“Morning,” Lachlan answered on the fifth ring.
“Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
He sighed. “Please do not tell me people are picketing outside the Gloaming about the anniversary ceilidh?”
I snorted. “Please don’t tell me that’s been a threat.”
“I wouldn’t put it past them. You’d think they’d be happy. I offered to pay for the whole bloody thing this year as recompense for the change of venue. Do they care? No. We changed their precious routine, and I am fielding calls every fucking day asking me if this or that will still happen this year or how not to use the fucking caterer Gordon used every year because no one really liked the food. Fuck.”
I covered another snort because I could hear how stressed he was, and it shouldn’t be funny.
“I can hear you smiling,” he snapped. “Aye, you wouldn’t be smiling if you were the one dealing with this shite.”
A chuckle escaped before I could stop it. “If it makes you feel any better, I can’t walk through the village without someone stopping to lecture me about what we should and shouldn’t be doing to the Gloaming.”
“No one likes change, apparently.” My big brother sighed, sounding exhausted.
At once feeling like a shit for making light of his stress, I asked, “Everything else okay?”
“Och, I’m just a bit knackered. I can’t seem to sleep.”
“Worrying about Robyn?” I guessed.
Lachlan hesitated, but then confessed, “Every minute of the day.”
Our mother, Vivien, died when I was barely three years old, after giving birth to Arro. A blood clot killed her. I didn’t remember her, but Lachlan and Thane, being the eldest, did. Even Brodan had memories of our mother. I remembered our aunt Imogen more. She was our dad’s sister, and I remember her stepping in to help because Dad checked out after Mum died. However, tragically, Aunt Imogen died in a hiking accident when I was seven.
The Adair men had an awful family history of losing the women they loved, and I knew from Thane the so-called curse had badly affected Lachlan in particular. He’d almost lost Robyn and pushed her away because of his fear of eventually losing her, anyway.
Maybe her pregnancy was bringing up some of that old trauma.
“She’ll be fine, Lachlan. She’s young and healthy.”
“I know.” His voice was hoarse. “Logically, I know that.”
“You know I’m here, aye? If you ever need me or need to talk … I know I haven’t been around in the past, but I’m here now.”
“I know. I know that, Arran,” he promised. “Thank you.”
I didn’t know what to say after that, emotion thickening my throat.
“So,” Lachlan broke the moment of silence, “bad news first?”
“Ah, yes, that. About the great room ceiling …”
* * *
I sauntered into Thane’s laundry room, hearing the bustle of his family in the main living area beyond. Since I’d taken up residence in my brother’s annex, Thane and Regan made it clear I always had an open invitation for dinner. So I followed my growling stomach into their place.
Unfortunately, when I stepped into the kitchen, it was to find Thane helping Regan into a jacket. They looked dressed up. Beyond them, Eredine played a board game with Eilidh and Lewis at the dining table.
Dirty dishes on the kitchen counter suggested they’d already eaten.
Thane frowned at me. “I thought you were out tonight.” He glanced questioningly at Regan.
Regan shrugged, face a perfect mask of innocence. “I thought that’s what he said.” She looked at me, still guileless. “Didn’t you say you were going out tonight?”
Confused, I shook my head. “Not that I recall.”
“Oh, I must have gotten mixed up.”
“But …” Thane sighed. “If I’d known Arran was here, we could have asked him to watch the kids instead of dragging Ery out.”
“Watch the kids? Where are you going?”
“Date night.” Thane slid an arm around Regan’s waist. “We’ve got a table booked at North Star.”
I raised an eyebrow. That was a pretty fancy restaurant and one of Arro’s favorites. “Occasion?”
Regan shrugged. “We haven’t had time alone in a while.”
“Reason enough.” I flicked another look at Eredine, anticipating an evening with her. “Well, I haven’t eaten, so I’ll just stick around if you don’t mind. Any leftovers?”
Regan nodded to a tray covered in foil. “Left some behind just in case. Pop it in to reheat.” She beamed. “Enjoy your night.”
“Will do, thanks. Enjoy yours.”
Thane eyed Regan with an expression that bordered on suspicious, but when she wrinkled her nose at him, he shook his head and turned to call out to the kids. “We’re leaving.”
“Bye!” They waved them away with barely a look, too engrossed in their game.
“Love you too,” Thane said dryly before he led Regan toward the exit. “We’ll be back by eleven.”
“Have fun, kiddies,” I said quietly. “No pulling over for car sex on the way home.”