Page 67 of Wanting a Family Man

Just a moment where he had felt as though he stood with his toes curled against the edge of a cliff and had been about to throw himself off.

Thankfully, Storm seemed to have plunged straight to REM level. She didn’t stir when he set her in her crib and draped a light blanket over her.

He picked up the baby monitor and came downstairs to hear the women talking about her.

“It sounds like she gave them a rough night.” Glenda’s voice was filled with amusement. “Sophie told Logan she was going home to mow the lawn, but she toldmeshe was going for a nap.”

“Sophie is so funny. So is Biyen. Congratulations, I guess?” Cloe faltered. “Is it proper etiquette to congratulate the parents of people who get engaged? Maybe it only applies if they arranged it.”

“Oh, this was definitely something Sophie’s mother and I conspired toward from the time they were in grade school. I’m very happy to accept congratulations for it. You got her down?” Glenda asked Trystan as he came into the kitchen.

“We’ll see.” He set the monitor on the island and said of the coffee Glenda was making, “Youdolove me.”

“Who would dare not?” she asked with indignance. “Give me their names.”

“Logan.” He stole a cookie from the container on the counter and shoved it between his teeth, adding a muffled, “Reid. Cloe?”

“I don’t know how to answer that,” she said, deliberately misunderstanding him. “Glenda sounds serious and she’s very close to the kitchen knives.”

“She cooked professionally most of her life.” He removed the cookie from his mouth. “Her knife skills are excellent. She could probably make it look like an accident.” He brought the open container of cookies to the table where Cloe sat and left it there.

“I wish you wouldn’t act as though you boys don’t care about each other.” Glenda lifted an admonishing gaze to him as he devoured the chocolate chip oatmeal in three bites. “The world won’t stop spinning, you know.”

“What do you think causes climate change? We all showed up here four months ago and started being nice to our little sister. Now the ice caps are melting.”

“Has it only been four months?” Glenda glanced at the calendar on the wall.

“Four and a half? We got here April first.” They were already into the second week of August.

“And how long have you been here, Cloe?” Glenda left him leaning on the counter by the coffee maker and joined Cloe at the table.

“Um…” Cloe licked her lips, growing more alert as Glenda sat down facing her, as though she sensed she was about to be interrogated.

It wouldn’t be anything so dramatic. Glenda was more of a therapist who invited you to spill your guts, but she was definitely digging for intel on what was going on between them.

“I guess two weeks or so? It feels longer.” Cloe glanced over at him, lips quirking before she returned her attention to Glenda. “I’m trying to figure out where I should look for work once the tours are finished, so it will still be convenient to come here and visit Storm.”

“As soon as you find where that is, you let me know,” Glenda said.

Cloe chuckled. “I came on the midnight ferry myself. Do you visit often?”

“Once or twice a year. More this year because we had the two funerals. Wilf, and then Art, Sophie’s grandfather. I came to help with the baby a couple of times, too. And we had Reid and Emma’s wedding reception. Now I’m here for Logan and Sophie’s engagement. Those celebrations are worth a little inconvenience.”

The coffeemaker quit gurgling so Trystan took mugs from the cupboard, trying not to react to Cloe’s talk of leaving.

“Clo? You’re having coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“None for me, thank you. I’m coffeed out,” Glenda said.

Trystan poured a glass of water for Glenda and brought it with the filled mugs.

“You’ve been working with Trystan on the tours, Logan said. How is that going?”

“Really good. The guests have been great and come on.” Cloe waved at the window. “One couple on this recent tour said they’ve been on literally a hundred cruises. They started doing them on their honeymoon and book two or three a year. I can’t imagine having that kind of money,” she said in an aside. “But they said this was one of the best ever, and I’m gettingpaidto be on it. I feel like I’ve won the lottery.”

“Hmm.” Glenda’s noise was halfway between amusement and speculation. She glanced at Trystan.

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