“And trying to talk like this,” Preston mimics baby noises and both boys double over.
“I remember when you only knew how to talk like that. You weren’t so smug then.”
“What’s smug?”
“It means when you think you’re perfect.”
“I think you’re perfect, Uncle Aidan,” Damien tells me, coming closer for another hug.
“Awww.” I kiss the top of his head. “But I’m not. Not really. Where’s your mother?”
“I’m here.” Rachel is coming down the stairs. There’s a small white Labrador under one arm who starts barking enthusiastically and squirming once he sees the boys. “Look who it is,” she says with a smile, setting the dog down once she reaches the bottom of the stairs. “We’ve missed you around here.”
“Work.” I explain, going to hug her while the boys roll around on the carpet with Scribbles, the dog.
“I know.” She studies my face, concern etched on her features. Apparently, Landon’s penchant for worrying about me is contagious. “I’ve seen some of the press about your new play.”
My mouth twists. “You can say her name.”
She sighs. “I read that Liz signed on to star. Are you okay with that?”
I know she is thinking about the day I discovered that Liz was gone. I’d come here, looking for my brother, and I’d found Rachel. She’d been pregnant, tired, and still recovering from the attempt on her life, but she held me while I cried my eyes out, unable to pretend that I wasn’t devastated.
I shrug the painful memory away. “At this point, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Nothing you can do about what?”
I turn at the sound of Landon’s voice as he enters the living room, casual in a t-shirt and lounge pants. The children run to him and he picks them up, carefully avoiding the dog running circles around his feet.
“Hey, bro,?
?? I grin. “Good to see you slumming it in sweats like the rest of us mortals.”
He laughs. “I am working, though. Just doing it from home.” He sets the boys on their feet before pulling me in for a hug. “What’s going on? Are there problems with the play?”
I almost start complaining about Liz, but I stop myself. Landon has spent most of his life taking care of me and making my problems his. I’ve worked for years to change that dynamic, especially now that he has a young family of his own.
“There’s no problem, really.”
“Only that Liz is starring in the new play.” Rachel gives him a pointed look.
“Liz?” Landon frowns. “Liz McKay?”
Rachel nods. Landon turns to me and I shrug like it’s not a big deal.
“That’s…” Landon looks from me to Rachel. “…potentially awkward. I thought she was doing movies.”
“Who’s Lis Macray?” Damien pipes up.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Preston asks, tugging at my sleeve.
The innocent question causes an unexpected tugging in my chest. “No,” I reply firmly. “No, she’s not.”
“Uncle Aidan is working with her on a new play,” Rachel explains to the boys, before shooing them upstairs to join their nanny and the baby in the nursery.
After they finally leave, very reluctantly, I collapse into an armchair.
“So,” Rachel prompts. “What will you do?”