Astrid set him on his feet and patted his backside. “Off with you, you mongrel.”
Mic smiled up at me and wound her arm around my waist. “See what you’re getting into?”
Dipping my head, my mouth brushed her ear. “I do. They’re crazy, and I like it. I like you.”
She pressed her cheek to mine. “I like you too.”
“Oh, wow.” Astrid clapped. “You are just too adorable for words. I could eat you up.”
Lars draped his arm over her shoulders. “Leave the kids alone, Astrid.”
She rolled her eyes, and as he steered her away, she said, “Have you ever known me to leave anyone alone, darling?”
Michaela opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Gabby approaching with open arms. “Oh, Moses. I am filled with delight to be seeing you again. I wondered if we would encounter one another once more. My daughter can be a touch unforgiving, and my Lord, did you screw up, but here you are, and I’m so pleased.”
“Unforgiving? Mom, are you kidding me?”
Gabby tutted. “Well, of course some actions are unforgivable, your ex-husband is a prime example of that. But you do hold a grudge. Aren’t you still mad at Ansel for wrecking your baking soda volcano in third grade?”
Michaela’s face instantly transformed to furious. “Hell yes I am. Has he ever apologized? The man poured glue in my volcano, and Julie Sanders won the science fair. It was bullshit.”
Gabby’s eyes drifted to mine, her eyebrows raising, as if to say, “See?”
“Darling, you wouldn’t have won anyway. A volcano? That’s been done far too many times to warrant a blue ribbon.”
Michaela huffed. “You will not logic me out of my righteous anger.”
Gabby cupped her daughter’s cheek. “You gave him a black eye. I call that settled.”
“Glue, Mother. The child was a sociopath.”
She gave Mic’s cheek a pat. “It’s time to move on, darling. Wouldn’t you say, Mo?”
I held my hands up. “I don’t really want to be on either of your bad sides.”
Mic’s arm around me squeezed. “Brilliant answer. Because as much as she chides me, my mother has grudges older than me.”
Gabby straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. “As any diva does.” Then she flounced away, her caftan trailing behind her like streamers.
“Are you speechless?” Michaela asked, giving my side a pinch.
“Uh, I think so?”
“I come from a long line of characters. It’s in my blood, but it mostly skipped me. I have no explanation for Astrid. She’s just a Swedish, crystal-yielding, crazy lady with a heart of gold.” She pressed her hand to my chest. “Are you scared?”
I took her hand in mine and nibbled the tips of her fingers, my tone solemn when I asked, “Are you sure it skipped you?”
It took her a second, then she sputtered and slapped my chest. “You little shit.”
“I’m not scared, Mic. Fascinated, but not afraid. I’m glad our girl’s going to have cousins and grandparents who love her and get her.”
And I wondered how Mic could’ve once told me she didn’t know what home was when she had all this. From where I was standing, she had a whole lot.