Nerds on Fire (37 page)

“
What kind of changes?”
Trixi exchanged a knowing look with Gran.

Who snorted. Even Katy grinned into
Leo’s coffee as she slurped some of the brew before Leo managed to
steal it back. He made a big show of pouring her a fresh cup from
the nearly full carafe on the table. She wrinkled her nose at him
but after doctoring it up, did drink her own.

Mark exchanged amused looks with
Trixi; thankful she was nestled up against him, as though pleased
he was there. Actually, there was no doubt in his mind she was
pleased he was there. Yet another lure of this amazing woman. Trixi
liked him and she wanted him, and she didn’t use artifice, guile,
or coyness. This woman was a keeper.

“
I explained to Nina Friday
night that the formal dining room is too formal.”

Trixi stirred. “What are you thinking
of doing?”

“
That’s Nina’s job to
figure out.” Rylan sent a smile to the lady in question.

“
Wait, you said you
needed
ideas
.” She
leveled a censorious look on him.

His grin widened. “I do need ideas.
And then we can implement them.”

“
I’ve been thinking that
room needs changing for a while.” Gran tapped a finger on the
table.

Trixi turned to Nina. “Do you have any
ideas?” Mark loved how encouraging she sounded.

“
No, I barely remember the
room. I have to actually be in it to get a feel for the space
before I come up with anything.”

All the women around the table nodded.
He glanced at Leo who didn’t appear to be listening. Instead, he
leaned over Katy, crowding her, and selected a scone from the plate
sitting in front of her.

“
I think what makes it seem
so formal is all the extra fancy molding.” Katy spoke around Leo’s
shoulder, as though this was perfectly normal.

Trixi nodded, pursing her lips. “Yes,
I think you’re right.”

“
It seems a shame to remove
it though,” Nina said.

“
I’ve been tossing the idea
around of simply painting it all one color. All those different
ones are too busy.” Gran broke off a bite of her muffin. “The paint
is starting to peel anyway, something needs done.”

“
Paint it all the same
color.” Nina nodded. “It would make the ornateness a lot less
obtrusive.”

“
Yes. If you choose a
mellow color for the walls, the detailing will still be there but
make a lot less of a formal impact.” Gran popped the muffin morsel
into her mouth.

“
The chandelier has been
there how long?” Trixi asked Gran.

She waved that aside. “Your
grandfather and I chose it long ago. It could be stored away for
another generation. A new, less formal light fixture would perk up
the room.”

By then Mark was bored, and zoned out,
thinking about the past week and then his thoughts drifted to the
next week. He had a busy schedule, as always. It was good. After he
thought about the week, his mind went empty for the space it took
his eyes to drift to Trixi and then his full attention slammed to
her.

The conversation eventually wound down
to mere ebbing, mostly because someone noticed the time and
mentioned they were all going to be late if they didn’t hurry. The
room cleared and he and Leo were left staring at each
other.

“
I do seem to have this
effect on women,” Leo murmured, but he didn’t appear to mind
because he had managed to come into possession of the rest of
Katy’s coffee. He also finished off her muffin.

“
You’re a
scavenger.”

Leo laughed. “Yeah, I’ve gained weight
since Katy came into my life.” He patted his flat
stomach.

This was good for Leo. He normally had
trouble gaining weight and then keeping it on. Mark had never had
trouble with either. But it had been a struggle of Leo’s since they
could both remember. He was long and lean by nature so his muscles
took a lot of work. Mark didn’t have to work very hard to see
results. He worked out, but not like Leo had to. Then again, no one
could eat like Leo did, either.

There were compensations to
everything, he supposed.

He rose and started to clear the
table. Once the dishwasher was loaded, he started it and then
wrapped up the remaining treats from Rylan. The casserole hadn’t
lasted, so the dish was already in the dishwasher.

Leo stretched and then he wandered
away. “Do you have clothes for church?” Mark asked his retreating
back.

Pausing in the doorway, Leo pointed
outside. “In my SUV. It’ll take me five minutes to get
ready.”

Since this was very close to the
truth, Mark nodded before he aimed for his closet. Rylan and Nina
had left so they could change, while Katy, Gran, and Trixi must
have disappeared to their rooms to finish up.

They all met in the front hall with a
minute to spare.

“
Whoever did the dishes,
thanks.” Trixi sounded breathless as she hurried down the hall
toward him.

“
I want a kiss,” he
decided.

She gave him the sweetest one he’d
ever known, and then a gorgeous smile. “Thank you.”

“
I’ll do them every night
for kisses like that.”

Her grin was infectious and he curled
an arm around her, thankful she was a part of his life. His heart
seemed to grow every time she did so.

“
Are we ready?” Gran asked
once everyone was gathered in the mudroom.

“
Yes, we’d better go,”
Trixi said. A flurry of coats and they were climbing into the huge
SUV.

“
Is Dad coming back here?”
she asked.

Gran shook her head. “No, it’s faster
for them to head there from his place.”

“
I like Nina,” Leo
commented from the middle seat where he sat between Trixi and Katy.
Both women huddled against him. Mark cranked up the heat before he
adjusted the seat. Gran turned the vents for maximum warmth. She
was sitting beside him again, since everyone had
insisted.

They seemed to be making a habit of
all heading off together like this. He enjoyed it.

Chapter 36

Her dad invited everyone back
for lunch at his place afterward. It was nice to see him here, in
his own domain and while he had fitted her house very nicely, this
was now his. The deed was officially in his name. In the event
something happened to her father, and a sharp, nasty pain jabbed
Trixi at the thought, the trust ensured the house would become
Reed’s.

He had balked, until Gran explained
the trust to him. In the event her father remarried, his wife would
be permitted to live there until her death, but could not sell or
give the house away. According to the ironclad estate agreement, it
would always revert to a Wintermyer heir. It was similar to the
trust for her house. There was a feeling of continuity about both
homes and she was grateful her brother would one day inherit
Wintermyer.

They were all seated around the table
now, the one that had been in the family for generations. Her
father gave thanks before they dug in. She reflected on the people
seated here. Gran, Reed, Shawna, Leo, Katy, Miriam, Johnny, Rylan,
Nina, and Mark gathered with her for the meal. A grouping of the
people Trixi loved the most.

Passing her the mashed potatoes, Mark
must have caught sight of her face because he leaned down and
whispered, “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just
thankful to be here, with everyone present.”

He nodded and glanced around the
table. “A nice family.”

“
I agree.” With an
affectionate smile, she added some potatoes to her plate before
passing them on to Leo who sat beside her. Katy was between Nina
and Leo with Reed directly across from her. Reed enjoyed harassing
Katy. She didn’t have a problem reciprocating.

Her father noticed Reed and Katy’s
seating arrangements. “Why are Katy and Reed sitting across from
each other?”

“
Because they snuck into
their seats before we adults noticed,” Shawna replied in a resigned
tone that fooled no one.

Her remark set a lighthearted, fun
tone for the meal. They even discussed the room and Nina and Gran
both liked the idea of repainting the ornate plasterwork the same
color and changing out the light fixture.

Leo and Reed, who took to each other
immediately, had a great time offering up unhelpful suggestions.
Shawna and Katy both tried their best to moderate the foolishness,
but their efforts only made it worse.

A small fear was that Reed wouldn’t
like the de Vosse brothers. Her big brother was a great judge of
character and she wanted him to approve of her choice. There was no
doubt he and Leo were going to be good friends. He also warmed to
Mark so she relaxed. Mark was the quieter of the two
brothers.

Trixi understood because she wasn’t
comfortable being the center of attention either, not unless she
was among family like this. Reed had always been more outgoing than
her. She wasn’t completely introverted as she didn’t live in her
own head, but she preferred to listen, like Mark. Her mother had
explained to her that she was gifted with a quiet
nature.

For the first time since losing her
mother, thoughts of her didn’t stab nearly as deep or hard as they
had even three weeks ago. Perhaps expunging said emotion finally
helped the wound to heal. Fifteen years of sorrow, and one man
entered her life, a skilled doctor, and now she could embark on the
difficult journey of recovery. The prospect wasn’t so bad because
it looked like he intended to accompany her.

A huge swelling of love? Peace? Joy?
Contentment? Maybe a delightful combination of all of those
emotions spiraled through her. It was an incredible balm after so
many years of sorrow and pain. This felt like the real Trixi. Or at
least the promise of who she was could now emerge.

“
You look happy.” Mark’s
warm breath whispered across her ear.

She turned to him, thankful for him
all over again. His thumb traced across her lips and she kissed it,
because she could. “I am.”

The truth rang through her statement
and his expression held a lot of promise and a little heat. She
wanted to see a lot more of both.

“
We’re in your father’s
dining room with your entire family,” he reminded her.

Trixi smiled. “I’ll be good.” She made
the promise, but then wondered if she could keep it.

Fortunately, Gran asked about Johnny’s
job.

“
I’m enjoying it. I leave
soon to treat a top-secret patient in foreign parts.” Satisfaction
infused his voice.

“
We don’t get to leave on
top-secret trips in neonatal,” Trixi said sadly.

Katy perked up. “I might get
to.”

“
I’ve never been called on
a secret patient visit before.” Leo scowled.

Reed stared at him. “You’re a
doctor?”

“
He’s a pediatrician,” Katy
answered and it looked like she was patting his knee.

“
At least she didn’t pat my
head,” Leo muttered loud enough for them to hear.

Katy poked him as everyone
laughed.

Shawna asked Mark, “What do you
do?”

“
He operates on brains,”
Leo answered for him.

“
You’re a neurosurgeon?”
Reed’s eyes widened.

“
Yes, he’s a big geek.”
Katy sent a saucy grin in Mark’s direction.

Reed looked impressed. Beside him,
Shawna’s mouth opened and closed but she couldn’t seem to manage
actual words. “I would have no idea where to even start.” Her voice
was faint when she did finally speak.

“
So my baby sister is
dating a neurosurgeon?” Reed and Shawna both looked
flabbergasted.

“
Yes,” Katy confirmed.
“It’s not for the faint of heart.”

“
It’s nerve racking, and
scary and you have to have really steady hands—” Trixi picked up
Katy’s thought process.

“
And really steady nerves—”
Katy cut in.

“
And a lot of brains—”
Trixi added. Memories of the week she had spent assisting a
different neurosurgeon still elicited the occasional bad
dream.

“
And the ability to think
on your feet when something happens—”

“
Because something
always
happens,” Trixi
agreed.

Mark shook his head. “I love what I
do, but I’m no superman. Katy’s job is every bit as challenging as
mine. There’s no way I could survive doing what Leo does, and he’s
top of his profession. Neonatal...” he turned to her and shook his
head harder.

“
It’s not for everyone,”
Johnny agreed. “I love cardiology, but please don’t ask me to work
with children,” he smiled at Leo, “or babies,” he gave a faint
shudder. “On the same token, I didn’t enjoy neurology or
neurosurgery because there is a required skill set you either have
or you don’t succeed. I did enjoy surgery though and that was my
backup plan.”

Katy nodded. “Cardiology was one of my
alternate picks as well.”