feelings for each other, and given Pip’s excitement, it was safe to say his niece was as pleased by this turn of events as her mother.
“Are you okay with me dating your uncle Vic?” Belle asked.
Pip nodded enthusiastically. “He’s a lot nicer than that man from the coffee shop. But…” Pip’s smile wavered slightly as another thought dawned on her. “Will you still take care of me?”
“Always,” Belle said, bending close to Pip, holding her hand. “I will always be your nanny, and maybe someday, Auntie Belle.”
Victor scowled. “No ‘maybe’ about it.”
Vivian and Belle laughed, Pip joining in, though he suspected the little girl didn’t understand what was so funny.
“We can talk about all of this tomorrow around the pool,” Vivian said, attempting to stifle another yawn.
“Or maybe the day after tomorrow. I’m sort of in the mood for a lazy day.
What do you say we stay in our pajamas, stuff ourselves with junk food, and lay on the couch all day watching Disney movies tomorrow, Pip? ”
“Yes!” Pip shouted, wide awake.
Pip loved lazy days, so it was a sure bet he and Belle wouldn’t see them tomorrow. Which suited him fine. He was looking forward to having her all to himself.
They said their goodbyes, waving as Vivian pulled out of the driveway. He slipped his hand into Belle’s, squeezing it gently as they walked back into the house.
Life was good.
Vivian and Pip had given their blessing, and he had Belle here, in their home. It was the first night of forever.
Once inside, neither of them spoke as they worked together to lock up, turn off the lights, then climb the stairs. As they passed the guest room Belle had been using this summer, Victor paused.
“We’ll move your things to my room tomorrow. Then in a couple days, we can head over to Vivian’s and pack up the rest.” One of these days, Victor was going to have to learn how to ask rather than demand, or at least temper his barking, “my way or the highway” tone.
Or maybe not.
Belle nodded, looking just as enthusiastic as Pip had about tomorrow’s lazy day. “Okay.”
He lifted their joined hands as they entered his—their—bedroom, kissing hers. “And you can redecorate this room however you want. You can redecorate the whole damn house. Make it how you like it.”
Belle considered that, then shrugged. “I don’t think I want to change much. It already feels like home, just the way it is. I mean, you’re seriously lacking throw pillows, but other than that—”
Belle stopped mid-sentence, laughing when Victor narrowed his eyes and growled.
She quickly held her hands up. “Kidding! Just kidding. Besides,” she added, “I’m starting to figure out that home isn’t a place. It’s us—together.”
Victor agreed. Home was laughter and trust and love. Belle had given him all three and turned this house into a true home.
“I’m glad it’s finally out in the open,” she said. “She and Pip seemed really happy for us, didn’t they?”
“They did.”
“So all that worrying…” Belle mused aloud.
“They love you, Belle. Of course they’re happy for us.”
Even as he spoke, Victor felt the weight of the past couple of months lift from his shoulders.
He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face before cupping her cheek. “I love you. And I’m never letting you go, Sunshine. I can’t imagine a life that doesn’t include you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “Sexy shower or straight to bed?”
Belle giggled. “Sexy shower.”