Page 43 of Absinthe Minded

“Everyone’s still sleeping.” I ran my hand over the back of my neck. Nadine made me nuts, but Nadine and Evelyn together were more than anyone should have to endure. “Have a seat, I’ll start some coffee.”

Maggie staggered down the hallway in one of her oversized T-shirts and little else. She offered me a sleepy smile on her way to the coffee pot.

I nodded toward the living room, but she didn’t take the hint.

Nadine cleared her throat. Maggie turned her head and her face paled.

I leaned close and whispered, “Our mothers are here. We’re supposed to have breakfast before the recital.”

“Oh no, what time is it?” Maggie went from sleep-deprived zombie to alert and freaking out in no time flat.

“Eight fifteen.” Nadine said from the bar.

Maggie turned and looked between Nadine and Evelyn, and then shotmea dirty look. “I’ll get the kids up.”

What the hell did I do this time?I kept my eyes on the pot while the coffee brewed.

“Where are the kids?” Maggie called from upstairs.

“In my room.” I answered before I thought the better of it.

Nadine huffed. “Where did you sleep?”

Evelyn’s smile changed from forced to downright cheerful. While she wanted me to bring all of her grandchildren under her roof and for the Guthrie women to disappear, she wouldn’t pass up the chance to rub Nadine’s nose in mine and Maggie’s relationship. “With Maggie. Where else? They’re getting—”

“To know each other. We’re getting to know each other. And no. We aren’t sharing a bed.” I shot my mom a warning look. The last thing I needed was her blabbing about the engagement before I’d gotten around to talking to Maggie about it.

Nadine narrowed her eyes and glanced between us. “Don’t tell me you approve of this situation.”

Evelyn shrugged. “What’s to approve of? They’re adults. As long as they’re happy and the kids are taken care of, I think it’s wonderful.”

It’s too early for this.“Coffee?”

Either they hadn’t heard or they ignored me.

The mood in the house had gone from cold to downright hostile in a matter of moments. If something didn’t change, I’d be refereeing a senior citizen cage match. Thankfully, Zach shuffled into the kitchen, hugged each of his grandmothers, and wandered to the coffee pot.

“Good morning.” I grinned. With his rumpled hair and drowsy smile, he reminded me of my older brother.

“Is it?” Zach yawned and filled his mug.

Ryan emerged next, raring to go. “Grandmas!”

Nadine and my mother held their arms out to the boy, but he bypassed them and went straight to me.

“Hey, little man. Hungry?” I picked him up. It might have been wrong to use a small child as a human shield, but I’d take what I could get. I poured two cups of coffee and set one in front of each mother. “I should get Ella dressed.”

“You aren’t bringing a newborn to a dance recital, are you?” Nadine raised her chin and looked down her nose.

“Why shouldn’t he? Ella’s a good baby. Hardly makes a sound.” Evelyn turned and glared.

Nadine huffed. “It’s rude. People are there to watch their children dance, not to listen to a baby cry.”

God love her, my mother laughed and raised the tension in the room to DEFCON five. “I’ve been to enough of these things to know she won’t be the only crying baby in the building.”

“Oh, so shewillbe crying?” Nadine smirked. “My daughter has enough to deal with, getting Chloe ready. She doesn’t have time to take care of an infant.”

Evelyn pushed into the other woman’s personal space. “My son will take care of his child.”

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