Merry Little Cluster Fudge (The Price of Love #3.5)

8. Chapter Eight

Meghan

"We just want you to be happy, Daddy," I said, pulling him into a hug.

"Thanks, sweetie," he said, patting my back. "I am happy. Patricia is generous and kind. And it's nice to have an... intimate connection with someone again."

"Gross, Dad! I don't need to hear that," Emmett whined.

Our father laughed. "Sorry, Son. But after your little display of post-coital cluster fuckery, it seemed only fair."

Emmett grumbled under his breath. Dad plucked a bright red and green Christmas tin from the bar top. "Here," he said, handing the tin to Emmett. "Have some fudge. Patricia's goodies always make me feel better."

I let out a very unladylike snort-laugh. "Oh, I bet they do."

"Meghan!" The familiar voice of my amazing mother-in-law rang out across the breezy patio bar.

"Ellie!" I jogged the few feet to meet her, scooping her tiny bird-like frame into my arms. She was the mother I always wanted and never got to have—until Wick came into our lives when I was a gangly pre-teen. She always treated Emmett and me like we were her kids too. These days, she was more like a best friend. "How was your flight?"

Ellie's slender shoulders shook with laughter as she pulled away from our embrace. "Oh, sweetie, it was quite the adventure. You know how Bob gets when he's anxious."

I rolled my eyes, picturing my boisterous father-in-law pacing the airport terminal. "Let me guess, he tried to charm his way into first class again?"

"Worse," Ellie sighed with exasperated affection. "He insisted on giving the pilot flying tips. Can you believe it? My husband, who's never flown anything more complicated than a paper airplane, lecturing a commercial airline pilot."

I giggled. "Classic Bob. How'd that go over?"

"About as well as you'd expect. The flight attendant threatened to duct tape him to his seat if he didn't sit down and behave. And don't even get me started on the turbulence. I swear, Bob's screams were louder than the engine."

"Hey, Mom." Wick's deep voice rumbled behind me as he approached.

Ellie smiled fondly at her son. "Hi, honey!"

Wick gave his mom a quick kiss on the cheek before wrapping an arm around my waist.

"I was just telling Meghan about your dad's meltdown on the plane."

"Oh, lord. Where is he now?"

"He and Bill are taking our bags up to our rooms. I couldn't wait to see my babies!"

"GRANDMA!" As if summoned by her words, Case, Cara, Mia, and Lucas came barreling into her legs, jockeying for hugs.

"Oh my goodness, let me get a look at you!"

Ellie crouched down and inspected each grandchild. "My, my, you've all grown so much! Case, you're getting so tall. And Cara, what a beautiful swimsuit! And here's Lucas and Mia. You two are practically adults now!"

The kids giggled, basking in their grandmother's attention. I smiled ruefully, remembering how starved for affection I'd been at their age. These kids will never know that pain.

Carter and Olivia approached. Olivia's face lit up at the sight of her mother. I experienced a pang of envy, there and gone in an instant. Ellie didn't need to be my biological mother for us to be family. Wick wasn't genetically related to the twins, but he was no less their dad than Marco was.

"Hi, Mom! I'm so glad you're here," Olivia exclaimed, wrapping Ellie in a warm, sunshine hug—an Olivia Cassidy specialty.

"Olivia, dear, it's so good to see you," Ellie said, patting her cheek affectionately. She turned to Carter, who bent down to receive a quick peck on the cheek. "And Carter. Keeping my daughter in line, I hope?"

Carter's lips twitched. "You know it's the other way around, Ellie."

As they chatted, I noticed Patricia hovering nearby, looking unsure. Olivia, sweetheart that she was, picked up on it immediately. "Oh! Mom, there's someone I'd like you to meet," she said, gesturing Patricia over. "This is Patricia. She's... um..." Olivia faltered, clearly unsure how to introduce Dad's new girlfriend.

Patricia stepped forward and extended her hand. "I'm Thomas's friend. It's lovely to meet you, Ellie."

Ellie's eyebrows shot up. I could practically see the gears turning in her head. "Thomas's... friend?" she repeated, her tone carefully neutral.

I held my breath, waiting for her reaction. She was one of the few people in the world whose good opinion I cared about.

But it turned out, I had nothing to worry about. After a moment's pause, Ellie's face broke into a genuine smile. "Well, any friend of Thomas is a friend of ours. Welcome to the family chaos, dear."

Patricia's posture relaxed, and she returned Ellie's smile. "Thank you. I brought some fudge. Can I tempt you?"

"Fudge? Oh, honey, you're going to fit right in here."