Free Happily Ever After by E. L. Todd

assuage his doubt. “Did he say anything like that?”
    “No, Sean. He thinks of me as family.”
    He didn’t seem convinced.
    “Sean.”
    “What?”
    “You’re being paranoid and annoying. Drop it.”
    “Fine.”
    I could tell by the look in his eyes that the conversation was nowhere near over.

8
    Sean
    “Need any help, Mom?” I asked when we walked inside.
    “No. Everything is ready. Now we just have to wait for everyone to arrive.”
    I looked at my watch. My friends from college would be here soon. I knew they were excited about the wedding even though all the bridesmaids were taken. “Cool.”
    My mom sat down at the table and sighed, holding her cu p of coffee. “Did you have fun at the golf course?”
    “I kicked ass,” Andrew said as he kissed his wife on the head.
    She rolled her eyes. “No cussing, Andrew. We have company.”
    It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Our sons speak more profanities than a gangster.”
    “And I wonder why,” she said as she glared at him.
    He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down, avoiding her gaze.
    “Scarlet, I have something for you,” Diane said as she stood up. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I saw it when I was shopping the other day.” She left the room and returned with a dress on a hanger.  It was pristine white with a light pattern of flowers in the material. It was sleeveless and short, reaching down to Scarlet’s thighs.
    “It’s beautiful,” Scarlet said.
    “You’ll wear it?” Diane asked happily.
    “Of course I will. Thank you.”
    “And I got these shoes to match. Sorry, I only had sons. I never had the opportunity to buy cute things like this.”
    I smiled, loving that my mom did something sentimental for Scarlet. I didn’t have to ask her to be on her best behavior.
    “It looks like a perfect fit,” Scarlet said.
    “I know what looks good on my daughter.”
    Scarlet smiled as she touched the dress, moved by her words.
    “I’ll leave it on the couch. You can take it upstairs when you’re ready.”
    “Okay.”
    We gathered around the table . I placed my hand on Scarlet’s thigh, feeling the skin of her leg. I rubbed it gently, taking courage in her touch before I spoke.
    “Mom, Dad, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
    My mom looked at me. “And what would that be?”
    I took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking lately…and…I would like to take over the company if the offer still stands.”
    My mom clapped her hands together and smiled, overjoyed by my words. My dad’s stoic expression was replaced by a grin.
    “The offer always stands,” my dad said. “We’re very happy to hear that.”
    My mom placed her hand on her chest. “It gave me nightmares knowing you were working in some dead-end job, making horrible money, when you could be here, right where you belong. You’ve made us so happy.”
    I nodded. “Scarlet wanted me to do it. You can thank her.”
    Andrew smiled at her. “Thank you for talking some sense into my son.”
    “Are you moving here?” My mom asked.
    I nodded.
    She jumped up. “My baby boy is coming home.” She came around the table and hugged me. “I’m so glad you aren’t staying in Seattle. That’s too far. I need to see my grandkids as much as possible.”
    “You’re jumping the gun, Mom. Scarlet and I won’t be having kids anytime soon.”
    “But you’ll be having them?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    My mom hugged Scarlet. “This is the most wonderful news.”
    My dad looked at me. “Now we can retire early. I was getting sick of that place.”
    “Well, Sean might run it into the ground,” Mike said.
    I looked at my brother. “We can do this together if you want. It’s half yours.”
    He took a drink of his coffee then returned it to the table. “Nah.”
    “Why not?” I asked. “We can split the work. It would be less work for both of us.”
    He shook his head but said nothing.
    My mom looked at him. “If you ever change your mind, I know Sean