26. 26

26

Kalle

T wo things happen at family dinner: For once, my father beats us to the table.

And Gunnar brings a date.

Stella clutches her glass of wine with a wide-eyed expression that tells me right off how nervous she is. It's still strange to see her with her natural hair colour—Stella has had funky hair for years now. The reddish brown makes her look more like her father.

Or Duncan before he went gray.

She's flanked by Gunnar and Spencer, her half-brother, both trying to ease her worries about being here. I can tell Duncan is, too, but doesn't want to push.

"So nice to have Stella with us tonight," Dad says in his heartiest of voices as plates of tenderloin atop of a bed arugula are served. Baby carrots and tiny roasted potatoes round out the meal.

I much prefer tonight's dinner to my lasagna from last night. Or maybe it was the company.

Although I did run into Fenella as she was leaving the castle. She's been staying here since the wedding as Gunnar's guest, but I don't know how much time Gunny has been spending with her. It's been Stella all the time since they got together .

I can't see Fenella wanting to be a third wheel with a new couple, but I hope she's found someone to hang out with.

There is not one bit of regret or guilt that person isn't me. All I feel for her is a mild fondness.

Edie, on the other hand… All want to do is finish dinner and call her.

I can't wait to tell her what I came up with for our date. Our very first date.

"It's about time one of us brought someone," Gunnar says under his breath, cutting into his steak.

"Got a bit of wedding fever there, little brother?" I ask. My tone is jovial; maybe too jovial because Spencer and Bo both glance over with confusion.

"No," Gunnar replies quickly and Stella gives him a look. I like Stella. She's always been a bit of a firecracker and she'll keep Gunny in line. "You could have brought someone," he accuses. "Like Fenella."

"I'm not taking Fenella anywhere." I swear a hush of relief sweeps around the table at my words. "But I'm thinking…maybe… Edie?"

There's no hush after that. "Yes," Bo says simply.

"Finally," Gunnar cheers.

"I second that." Spencer is beside me and gives me a thump on the back.

Lyra frowns. "Just to make it clear, are you asking us or telling us?"

I shrug. "Just putting it out there."

"But why?" Lyra demands, pushing back her red hair as she leans across the table. "Did something happen? I thought she was hanging around Mathias? But you did crash at her place last night…" She trails off, blue eyes widening.

"No, that's not it." I'm quick to cut that off at the knees because Lyra is like a dog with a bone when she wants to know something. "Maybe I didn't want her to hang around Mathias."

Across the table, Stella snorts and Gunnar laughs. "I suggest not getting all territorial, big brother," Lyra cautions, leaning back and reaching for her glass of wine. "It's never a good look, and knowing Edie, I doubt she'll appreciate it."

"Mathias and Dante are still here," Dad interrupts. "We had dinner last night."

"Thank you for not inviting us," Bo surprises me by saying. He's the kindest of us all at this table, and for him not to want to be around Mathias—

Actually, it might not just be Mathias. Bo doesn't like to be around many people.

"Mathias isn't that bad," Duncan corrects. "It's Dante who makes things uncomfortable."

"Mathias's friends are horrible." Lyra's eyes flash in a way that suggests the big brother in me needs to get to the bottom of that statement.

"It's not all his fault," Dad cuts in. "But we're not getting into that. Has anyone heard from Odin and Camille?"

"Are we supposed to?" Gunnar grins. "They are on their honeymoon."

"Ten bucks says there'll be a little Odin in less than a year," Dad says .

If possible, Stella's eyes widen even more. I don't know why—she's known us forever, and she definitely knows what Dad is like.

I guess being estranged from her father Duncan changes things.

"Are you betting on your son getting pregnant?" she squeaks.

"Technically, it's not Odin who would be getting pregnant," Gunnar explains.

"I know the logistics of getting pregnant," Stella snaps, squeaky voice vanishing. Gunnar gives her a chagrined look and then smiles when she turns her head.

"It only took us ten months for Kalle," Dad comments as casually as if we're talking about the wedding rather than procreating.

"What are we supposed to say—good job, Dad?" Bo asks the question with a perfectly straight face, and the rest of us crack up.

This is why I like family dinners. For once, we stop being the royal family of Laandia and just be the Ericksons.

Even though the dining room—the small one we use for less formal meals—is still set up with candles and fine china with spoons so shiny I can check my hair. Gunnar did it once and Mom was horrified, so one of us would always make a point of checking whenever we sat down.

The table is big, but there are still empty seats. No one likes to look at where Mom used to sit. And no one would dare take her chair, even after years of her being gone.

"So what's going on with Edie?" Bo asks as the others start to discuss where Gunnar should take Stella on their trip. "Last thing I saw, you looked a little besotted with Ms. Carrington."

"Fenella is fun, but not really… She's got some baggage. "

He strokes his beard. "Since when has baggage bothered you? Should I start naming names, dude?"

I choke on my wine, knowing instantly who Bo is referring to. And not wanting to be reminded of her ever again. "That was not baggage, bro. She had a full set of luggage, plus a Hogwarts trunk."

Bo chuckles. "Seriously, though, why? I mean, why now? You and Edie have kept it platonic forever?" He narrows his eyes. "Or maybe you haven't."

"No, it's been just friends, but I was thinking—"

"Mathias?" Bo interrupts.

"No. Yeah. Maybe," I admit. "Him sniffing around maybe pushed me a little."

"If you're talking about bringing her to dinner, then that's a shove-in-front-of-the-train push," he warns. "Nothing little about that."

Eight years, and he's still gun-shy. Yesterday I wouldn't have hesitated to agree with Bo, but today…

"Maybe that's what I need," I tell him, my mind back on Edie. This is new; am I supposed to be thinking about her so much? Am I supposed to look for ways to bring her up in conversation?

Does this mean we're an official thing ?

I haven't even kissed her yet.

I had no plans to say anything, but at the first opportunity—pow, verbal diarrhea about all sorts of stuff.

There's no way I'm blurting out the fact we haven't even kissed yet.

Luckily, Lyra and Gunnar's mock argument about the virtues of hostels versus hotels holds the rest of the table's attention.

"So, why, then?" Bo asks again. "If it's not Mathias."

"Dad mentioned something about it," I hedge.

"About Edie?"

"No, about getting married. I'm not getting any younger."

"No, because you're older than me."

I shake my head. "That makes no sense."

"You are older than me, and therefore getting older all the time. Do you want to marry Edie?"

I drop my voice. "I already asked her," I admit. "Totally mucked it up though, and she turned me down flat."

"Seriously?" I shrug. "Whoa. I don't blame her. We're a lot to marry into."

I stare at Bo, and find a little hope. I asked Edie to marry me, and while I was serious, I knew that wasn't the way to do it. I don't often show my romantic side but when I do, I make an effort.

Yet, I didn't make an effort with Edie. I know that now.

I knew that then, too, but I didn't think it mattered much. Now, I'm more excited about Edie and giving things a try rather than jumping into marriage, but maybe someday…

Maybe someday, because I think Edie would be really good for this family.

And even better for me. But if we're too much for her, if I'm too much for her—

"Do you think that's why she said no?" I demand. "I just thought it was because I made a mess of it."

"I have no idea what goes on in Edie's head. But they might." Bo jerks his chin across the table to where Lyra is leaning across Gunnar to talk to Stella. "Lyra said she and Kate went drinking with Edie at the pub. Speaking of that, what's this about Lyra drinking for free?" he suddenly reproaches. "You always make me pay."

I rear back at the abrupt change of subject. "Lyra pays for her drinks."

"Edie never charged her."

"What? Lyra." I raise my voice. "How much do you owe me from last night? You didn't pay Edie?"

"I didn't?" Her expression morphs into the familiar innocent waif. "I must have forgotten."

"You pulled the same thing on Tyler last time you were in town," I accuse.

Lyra, infuriating sister that she is, laughs. "Guess you better hire someone new before I come back again so I can try it with them."

I shake my head but I have to laugh. If Lyra ever took over this country, she'd have lineups of people bringing cookies and kittens and free swag. She always gets her way.

"When are you coming home again?" Spencer asks from down the table.

"Why?" she teases. "Do you miss me?"

"Definitely not."

Lyra points her wine glass at him. "You lie." And then she proceeds to hold Spencer's gaze just long enough for me to turn to Bo with a worried gaze.

Bo only shrugs.

He's so laid back, always checked out of the family drama. And Lyra and Spencer together would be nothing but drama.

But that's a discussion to have with Spencer when Lyra is far away .

Conversation moves to the storm that's finally starting to abate, and whether Gunnar will need more security on his next trip. Odin comes up more than a few times, and I doubt I'm the only one missing him.

Only Lyra is brave enough to ask Stella about her stepsister, Daphne, who almost helped hijack Odin's wedding by going to press with Camille's secrets.

"Is that the reason O picked that moment to announce he was abdicating?" I demand.

"He thought it might overshadow whatever Daulton had come up with. Kate suggested it," Dad says.

"Kate knew O was stepping down?" Lyra cries. "She never told me."

"And she wouldn't have. She's your best friend, but Kate is the epitome of professionalism," Duncan chides. "It'll be interesting to see what she decides to do."

"I don't like professional Kate," Lyra grumbles and Stella giggles.

"There!" Gunnar points his finger at her. "You do giggle."

"You used to giggle as a little girl," Duncan says with a fond smile on his face.

I think Stella blushes. "We don't have to talk about that."

"It's nice to see you all getting along again," Dad says. "When I think back to when—" He stops, an expression of surprise on his face. He presses a hand into his side. "When—"

"Dad?" Bo asks.

"Mag?" Duncan demands, fond smile replaced with an expression of concern and getting half up from his chair .

Dad seems shaky as he stands. "I think I need a Tums," he mutters. "Be right back."

He takes a step and then another. I'm on my feet, holding my breath.

Something is wrong.

Something is very wrong. "Why don't I—?"

But I don't finish, because suddenly Dad is on the floor.