Page 104 of Dr. Single Dad

“No, but we—Eira and I—bought the lot. I’m planning to build a place on it,” I say. “As our families expand, even with Madison and Nathan having the place nearby, there just won’t be enough space.”

Mum lets out a sob, and I turn to her.

“You’re upset?” I ask. I really hoped she’d be pleased.

Her eyes are filled with tears, and Dad takes her hand. “Told you,” he mumbles to her, and she nods.

“What’s going on?” Beau asks. “Did I miss something?”

“Your mother is happy, that’s all,” Dad says.

“Could have fooled me,” I say.

Dad pats me on the shoulder, and I feel like I should know something I don’t.

“What?” I ask. “What’s going on?”

“I just thought you’d be the one I’d lose,” Mum says. “Of all of you, you were always the most distant.” She shakes her head. “I blame myself because?—”

“No!” Dad bellows. “Not having that. He’s both of ours. We both worked. If Dax was neglected, you’re not taking the blame.”

“We were all neglected,” Beau says, laughing. “I could make a spaghetti bolognese at eleven years old.”

Jacob rolls his eyes. “Boo-fucking-hoo. That’s not such a big deal. We were just a busy, big family. We had to get resourceful at times. That’s no bad thing.”

“None of us were neglected,” Zach says. He looks around as if he’s expecting everyone to agree with him. Is he new? The only way to build consensus in this family is to target a common enemy. Or to have a baby.

“No one was neglected,” Vincent says. “And that includes me.”

“But Dax was always a little different,” Dad says. “Your mother always thought it was because he was the last of you. My theory was that he was just disdainful of us all.”

“Oh he’s definitely disdainful,” Beau says with a chuckle.

“I still don’t understand why Mum is crying,” says Jacob.

“She’s just relieved Dax isn’t going anywhere,” Dad says.

“Where would I go?” I ask, completely confused.

Dad pats my back, and I look at Mum, wondering if someone’s going to answer me.

“I thought you’d just drift away, that’s all,” she says. “I didn’t expect you to…be here.” She clears her throat. “But I’m ever so grateful that you are. And Guinevere and Eira. And Eddie and Dylan too. You know you are now officially part of our family.” She looks at Eddie as her voice cracks, and I pull her into a hug.

“We’re like the Mafia,” Dad says. “Once you’re in, there’s no getting out.”

“You didn’t neglect me.” I speak low and directly into her ear. I want her to know I mean it. “I never felt neglected. I felt independent.” Eira was neglected by her parents, but I never was. I pull back. “And now we’re going to be neighbors. But not because I don’t want to be with you. I’m just being practical.”

“I’m delighted,” she says. “You’ll be a few yards away. The best of both worlds.”

“There’s room in this field for more than one house, isn’t there?” Beau asks, and everyone laughs.

“It’s going to be a compound,” Kate says. “In the best way. And it will be great to have people’s extended family up here. I know Granny’s said she’ll come up this summer.”

“We’d love to have her,” Mum says.

“We would,” Dad agrees.

A grumble of thunder steals our attention and we all look to the sky.

---