Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,88
mom. “I’m only on duty for the transportation part of the day today.”
“If you’d like,” she says, sounding surprised. I told Joe our news and why we’re here today. I also told him he could take a walk or play pool while we deliver the news. He heads down to the basement.
We all settle in the living room. The ugly painting I gave them from Jack’s prank has been replaced with a beautiful landscape painting of Villroy.
I gesture to it. “That painting is so much better than the scribbles.”
“Thanks,” my mom says, glancing over at it. “It was commissioned by the king and queen as a Christmas gift for us.”
“Oh, wow,” Harper says, staring at it. “Villroy is so beautiful. I can see the palace at the top of the hill there. Like something out of a fairy tale.”
“It’s good to have the reminder of home,” my dad says. “Now can we offer you a drink?”
My mom jumps up.
“I’ll get it, Mom,” I say.
She smiles her loving smile at me. “Thank you, my sweet teddy bear.”
My ears burn. “Mom, please.”
“He is,” Harper says, leaning into my side. “Can I call you that too?”
I tap her nose. “No.” I head over to the kitchen and open the refrigerator. “Looks like bottled water and beer. What would everyone like?”
Harper says, “Water, please.”
Everyone else follows suit. Guess it’s early for a beer, though I suddenly want one. I never had to share such big news with my parents before, and if they don’t respond positively to the surprise baby news, I know Harper will be upset. I’m too happy to worry about anyone’s reaction. In any case, I’d better break the news gently.
After I pass out glasses of water, I sit on the love seat next to Harper. My parents are on the sofa across from us. “Harper and I have some news.”
My parents look at us expectantly.
“So,” I say, glancing at Harper. She’s so tense she’s not even blinking. I take her hand, and it’s like ice. “We’re engaged.”
“Oh!” My mom throws her hands in the air. “Wonderful news! Oh, I’m so happy for you both.” She rushes over to hug and kiss Harper and then me.
My dad joins her, slapping my shoulder and kissing Harper’s cheek. “Welcome to the family, Harper.”
My mom covers her cheeks as she smiles at me. “My baby, my last boy, getting married.” She glances at Harper’s hand and stops smiling. “No ring, Garrett.”
“We’ll shop for it later,” I say. “It’s only been a week.”
“How did he propose?” my mom asks Harper.
“He went down on one knee on Christmas Eve,” she says.
My mom sighs happily.
I take a deep breath and say the rest in a rush. “There’s more good news. Harper is pregnant. Baby is due in June.”
My dad’s brows shoot up.
My mom stares at Harper’s stomach. “That’s not why you’re getting married, is it?”
“No,” I say, taking my love’s hand, entwining our fingers together. “She’s the One. You know how you said you knew right away with Dad? And, Dad, you said the same. You knew when it was the One for you. I knew with Harper.”
“I love him so much,” Harper says, her voice choking with emotion. Her eyes water, and she brushes away a tear. She’s been extra sensitive with the pregnancy hormones.
“Aww!” my mom exclaims, rushing over to hug Harper. She sits on the arm of the loveseat next to Harper. “I can tell you do, honey. I’m so happy for you both.” She leans past Harper to give my shoulder a squeeze.
“Congratulations,” my dad says stiffly. “Though I thought we had that talk about the order of things, son.”
“Sometimes there’s a happy accident,” I say pointedly.
My dad walks over and kisses the top of my head. “More like a gift.”
“You’re so lucky to have loving parents like this,” Harper says.
“What kind of parents are you used to?” my mom asks with real concern.
I jump in to explain because Harper’s bottom lip is quivering. “She was raised by her grandmother. You’d like her, Dad, she’s got that stiff-upper-lip toughness that queens have. I call her Queen Joan.”
“I call her the General,” Harper says with a laugh.
“We’d love to have her over,” my mom says, putting her arm around Harper. “We’re your family now, too, so you’ll have all kinds of loving people around you—the royal pain-in-the-neck kind and the sweet loving kind. That’s me, if you didn’t know.”
My dad harrumphs. “It’s good to have a balance of parenting styles.”