Page 62 of Wanting a Family Man

“I’m okay. Honestly.” She was still breathless. “I just need to blow my nose.” She kissed the top of Biyen’s head. “I love you, buddy. You’re the best.” She took the tub of dirty dishes with her.

“She doing okay?” Trystan asked Logan as he retook his seat.

“Good days and bad. Mostly good, right, Champ?” he asked Biyen.

“Yeah. She cried the other day because I asked when you guys are getting married. She got sad that Gramps wouldn’t be there.”

“Yeah,” Logan said heavily, then added with a more self-deprecating tone. “Then she said that won’t change so we might as well get it over with.”

While Cloe bit back a choke of laughter, Trystan asked, “Has she been going to the Reid Fraser School of Romance?”

“I won’t hear a single word against my star pupil.” Reid sent a hard look around the table.

“Shush, all of you. You’re missing the important part.” Emma leaned forward with anticipation. “Have you guys set adate?”

“I think so?” Logan looked to the door as it opened.

Quinley came out with the pitchers of margaritas and a Shirley Temple that she set in front of Biyen. Sophie was behind her, carrying a tray of glasses.

“That’s from Uncle Reid,” Sophie said to her son. “What do you say?”

“Thank you, Uncle Reid.” Biyen snatched it up and Storm immediately reached both hands for it.

“Sorry, kiddo. You get water.” Emma offered Storm’s sippy cup to her.

“Can I hold her?” Cloe asked.

“Sure.” Emma brought her out, then sprinkled a few cheese cubes on a plate so Storm happily sat in Cloe’s lap while she ate them.

Once all the drinks were poured and Quinley had gone back inside, Emma said, “Well?”

“Well, what?” Sophie asked blankly, holding her glass aloft for clinks.

“Logan said you’ve set a date.”

“For what? Oh.” She chuckled. “You didn’t tell them what I said.”

“I absolutely did.”

“Not my finest moment, but yeah, we thought Thanksgiving. It’s pretty quiet here in October, but the weather isn’t fully awful yet.”

“Um…” Cloe started to say.

“Canadian Thanksgiving is October,” Trystan leaned closer to say, brushing his arm against hers and stalling her breath. His foot shifted to align with hers, too.

“It should be quiet enough that we could get away for a few days afterward. If one of you could cover the marina?” Logan looked between his brothers.

“And maybe you could keep Biyen?” Sophie asked Emma. “He’ll be in school.”

“We’d love that.” Emma nodded with enthusiasm.

They all clinked and congratulated the couple and Cloe forced herself to keep her smile on her face, already sure that she would miss it because the tours would be long over by then.

“While we’re talking childcare, we were hoping you two could manage Storm while we visit Miriam?” Emma said. “Reid got us flights a week from this Friday. Logan would have her on the weekend, then you’d have her Sunday and Monday night, Trys. We’d come back Tuesday afternoon.”

“We can make that work.” Trystan and Logan shared a nod.

“I’ll tell Mom to come that weekend,” Logan said. “So she can help if we need her.”

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