Chapter 44 - The Travel

The rich aroma of Osso Bucco filled the dining room, a stark contrast to the tension coiling in Steve’s gut. He pushed his food around his plate, the clink of silverware the only sound amidst the usual lively chatter of his family. Ten pairs of eyes watched him, senses attuned to his mood. Susan, at the head of the table, exchanged a knowing glance with Heather, who sat to his right, a faint, smug smirk playing on her lips.

He took a deep breath, setting his fork down with a definitive clink. The conversation died instantly.

“Humm, I have an announcement to make.” He steeled himself for the recrimination he was sure would follow. “I- I’ve proposed to Rachel. It was a spur of the moment thing! She needs my help, you see. She can’t have babies and I may be...” He finally looked up, his prepared speech faltering.

All eleven women were smiling. Not just smiling—beaming. Susan made an exasperated tsk sound, reached into her purse, and pulled out a crisp twenty-dollar bill. She slapped it into the outstretched palm of a smug smiling Heather.

“Euh ... And I invited her to Paris with us,” he continued, his voice trailing off into confused silence as Susan made and exasperated chuff noise this time and handed over another twenty. Heather’s evil cackle echoed in the now-silent room.

“Okay, what’s going on?” he asked, his tone almost petulant.

The dining room erupted in laughter. Mia snorted into her napkin, Zoé clapped her hands with glee, and even the more reserved aunts like Evelyn were wiping tears of mirth from their eyes.

It was Heather who spoke, her voice rich with amusement. “Well, you see, I had a bet with your mother that you wouldn’t let Rachel down and would ask her to marry you. I also bet you would bring her with us to Paris.” She waved the two twenties victoriously at a mock-scowling Susan, who stuck her tongue out at her mother in response.

Steve began rubbing his temples, a long, weary sigh escaping his lips. “So you already guessed I would do this?”

It was Susan who answered, her green eyes sparkling with love and a bit of mischief. “Of course we knew, my sweet boy! Didn’t Rachel tell you mom had called her and suggested she talk to you? We knew about her history. We knew what she wanted. We just left you make your own decision.”

He shook his head, a slow grin finally breaking through his exasperation. “You’re all unbelievable.”

Steve couldn’t help but feel a little put out that his family—his women—could read him so effortlessly. It was as if they had a roadmap to his thoughts, his decisions, even his impulsive gestures like proposing to Rachel. But as he let the realization sink in, he couldn’t deny the wave of relief that washed over him. It saved him from a lot of grief, he thought, watching the playful banter and laughter around the table. He wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“And you love us for it,” Mia chirped, batting her eyelashes at him from across the table, her tone teasing but laced with affection. Steve couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head in mock exasperation. She wasn’t wrong.

Steve volunteered to stay behind and tackle the mountain of dishes while the women went shopping to gather the necessities for their Paris trip. Only Heather lingered, her presence a quiet comfort as she picked up a towel to dry the dishes. The clatter of plates and the soft hum of the running faucet filled the kitchen, creating a rhythm that felt oddly soothing.

“I think we may have found our temporary house,” Heather said suddenly, her voice cutting through the domestic symphony. She paused, holding a plate mid-dry, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“Oh? Okay, tell me about it,” Steve replied, his hands still submerged in the soapy water, though his attention was now fully on her.

“It’s a mansion,” she began, her tone dripping with enthusiasm. “Seven bedrooms—two besides the master that we can convert into nurseries, as long as we put them back the way they were when we leave. And speaking of the main bedroom...” She trailed off, her lips curling into a wicked smile. “It’s big enough for a custom bed that can fit all of us.” She paused for effect, letting the weight of her words sink in. “Including Rachel, I might add.”

Heather continued, seemingly undeterred by his lack of response on her teasing. “There are five bathrooms, four of them with double sinks. It’s practically perfect.” Her expression shifted slightly, a hint of concern creeping in. “The only drawback is the drive to your campus—it’ll be about an hour and a half.”