Page 38 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

I gave it to TJ, and he instantly poked an egg bite on the tines and shoveled it into his mouth.

While he was busy eating, I went back over to the coffee and finished making us cups. “You should have woken me when he got up.”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “I heard his little feet hit the wood floor and knew he was up. You were sleeping so soundly, and you really needed it. Besides, I enjoyed having some quiet time with him. He’s super affectionate and cute as a button when he’s yammering away in Norwegian.”

I smiled and went up behind her, glancing at TJ to make sure he had all that he needed. He was busy shoveling food into his mouth. The boy had a healthy appetite just like his Dad had. I wrapped my arms around Summer as she poured more egg mixture into the pan.

“Thank you for being here.” I kissed the side of her neck and squeezed her around the waist.

“Jack, there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be. TJ needs us. You most of all, but maybe me too.” She turned her head and stared into my eyes. “Don’t count me out just yet. I’m stronger than you think.”

“Baby, you are the strongest person I’ve ever met. The way you handled me yesterday, took charge of everything, helped me with TJ, put me to bed, taking on the morning.”

“And I’ll do it again and again for the people I care about. Jack, I liked what we started back in California. I don’t want to change any of it.”

“But we have to because I have a new responsibility. One I can’t in good conscience expect you to tackle too.”

“You don’t get to decide what I want for me. I’m telling you here and now,”—she held up the spatula as though it were her liberty torch—“I am all in. Wife, business mentee, and now stepmother.”

I shook my head and sighed. “It’s too soon for you to decide something like that. Having TJ changes everything. As I mentioned before, I live for him now, not me.”

“As you should. That’s what a good parent does. That’s what my parents taught me. It won’t be an easy transition, but we’ve got each other to lean on. Oh, and they’ll be here by dinner.”

I jerked my head back. “Who?”

“My family.” She said this as if it wasn’t a big deal and pushed the eggs around until they were fluffy yellow clouds.

“Your family is coming here? To Oslo? To Norway?”

She looked at me and frowned. “Of course they are.”

“Of course? What? Why?” I gasped.

Summer looked at me as though I had the IQ of a gnat before she cocked her head. “Because there was a death in the family, Jack. TJ lost his mom. You lost your sister. We need family around to get through the days ahead as we figure all of this out.”

We need family around.

I was genuinely shocked dumb. I didn’t know what to say other than to nod.

Summer plated the eggs but kept talking. “I know you’re not used to having a tight-knit family, honey, but you’re marrying into one. We take care of one another during the good times and the bad. This one is super bad. The troops have been rallied and will be here by dinner. Mom already has presents for her new grandson. Her words not mine. If you don’t like her calling herself grandma, you’ll want to give me the heads up now, and I’ll talk to her privately. And Autumn says she’s bringing someprotective crystals for TJ’s room. We’ll have to put them up high enough he can’t reach them. I’ll make sure Dad takes care of that.” She rattled on as I heard the toaster go off.

“Your mother, father, and sister will be here by dinner?” I said out loud, still stupefied by this news.

She gestured to the table where she’d put our plates, filled with scrambled eggs and toast. “Yeah, I just said that. Weren’t you listening?”

I sat down and watched as she tore off a piece of buttered toast and handed it to TJ. He immediately grabbed it and started gnawing on it.

“Bet that feels good on those teefers, huh buddy,” she cooed.

TJ and Summer went back and forth sharing bits and pieces of language that neither of them knew and having a blast doing it.

I spaced out for a while, thinking days ahead about what had to be done for Ellen and TJ. My plate was empty as Summer grabbed it and took it to the sink. I didn’t even remember eating anything.

Summer clapped her hands, unlatched the buckle on TJ’s seat, and lifted him onto her hip. “Okay, buddy, bath time!”

Fuck. Bath time. TJ probably hadn’t had one since the night before we talked with him and Ellen on the phone. I should have thought of that. His welfare should have been the number one thing on my mind. I didn’t even wake when he got up this morning. Nor was I the one that made him breakfast or realized he needed to be cleaned and dressed for the day ahead. I was already a shitty father and needed to seriously catch up.

Summer was incredibly good at this parenting business. Maybe she really did want to tackle this new world of being parents with me. I shook my head. No, she was just being kind. The woman was naturally giving and nurturing to everyone. Atthe very least, I could learn a few things from her while we put Ellen to rest.

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