Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Rob
The next morning, I stop at my sister’s house before heading to the station. With Donovan heading out of the country, my entire family seems to be on edge.
He’ll be back well before the baby’s due, and Natalie made it very clear she’d rather he go now than go after the delivery, leaving her alone with Sam and a newborn. She and Donovan both feel good about the decision, but our mother and Lyla and Erin—my other sisters—are anxious about it.
Since my mother’s car is in the driveway, so I know everybody’s up and about, I let myself in without knocking. Sam sees me first and barrels into my knees.
“Uncle Rob!” I hoist him up with a groan because I’m pretty sure he’s had a growth spurt in the few days since I last saw him, and I need to remember to lift with my knees.
After I kiss his cheek and he tells me in one long sentence that it’s almost Christmas and his daddy’s going on a plane and he had cereal with marshmallows for breakfast, he starts kicking to get down.
Then I lean down and kiss my mother’s cheek. She’s sitting on the couch, an affectionate look on her face as she watches her grandson. Mel and Elsa, Lyla’s daughters, are ten and eight now, and Randy and Stella Byrne are thoroughly enjoying their grandparents era.
Sam shouting my name brings Natalie out of the kitchen and Donovan to the top of the stairs. My sister crosses to me and I kiss the top of her head while she hugs me.
“So what’s your fictional reason for stopping by, giving you the opening to oh-so-casually mention I should stay at the inn or have somebody stay with me while Donovan’s away?”
I laugh, but I don’t bother to deny it. “Mom beat me to it, huh?”
“And you just missed Erin. Layla and the girls stopped by last night.”
“You can’t be mad at us, though.”
“Oh, I’m not mad. But you all live within a five-mile radius of me, and if I don’t feel good or I think Sam is too much, you know I’ll call. Anyone of you would be here in minutes, and you know it.”
“I have lights and sirens,” I remind her.
“Save the lights and sirens for the parade because nobody in this house will need them,” Donovan calls to him. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“How is the planning going?” Natalie asks once I’ve taken my boots off and settled on the couch.
“Penny says Whitney is such a polite guest,” my mom says before I can answer. “Spends most of her time working in her room, I guess, but she’s very nice.”
“She is nice, and I’m glad I have her to help me.” Not just because she’s good at her job, but because I look forward to working on the Christmas Fair so I can see her. I keep that part to myself, though. “She’s very efficient.”
Natalie wrinkles her nose. “Just how every woman wants to be described.”
“I’m pretty sure Whitney would take it as a compliment. Her career is important to her.”
“She’s also quite pretty,” my mom adds, and I groan.
She’s actually gorgeous, not ‘quite pretty,’ but—again—keeping that to myself. “Don’t get any ideas, Mom. She’s only in Charming Lake because Donovan is here and because he offered her up to assist me. This isn’t a place she’d choose to be.”
My mom shrugs one shoulder. “Things change.”
I’m having a hard enough time not getting any ideas of my own without my family playing holiday matchmaker. “Is Sam counting down the days until Santa comes?”
As expected, my nephew lights up and it’s impossible to get a word in around the list of things he asked Santa for and what cookies he’s going to eat and how many presents he’s going to get. My mom gets suckered in by her grandson’s excitement, but Natalie gives me a look that says she knows I derailed the conversation on purpose.
Maybe it’s wrong to use Sam’s holiday excitement against my pregnant sister, but I can’t let Natalie get it into her head that I’m into Whitney. Even though only one of my sisters is married, all three of them are convinced I need a wife in my life.
My dad, who has sisters of his own, assures me this is typical sister behavior, so I should just smile and nod, but it’s been a while since a single woman around my age showed up in Charming Lake. If I give off even the slightest vibe, this will turn into the matchmaking version of a shark feeding frenzy.
Sam keeps us distracted until Donovan comes downstairs, carrying a briefcase in one hand and a suitcase with the other. I don’t even have to hear his footsteps on the stairs to know he’s coming. Natalie’s face softens and her eyes shine with love and contentment. It’s an expression I only see when she looks at her husband or her son, and it always punches me hard in the chest.
I want that. I want to look at somebody like that, and I want to see it reflected back at me. Came close twice, I think, but the first woman I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with decided she wanted a life that didn’t include erratic hours and fending for herself during storms. The second woman wanted a life that included a guy she met on the dating app she kept telling me she would absolutely delete.
It’ll come. In the meantime, I have my family and my community. When I need a little extra gas in the emotional tank, time spent with Mel, Elsa or Sam does the trick.
“Whitney says I need to leave five minutes earlier than I planned,” Donovan says, putting his bags by the door. “So I have ten minutes.”
“Remember not to put your wallet and phone in your briefcase during the flight,” Natalie reminds him.
“Losing my phone and wallet is what stranded me here with you.” Donovan bends and kisses the top of his wife’s head. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I’m going to head out,” I say, pushing myself to my feet. I’ll get out of the way so he can say goodbye to his family. “Natalie, if you need anything—no matter what it is—call me. Donovan, have a good trip. And Sammy, come give me a kiss. I have to go be the fire chief now.”
My nephew makes siren sounds as he runs to me. The kiss and hug are rushed because he’s more interested in his dad’s imminent travel, though.
I kiss Natalie and my mom and then shake Donovan’s hand before letting myself out. For my sister’s sake, I wish they had longer to say goodbye today.
But for my sake? I can’t wait for the man to be in the air so I can have Whitney back.