“Do you really think I’m going to do anything to jeopardize Ari’s placement here? She’s ours. Mom wanted that. You got caught up in a shitty situation and made a choice. I can’t say as it’s the one I’d have made, and it’s sure as shit not the one I’d expect from you. But you made it, you’re in it, so I’ll back you up.”
Pru let out a long breath and, with it, some of the tension she’d been carrying around for the past couple of days. “Thank you. What about Kennedy and Maggie?”
“You leave Maggie to me.”
“What will you tell her?”
“The trumped up, long-distance relationship version. She’s going to lose her shit either way. She’ll lose it less over that version. I’ll talk her through it. Kennedy’s on you. I’m guessing she’s not gonna react particularly well to any of this.”
“Probably not,” Flynn agreed. “Xander may feel compelled to adjust my face with his fist.”
Pru shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“He warned me off you.”
“He what? When?”
“That night at the bachelor party, after you went back inside.”
“He has always had that brother vibe going toward you,” Athena added.
“For God’s sake, I’m a grown woman. Who I take to bed is none of his concern.”
“I’m pretty sure none of us thought about you taking anybody to bed at all.”
“Because good old, reliable Pru doesn’t have a life.” God that tasted bitter on her tongue.
“No. Because you’re the most like Mom. Responsible and circumspect. You wouldn’t take anyone who didn’t matter, and we didn’t know anyone did.”
That mollified her—a little—even as it made her feel exposed. But Athena wasn’t wrong. Flynn did matter. More than she wanted him to.
“Does that cover everything?” Athena asked.
“I suppose it does.”
“Okay then. Ari, you can stop hovering outside the door. We know you’re there.”
Pru sighed. Of course, she was.
“Are y’all done, yet?”
“Yes, I think we are.” One sister knew and the world hadn’t ended. Maybe they’d get through this after all.
“Good, ’cause Athena promised me a game of Redneck Life.”
“I want in on that,” Flynn declared. “You owe me a rematch.”
“Count me in, too. I’ve got just enough time for one round before my afternoon appointments.” And there was nowhere she’d rather spend it than with her family.
~*~
“There’s my bouncing baby boy! It’s been ages.”
Flynn felt a trickle of guilt and was glad he hadn’t engaged the video feed when he called his mother from the office computer. He usually made it a point to check in at least once a week, but he hadn’t managed even once since he’d hit Eden’s Ridge. “Sorry, Ma. How are things?”
“Oh, we’re right as rain, we are. Your da and I are keeping Murphy and Tim, while Ciara and Mick are having a little holiday, just the two of them. Between you and me, I think they’re trying for a girl to add to the mix this time.”
Flynn had a moment to wish his engagement was real and that he’d be the one providing a granddaughter for his mother to spoil. She and Ari would be mad for one another. “And I’m sure you’re entirely put out by the chance to be a doting gran all week.”