Forever Wild by K.A. Tucker

Author:K.A. Tucker [Tucker, K.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.A. Tucker

Chapter Eight

I’m not sure what I expected to walk into, but Muriel, my mother, and Astrid sharing a laugh at the counter was certainly not it. The wedding magazines have been closed and stacked in a tidy pile, the broken coffee mug cleaned up as if it’d never happened.

Simon is still puttering at the stove.

And Björn is at the sink, quietly washing dishes.

“What the fuck happened while we were gone?” Jonah murmurs as we quietly shed our boots and outer things.

“Had to be Simon.” He’s always the voice of reason, though I don’t know what he could have said to flip the mood so quickly. I hold up the carton. “Roy had a dozen.”

“Oh! You’re back. Brilliant. I think I’ve managed to keep everything else warm.” Simon, still in his apron, trots over to collect the eggs, offering me a secretive wink. “It’s your wedding. You tell us what you want and we’ll happily fall in line.”

“What about Mom-zilla over there?” I whisper.

He shushes me, but says, “Even her. Maybe not as happily, but she’s already had two weddings of her own. If she wants a third, she’ll have to divorce me first.”

Muriel turns in her seat to offer her wide, face-transforming smile. “I was just tellin’ them about the time Toby surprised a grizzly out behind the Ale House. He didn’t have nothing on him and the thing wouldn’t back off, no matter how much he yelled, so he did the only thing he could think of—broke out in a rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’” Muriel’s shoulders shake with laughter.

“And what happened?” I ask curiously. Obviously nothing too horrific, because my friend is alive and well.

“Haven’t you heard that boy try to carry a tune? The poor animal hightailed it outta there.” Muriel is chuckling as she climbs off her stool. “I guess we should get this place set for brunch.” She rounds the counter to the cupboard that holds our dishes. Sometimes I think she knows this kitchen better than I do. “Here, Björn. I could use your help. My right hip isn’t what it used to be.”

There’s nothing wrong with Muriel’s hip.

Before Björn realizes what’s happening, she’s handed him a stack of plates. “Go on. Over on that table Roy built for them. It’s high time it got used.”

With nothing more than a glance Jonah’s way, he saunters over to set the table.

Astrid beckons Jonah with an outstretched hand. He closes the distance instantly. “I’m living the life I want to live, and I’m happy,” she whispers, cupping his cheek. “Just as you are permitted to do.”

He sighs heavily. “I’m sorry for being a jerk.”

Mom catches my eye. Her brow pulls together as she mouths, “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

I smile and mouth back, “I know.”

Mom rolls her eyes but then smiles. Her emotions sometimes lead her to act irrationally, especially when she has an idea in her head. At least she always sees it after the fact.

“What time are Agnes and Mabel arriving?” Muriel asks, her hands full of cutlery.

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