I close my eyes and fight through mortification. “I thought we were being quiet.”
She snorts, which turns to a burst of laughter hidden behind her fist as she finishes a bite of bacon. “Babe,no. You werenotquietat all.”
“You think anyone else heard?”
She shakes her head. “No. You’re on the end, and there’s only the den beneath you. We only heard because we were in my room.”
“I thought you guys were downstairs.”
“We came up.” She leans in again for another barely audible whisper. “Can you walk okay? You need some ice for your lady bits?”
“MAL!” I hiss again, louder.
She giggles. “You know I won’t tell anyone.”
I eye her. “Good. Because Rev saw you and Kellan go into the woods and come out with your skirt twisted.”
She grins, not at all embarrassed. “We’re all adults, Mike, we’re not teenagers anymore.” She leans against me and shoulders me affectionately. “I’m just glad you found someone worth your while. I always thought Darren was way beneath you. We all thought from like, the first time you brought him home that it was obvious you deservedwaybetter.”
I frown at this. “No one ever said anything.”
She frowns back. “Uh, yeah, we did, babe. I told you I didn’t like him. Ana says she told you before you walked down the aisle that it wasn’t too late. Dad and the boys never even took him hunting or anything. Angus flat out hated him, and I think he told you you could do better.”
I blink—and think back…and realize for the first time ever that she’s absolutely right. “My god.” I groan. “You’re so right. I must’ve blocked all that out.”
“I never knew what you saw in him. None of us did. We figured you were in love, because you ignored all of us.” She goes back to her breakfast. “Anyway, I’m glad you found him.” A grin, a giggle. “And honestly, if I wasn’t so in love with Kells it hurts, I’d be jealous. That is onefinehunk of man meat, sis.”
I roll my eyes at her, stifling a pleased grin.
* * *
After breakfast,Mom and Angus go to bring Dad home, and the rest of us hang out. Family shows up, gradually, until the house is as full as yesterday.
After a while, there’s a commotion at the front door, and I hear Dad’s voice bellowing for me. “WHERE’S MY MIKEY-BABY! HEARD YOU GOT YOURSELF AREALMAN!”
I sigh, laugh, and leave Rev on the couch to go greet him. Dad is big and brawny, his once-blond hair now mostly silver, with a beard that ranges from short and neat to long and bushy, depending on the season and his mood. Currently, it’s in the wild man phase, down to his chest, bushy, almost explosive. He’s got my eyes, or rather I’ve got his. He’s always been vital, energetic, loud, boisterous, funny. Even at rest, drinking coffee or watching a movie, some part of him is moving—knee bouncing, fingers tapping. He’s in a wheelchair, one leg in a cast up to his hip, a brace around his neck, face bruised like he’d gone into the cage with Rev, and even sitting in the wheelchair it’s clear he’s in pain from his broken ribs. He’s his usual self, though.
He reaches for me, half rising from his chair as I bend down to hug him. “Baby girl,” he whispers, his voice gruff—for all his half-wild manic energy, he’s never been afraid to show his emotions. “Glad you’re home, darlin’, glad you’re home.” Louder then. “So. Where’s this man of yours I heard so much about? Story is, he showed that good for nothin’ waste of breath ex o’ yours the what for.”
I laugh, accompany him as Angus pushes his chair into the kitchen. “He’s here, Daddy. Rev, come meet my dad.”
Rev unfolds from the sectional, wipes his palms on his jeans. Unless I miss my guess, Rev isnervous—he’s faced combat, faced death, fought in cages and wars, and yet he’s nervous to meet my father. He comes around, strides over to Dad and shakes his hand.
There’s a moment. Dad squeezes, and I know Dad, which means he’s squeezinghard. Rev gives it right back, not looking away from Dad’s eyes.
Dad breaks first, looking at me with a grin. “Yeah, buddy, this’un’ll do, yes sir.” To Rev, then. “Dang near broke my hand, son, and by golly there’s enough o’ me broke as it is.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Donovan,” Rev says, somewhat slowly, taking in the noise and charisma and energy that is my father. “Thank you for having me in your home.”
Dad’s grin widens. “Manners, too!” He glances at me. “Tell me, Mike, where’d you dig up a bruiser like that? By the looks of ‘im, he could wrassle ol’ Gumption and come out on top.”
I snicker, explain the joke to Rev. “Gumption is our bull. Biggest bull I’ve ever seen, and I did 4H for ten years.”
“Big?” Dad waves a paw. “Gumption ain’t justbig, that ol’ bull is meaner’n the devil hisself.” To Rev. “Why, one time, I was fixin’ a stretch of fence, and that ol’ boy took it into his head he didn’t like that all that much, so he charged me. I tell you, I hopped over that fence so fast, I thought an angel of the Almighty must’a tossed me over, and that dang bullstillabout put a new hole in my carcass.”
Rev’s lips twitch. “Never wrestled a bull, sir, but I’ll give it a shot if you want.”
Dad roars with laughter. “He’ll give it a shot, he says,” Dad says, wiping his eyes. Abruptly, he’s serious. “Heard about your scuffle with my ex-son-in-law. You took care of my baby girl, son, and that means somethin’ to me. I been up nights for years, worried for my girl. She’s got someone at her back, watchin’ out for her, takin’ care of her like she deserves, I might just sleep again.”
