“Yeah—thanks to Jessica,” Shane said sharply. “Mom said she stopped in the parking lot and told Luke it was his job as her husband to help her be happy. Evidently, he took her advice.”
Will stopped wiping to look at Shane. “I think it was a toss-up who Jessica was more angry with—me or your mother. I guess it must have been me since she actually talked to Ellen and Luke. Hell, I’m just the guy sleeping with her. Why should Jessica talk to me and give me a chance to explain?”
Shane looked at his brother. “Now I know where you got all that emotional stuff from. Dad whines just like you when he gets upset.”
“
Whines?
” Michael exclaimed. “I do not whine. I express myself in a healthy way, and I’m about to sit on you while Dad takes his turn expressing himself.”
Shane burst out laughing. “Well I guess before you guys gang up on me, I’ll just go help Mom in the kitchen.”
“Running away would be a wise choice,” Will said, fixing his youngest son with a narrowed gaze. “I’m pretty physically frustrated right now. Kicking your ass appeals to me as a healthy outlet for my emotions, Dr. Larson.”
Shane walked off laughing, satisfied that the only emotion the men in his family would be expressing this evening was some bullshit anger.
Michael stood there for a moment frowning at the patio door after Shane had gone inside.
“I do not whine,” he said firmly, his head turning sharply at his father’s belly laugh. “What’s so funny?”
“If my parents were still alive, I would tell them how grateful I am to be an only child. Shane yanks your chain, and you strain on the end of it every time,” Will said. “One day you’re going to learn not to let him see that he’s getting to you.”
“He insulted you too,” Michael reminded him, grinning.
“Yes,” Will agreed, laughing again. “But I don’t care as much about what he thinks as you do. He may be a boy genius in his field, but to me he will always primarily remain my smart-ass son.”
“One day I’m going to get even,” Michael said, crossing his arms.
Will snorted. “Right. That’s very mature for a man about to get married and become a father.”
“Beats whining,” Michael said, enjoying his father’s rolling laughter. He hadn’t heard it much lately. “I’m going to check on Carrie. How near done are you?”
“I can stop anytime. Just let me know when you want me inside. I’m not keen on making casual conversation with your mother and Luke until I have to.”
Chapter 22
Ellen knew Shane and Luke were in the living room watching the sports highlights for the week. She had seen Michael creeping down the hall and quietly into the master bedroom. The kitchen table was laden with food, and it wasn’t time to make final preparations.
There was nothing else to do now except the one thing Ellen Cannon didn’t want to do, but needed to. She needed to go out to the courtyard and apologize to her ex-husband. So sliding the patio door behind her, she walked carefully through the courtyard to where Will was cleaning his tools and putting them away.
“Will?” she called, then stopped as her eyes landed on the bust. “Oh. That’s so beautiful. Look at her face. She looks radiant.”
“Is that actually a compliment on my art?” Will asked sarcastically, but smiling to soften the question.
“Yes. It’s a compliment,” Ellen said quickly. “And I can’t believe how amazing Jessica Daniels looks in marble.”
Will shrugged. “Thanks.”
“I’m sorry Will. I’m sorry I caused you grief in your new relationship and sorry I thought only of myself for a long time. I never meant to hurt you. I just couldn’t seem to avoid it,” Ellen said, her eyes tearing up. “I’m sure Jessica will get over this. She’s a passionate, hot-headed woman, but I don’t think she’s totally unreasonable. In fact, she seems like the perfect match for you.”
“Yeah, well—you can tell her that next time you talk to her. She’s still not talking to me. I tried calling and going by the house. She’s ignoring me pretty well,” Will said.
“If you want me to go talk to her, I will. I owe both of you that much. Luke has been a different man since she talked to us in the parking lot. I don’t want to repeat that awful night, but it may end up being the best thing that ever happened to my marriage. I’m happy, Will. I want you to be happy, too.” Ellen looked at the bust. “I want you to be happy with Jessica Daniels.”
“Keep saying it. I’m starting to believe you,” Will said, closing the box and walking to where Ellen stood. “I would like us to be friends—real friends. We’re going to be grandparents. Michael’s situation is not good, and we’re going to need to help him. I don’t want the kids worrying about us, too.”
“No. I agree with that,” Ellen said, meaning it. She looked at the bust again. “In all the years we were married, you never carved me, Will. A relationship that inspiring to you is worth fighting for, don’t you think?”
“How can I fix it if the woman won’t talk to me?” Will asked sadly, letting his true frustration show to a person that had known him through many hard times.
Ellen grabbed his arms and shook him while she laughed. “William Everett Larson, use that incredible stubbornness of yours to go after her. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
Will laughed in return, feeling more hopeful than he had in days. It was the most natural thing in the world to put his arms around Ellen for a comforting hug.
***
Not having the heart to wake her yet when she was still so pale, Michael had left Carrie still sleeping on the bed. They could wait another half hour, he thought.
He started to veer into the living room to hang with Shane and Luke when the doorbell rang. Bypassing the living room, he glanced in the kitchen and saw his mother was not around. So he headed to the door wondering if she’d locked herself outside. The last person he’d expected to see was Jessica standing on his front step.
“Jessica. Come in. You’re just in time to meet my fiancée,” Michael said.
“
Fiancée?
When did this happen? I thought she was marrying someone else,” Jessica said, her forehead wrinkling in confusion.
“Dad didn’t tell you?” Michael said, shock on his features. “Well, a lot has happened to me lately. Getting her pregnant moved me up in line on the next-guy-to-marry list.”
“Decided to throw everything you had into the relationship, did you?” Jessica said, a twinkle in her eye.
“Well, I always did like cranking up the heat under a burning flame,” Michael said, as he laughed and slipped an arm around her waist. “I’m really happy about this, and I’m sorry you were the last to know.”
“I’ve been ignoring your father. Now I’ve decided to come fight again. Can I talk to him?” she asked.
Jessica wiped sweaty palms on her jeans as Michael let her go.
“Sure—but you should know Mom and Luke are here. So is Shane. We’re just sort of hanging out until Carrie wakes up. Dad’s in the courtyard working if you want to go on out. There’s a new piece of art you should see anyway. He’s been working on it non-stop for a couple of weeks now,” Michael said.
Jessica took a deep breath. “I guess it doesn’t matter who’s here. I owe your mother and Luke an apology, too. What’s one more humbling circumstance?”
Then she looked out the patio door and saw Will hugging Ellen and laughing. “On the other hand, I may just kill both of them and bury their bodies in my backyard after all.”
“What do you mean?” Michael asked. Then he saw what Jessica saw.
“That’s not what it looks like,” Michael assured her. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s not what you think.”
“Did you get that denial thing from your father, or did he get it from you?” Jessica asked snidely. “I’m getting really tired of hearing how there’s nothing going on, but yet this is what I see.” She pointed to the courtyard.
Michael laughed because the situation was funny even if the look on Jessica’s face was not. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation,” he said, trying to keep a straight face.
“The hell there is. Get out of my way, Michael. Your mother’s ass is mine,” she said firmly, sliding the patio door open and walking out.
“Shane! Luke! Get in here. Jessica caught Mom hugging Dad again,” Michael yelled, sliding the patio door open and walking outside after her.
***
“So are you two getting back together or what? Just tell me so I can stay the hell away from you both,” Jessica demanded, striding towards the couple that sprung apart like guilty kids caught necking.
“No, of course not,” Ellen replied, stepping toward the angry woman. “Look—Jessica, this is not what it seems.”
“Better stay where you are, Ellen. I wouldn’t suggest being within reaching distance of me while you answer my questions. I have six inches on you and probably out-weigh you by thirty or forty pounds. Even my therapist couldn’t talk me down from kicking your ass right now,” Jessica warned.
“Jessica—wait,” Michael called.
She swung around, pointed her finger at him, and stepped back towards him. “Stay out of this, Michael,” she ordered. “I know the woman is your mother, but she’s also a grown woman who needs to be held accountable for her actions. I’m not going to kill her, but I am going to have my say. If you’re going to stand out here, then shut up and let us get on with this.”
Michael held up his hands and took a few steps back to show Jessica he was complying. Shane and Luke came out of the door together just in time to see Michael with his hands raised in the air.
“What’s up?” Shane asked. “Besides your hands, that is.”
“Jessica is planning to kick Mom’s ass,” Michael said, torn between distress and laughter.
“Cool,” Shane said. “Why?”
“She was hugging Dad again,” Michael said, looking at Luke.
He was surprised when Luke snorted and laughed. “Something funny about your wife hugging another man?” Michael asked.
“Yes,” Luke said, his body still worn out from last night’s most recent marathon with Ellen. He was completely convinced that his wife didn’t want her ex-husband sexually anymore, but if she was dumb enough to get caught hugging him again, then he was just going to enjoy watching her learn her lesson. “I haven’t seen a good cat fight since high school. You didn’t say there would be entertainment tonight, Michael.”
“My last cat fight was my sophomore year in college. I was dating several girls in the same sorority. Well, as you can imagine that didn’t work out so well,” Shane said, sighing. “But the fight was a lot of fun to watch.”
“So am I the only one appalled at this?” Michael asked, pointing at the yelling, swearing women down the yard. His father looked like a referee trying to separate two wrestlers.
Shane and Luke looked at each other, then at Michael and shrugged.
“Unbelievable,” Michael said, laughing at the men who were contentedly watching the show.
About that time Carrie slid open the patio door. “Michael? I thought I heard yelling. What’s going on?”
Shane looked down at the pale brunette with incredibly beautiful turquoise eyes. He smiled in welcome. She didn’t even blink at his appearance.
“Hi. I’m Michael’s brother, Shane. This is his stepfather, Luke. The tall screaming redhead down the courtyard is my father’s girlfriend. Our father would be the sputtering bald guy caught between the two women. The pretty blond woman trying to hide behind him and use him for a human shield—well, that’s our mother. It’s nice to meet you, Carrie,” Shane said, sticking out a hand and laughing as she took it. “Welcome to the family. What chapter in my book do you want?”
Carrie could tell Michael’s brother was trying to get her to have a huge reaction, so she denied him the pleasure and looked at Michael instead.
“Seriously? This is your family?” she asked. “And this is your idea of a quiet dinner?”
“No. Actually, this is my idea of hell. The quiet dinner to meet the family was a dream I once had,” Michael said. “That dream is gone now. Lately, this is as good as it gets. See why I told you that you wouldn’t add anything to my drama? My parents have lost their damn minds lately.”
They all turned their attention to the courtyard as Jessica screamed and Ellen yelled pulling backward on Will’s shirt to keep him in front of her.
“How old are those people? Aren’t they all over 50?” Carrie asked, shaking her head in disbelief. “This is not high school.”
“Well, they were once all teachers. No—wait, Will was a principal for a long time,” Luke said, laughing at Ellen cowering behind Will and trying to reason with the hot-tempered redhead. This was even more entertaining than he’d imagined, Luke thought. It was even better to learn how passionate his wife truly was under all that reserve. He was more in love with her now than when he met her.
“Teachers? They’re teachers? You’re kidding, right?” Carrie asked.
“Well, teachers are just as human as the rest of us. They just have better self-control—usually,” Shane said, laughing. “Love always makes a mess of everyone.”
Carrie blinked in shock again, realizing they were going to do nothing to stop what was happening. She looked at all three of the men.
Luke smiled, Shane smiled, and Michael closed his eyes and shook his head from side to side. Unbelievably, Carrie felt sorry for Michael Larson. He seemed to be the least crazy person in his messed up family.