so grateful I got to meet you. You don’t know how much I’ve been looking forward to the day Matt finally found the woman meant for him. May I give you a hug?”
My sisters follow her example, welcoming Inara warmly and kindly, even if they are sad.
Inara shows them how to use the Comm, having them send test communications to the spare unit she has. Then we start talking logistics. My family understandably has a lot of concerns, some of which Inara and I haven’t gotten to hash out fully yet. Some of their questions we have covered though, including “What are you going to do with your fish?”
I shoot an arch look at Inara, who bites her lip apologetically.
Eyebrow cocked, I drawl, “If I have any left by the time we leave, they’ll be safest with one of you guys. I’ve noticed they’ve developed a disappearing problem.”
“A disappearing problem?” my mom asks.
“Yeah,” I confirm, shooting another look at Inara, at the penitant set of her ears—but honing in on her eyes, which are taking on that blown-pupil look she gets when she stares at my fishtank and gets hungry. “You could say it’s a bad habit.”
My sisters peer at Inara with nonplussed looks, probably not sure they’re hearing me right. Wondering if they’re misunderstanding my insinuation.
They’re not. My alien eats my fish.
(Yes, along with the fishes’ food.)
“What about Grandpa’s car?”
This from Kelly, but everybody is suddenly eyeing me with a new predatory light.
“Ha,” I tell all their expectant faces. “I’m getting buried in that fucking car.”
“Matthew! Don’t swear,” my mother warns.
“Sorry, Ma,” I tell her quickly. Then I look at everyone. “It’s coming with us.” I glance to Inara, because actually, we didn’t cover this—but she nods easily like this is non-negotiable for her too and we’ll make it happen.
“You can’t be buried in the Boss,” my mom states. “What if you have kids? You need to pass it on,” she chides.
Inara takes my hand, and I give her fingers a squeeze and tip my head at her. Break the news, Baby.
“I’m carrying a litter,” Inara announces.
SMG. My family loses their minds.
(No, not OMG. SMG: Sequential Manual Gearbox.)
(Don’t get a car with an SMG gearbox. Just a friendly Public Service Announcement, because these suckers have a high failure rate, replacement parts (which you can’t return) that have price tags starting at a cool seven grand—and there’s no guarantee your car will run when you slap in these new parts. Just… SMGs, DON’T GET THEM.)
Screams, shrieks, congratulations from my family—it’s loud and happy and sad all at once.
Gently, I assure them, “Although us leaving needs to happen, we’ve got a little time.” I move my stare over each of their overwhelmed faces. “And I’ve got some stuff I need all of yous to look over. Let me get my laptop.”
CHAPTER 25
“Stacy? Hey, yeah, it’s me. I know, your boss is a dick for calling on a Sunday at nine A.M., but I knew you’d be up with your mom’s yard sale—”
(She holds one every year on this same Sunday and has for as long as I’ve employed Stacy.)
“—and I need you to drop that for now and come sign some paperwork.”
Last night, I settled with my mom and sisters that they’d each get a share of my business; slices they could buy from each other if one or more wants out at some point.
But they’d be sharing it all with my wonder-protégé Stacy, who will be running the place.
Sal and Jason will be staying on for as long as they can and want to.
Cooper and Tansy haven’t come back, but if they do, it’s up to Stace to let them in. She’ll vet hires and handle scheduling. She’d probably love to re-welcome them to the team—and she’s going to need someone in the alien escape room, which will be so, so empty when Inara leaves.
Stacy, when she gets into work on this day off of hers with her hair in a messy knot and her face shiny with no makeup on, is dazed when I tell her what’s going to happen, but she knows Inara. Knows why we can’t stay—she gets it.
She still cries, so good thing she didn’t bother with makeup.
Being that I’m struggling with some dust in my own waterline, I’m not judging. I try for a hearty tone when I clap her gently on the shoulder. “Some or all of my sisters will be by later to chat over some stuff with you. Congratulations on becoming an