it, staring at my ring. "Oh, my goodness, it's so beautiful on you, Lucy. I just love it, baby, congratulations!"
The guys in my family got curious at that point and all headed over toward us.
"Did you say oh my darling?" Mac asked.
The idea of calling me darling was hilarious to Mac for some reason because he cracked up as he said it again.
"I might have, actually," Drew said, seriously answering Mac's question.
"I think he might have," I said nodding and staring like I was trying to remember. "It was all very official. I think he did call me his darling."
This caused Mac to jump up-and-down, stiff-legged from pure excitement. It seemed like he thought the word darling meant we were already married.
We stayed at my parents' house for a while, catching them up. We told my family about the spread Evelyn had set out for us. My mom had been out there and helped her, but it was news to my dad and brothers, and they were curious about it.
I hadn't seen most of them since I got back from California, and I told them about the pilot animation and about my trip in general. It was Drew's second time to hear it all, so once we started talking about that, he went off with Mac to see the line of diecast cars that extended the entire length of the living room. He could hear us from the other room, and he chimed in a few times.
"They told her they were going to try to have it ready for the fall premiers," Drew said.
"This fall?" Evan said.
My littlest brother, Evan, was the only birth son of our parents. Phillip and I had both been adopted. They loved us as if we were their own children, and there was never any feeling that they loved Evan more than they loved us. I honestly didn't even think twice about it, but Phillip had always been really competitive with Evan. I wondered if it was a guy thing or if Phillip felt like he had something to prove. They were close, but Phillip had a bit of a chip on his shoulder. It wasn't a surprise when Evan asked if my show would be ready 'this fall' and Phillip popped him upside the back of the head and sarcastically said, "No, in three years from now… of course this fall."
"It was a good question," my mom said.
"This fall," I said, nodding at Evan. "If all goes well, it will premier in September, when the new shows come out."
"What's it going to be called," Evan asked, unaffected by Phillip.
"Garden City," I said. "I saw a storyboard, and it looks really good. Not exactly the same as the woman who illustrated the books, but still really good. The hedgehogs are chubbier in the cartoon. They're so cute."
Mac came up to me and I reached down to pick him up. "We need to be going," I said.
"Aw, congratulations," Mom said, hugging my neck. "We're so happy for you two."
We spent the next couple of minutes saying goodbye to my family, and afterward, Drew walked Mac and me back to our cottage. It had been a long, exciting day for Mac. He hadn't had a nap, and he was pooped and ready to go to sleep. It only took me ten minutes to bathe him and get him ready for bed.
Drew was still out in the living room when we finished, and Mac went out there to tell him goodnight. Drew was sitting on the couch, and Mac ran over to him, jumping into his lap. Drew held onto him, and they had a conversation. They spoke quietly enough that I could not hear what they were saying.
I was curious, but I wanted them to have privacy, so I didn't go over there. I just stood there and waited for Mac to come back so I could tuck him in. They smiled as they talked, and my heart felt full.
Mac ran over to me after a minute, and I tucked him in. I prayed for him, but we skipped the story tonight. He asked for a story every night, and I told him one most of the time, but Mac was sensitive and he knew when I had other things on my mind. He knew it was a special night for Drew and me, and he didn't even ask me to tell him one.
"I love your guts," I said, kissing his forehead.
"I love your guts, too. And