My mother sat beside me, asking in a not-so-quiet voice, when Avery and I could give her another grandchild, since we’d make beautiful babies.
My father leaned back, smirking, as he informed me I got all my moves from him, and no wonder Avery had been unable to resist me.
There was laughter and teasing, and in the midst of it all, Avery glowed.
“Daniel tells me your parents live in B.C., Avery,” my mom stated. “You must miss them?”
Avery nodded, her eyes misty.
I slipped my arm around her shoulders in comfort. I knew how much she missed her parents and how lonely she was at times.
“I do. They visit every year, and it’s where I go on my holidays, but it isn’t the same as having them close all the time.”
My mom patted her arm in sympathy.
“The climate suits them, and they love it there.”
“I am sure they miss you, as well.”
“They do, but they are happy, and that’s all that matters.”
My mom caught my eye, her eyebrow lifting slightly. I had a feeling she would be happy to fill the void Avery felt in her life. I could already see how easily she would slip into that area of my life as well, and become a part of us. She had already slipped into my heart.
My parents knew how we met. The wagers Caitlin and I made with each other had grown bigger every passing year. Avery laughed the hardest when Caitlin told her of the bet I had lost, and the fact I had to attend an all-male review, sit in the front row, and tip some of the performers. Caitlin sat beside me the entire time laughing uncontrollably and shoving money in my hand, pointing out the next moment of embarrassment for me.
Then Caitlin told her the story of the bet she lost. “I had to hold a snake and a spider.” She shivered. “They scare me.”
“Don’t you have to deal with them at the clinic, as well?”
“No,” Daniel explained. “There’s an exotic pet veterinarian closer to Toronto. I recommend him for people with unusual pets.”
Avery’s eyes were sympathetic as she gazed at my sister. “So what happened?”
Caitlin chuckled over the memory. “Daniel took me to the shop, all prepared to make me go through with it, except when he saw how scared I was, he held them. I did touch them though, and he called it done.”
Avery gazed at me tenderly. “You’re too sweet.”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t fun when I saw how scared she was—I mean, so petrified she was shaking. I thought she was going to pass out
just having to touch them. I made her eat a jalapeno popper at lunch though. She hates spicy food.”
Avery leaned close, kissing my cheek, her lips lingering. “You’re a good man, Daniel Spencer.”
I ducked my head and grabbed my coffee. I liked knowing she felt that way.
My dad cleared his throat. “I think this is perhaps the best wager of them all, yeah? I think we all won.” He gave Caitlin and me a stern look. “Maybe it’s time to call an end to the wagers.”
I reached for the coffee pot. “Dream on, Dad.”
He laughed, deep and rumbling in his chest.
“Worth a shot.”
“Good try.”
Everything was going great, aside from the embarrassment that was my family, until Caitlin set down the plate of remade pancakes on the table. “Oh, Jeanne and Chris invited us over after. It’s Emily’s birthday—they have a whole circus set up in the backyard! We can go over after we’re done eating!”
In one smooth move, I was down on my knees in front of Avery, catching Chloe before she could drop her, gripping her hand. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched as I shook my head at Avery. “No clowns,” I assured her in a hushed voice. “Not happening.”