Chapter Eleven
Clara
I’m freaking walking on clouds and my smile is so wide, it’s starting to get embarrassing since the darn thing won’t leave no matter how hard I try to school my features.
“Darn it, Miah, stop laughing already. Your family is going to take one look at this grin and know what we were doing all night and this morning.”
The man only laughs harder and squeezes me closer to his side, his own mouth smiling so broadly, I’m afraid he’ll hurt himself. To say that the last twelve hours have set a new standard for us is an understatement.
I am now calling this thing a relationship while the maddening nut has progressed to committed and is heading towards a ceremony of some sort. Not that I’m averse to tying the knot one day, just not soon.
Maybe in a year or two, I could dig it, but for right now I’m just basking in the happiness I feel.
We get to the dining room with our smiles still firmly in place and I want to crawl up my own behind when every member of the family, including Roman, turns to stare.
They all know that I’ve spent the night having sex, I can see it on their faces when they all attempt to hide their smiles but end up laughing when I blush and try to hide behind Miah.
“Come on, babe, let me feed you.” He laughs, making me cringe at the renewed round of chuckles.
“Now you wanna feed her, Iron Man? What about last night when she needed the energy?”
“Shut the hell up, Jared. Hey, Ma, Pop.”
I laugh at that griping snarl along with the others and shake my head when Jace opens his mouth to goad the bear. He winks and zips his lips, giving me one of his rare smiles.
“You two love birds gonna start making wedding plans?” Wyatt quips, throwing Miah the bird when he growls and gnashes his teeth.
“No. And mind your own business, asshole.”
“Jeremiah Lane, language!” Jude admonishes before turning my way.
“No wedding? What the hell are you saying?”
She looks so horrified at the loss that I can’t help but laugh and shake my head solemnly.
“Not yet, Jude. I just want to be happy with what we have and forget the serious stuff for now,” I say gently, smiling at Miah when he takes my hand in his and squeezes.
“But…I bought a ring!”
That has everyone howling with laughter and even she realizes her faux pas and starts laughing eventually.
“Really, Ma? You bought my girl a ring? You don’t trust me to do it right?”
Ellie is giggling and winks at Jude with a smile that poor Wyatt does not appreciate.
“Jude bought me a ring, too, but Mr. Possessive over here refused to let me wear it with the one he got me, so I wear it on a chain instead.”
“You’re my wife,” Wyatt gripes, throwing his mother a look.
“Oh pooh! You’re just mad because mine is bigger than yours.”
I don’t know how we all get through breakfast with her antics and the laughter that’s going around, but by the time I’m ready for work, I feel like I’m not just walking on clouds but floating through air.
I should have known it wouldn’t last.
***
“Miss Clara Elms?”
I answer in the positive and sip my tea while Miss Gruber, the science teacher, tries to appear as if she’s not listening to my conversation.
“This is Hannah Chase. I’m calling from Philadelphia Department of Social Services, ma’am.”
“Um, okay. How can I help you, Miss Chase?”
I really hope none of the kids at the old school are hurt or anything, because as much as I love my new class, I won’t ever forget the ones who came before.
“Well, Miss Elms, I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, but it seems that your mother, a Miss Mary Elms, passed two days go. As next of kin, we’re calling to ask if you’re willing to take guardianship of your brother, Joshua Elms.”
The news hits me like a slap to the face and a kick to my solar plexus. I’m so shocked by this news that I can’t answer for a good minute or two before I finally find my voice.
“Brother?”
“Yes, ma’am. Josh is almost four years old, ma’am. It seems that he was in his father’s care till just recently when Mr. Jeffries passed in a motorcycle accident. Miss Elms took him in, but with her…passing, you’re the only one left to contact. Will you take him in?”
Take him in? I can’t even process the fact that I have a baby brother, never mind think of becoming a mother to an almost four-year-old kid I’ve never met.
“Um…”
“We completely understand if you’re not in a position to accept this responsibility, Miss Elms, especially considering that little Josh is autistic and in need of special care, which it seems his mother did not provide for him while he was in her care.”