“No clue. A few months ago, Logan drove around with a big smiley-face magnet that said, ‘I have herpes’ for four days before he noticed.”
“Can we get a magnet like that for your car, Daddy?” Jackson asks, and his innocence pulls on my heart.
“Sure,” I tell him. “Something similar but not the exact same.”
“Yay!”
We hurry into the garage, shaking off the slushy rain from our coats before stepping in and being bombarded by my mom’s dogs. Logan and Owen are in the kitchen at the big island counter, eating chips and salsa. Meat for tacos is simmering on the stove, and tequila and margarita mix sit out on the counter next to the fridge.
“Hey,” Logan says, and Jackson rushes over, getting excited to see his uncles. He flicks his eyes to Scarlet and then me in question, and I know he’s thinking about what we discussed back at the bar Friday night.
“Hi, Logan,” Scarlet says, pointing to him. “And Owen. I got it right this time, didn’t I?”
Logan nods. “Right, but it’s not hard. I’m much better looking than he is.”
Scarlet laughs and takes off her shoes and coat. “You dress alike, and even your mannerisms are the same.”
Jackson slides out of Owen’s lap, wanting to show him the farm set-up he worked on while he was here yesterday. Logan starts to get up to follow them, but I stop him.
“Does he know Charlie is engaged?” I ask in a hushed voice.
“Charlie’s engaged?” Logan’s eyebrows go up. Fuck. Owen doesn’t know.
Scarlet takes a seat next to Logan and pulls the bag of chips over. “Who’s Charlie?”
“Owen’s ex who he’s not over,” Logan tells her. “He won’t admit it, but we all know he still has feelings for her.”
“Poor guy.” Scarlet shakes her head.
“How’d you find out she’s engaged? Last I heard she was living in New York,” Logan says.
“I met with her dad today,” I tell him, and he puts two-and-two together right away.
“Are you free?” His lips curve into a smile. “Can I pour a round to celebrate?”
“What are we celebrating?” Mom asks, coming into the kitchen carrying an armload of Mason jars. “Oh, hello, Scarlet. It’s so good to see you again.”
“It’s nice to see you too. Need any help?”
“No, but thank you. I’m canning tomorrow and just brought these up from the basement.” Mom puts everything in the sink. “Is there really a celebration? I’ll drink to it if there is.”
“You’ll drink to anything,” Logan quips.
Mom nods. “That is true. I do enjoy wine, though tonight I’m having a marg to go with my taco.”
“Don’t call it a marg, Mom.” Logan shakes his head.
“Why not?”
Logan laughs. “Just don’t. And Wes said he talked to a lawyer today. So I’m assuming that means…”
“I petitioned for a divorce,” I finish, feeling a huge sense of relief as soon as the words come out of my mouth. “Given the circumstances, how long Daisy has been gone, and the fact that she hasn’t provided any sort of support for our son, Mr. Williams thinks he can have things handled fairly quickly and I’ll be granted full custody of Jackson.”
Mom gasps and claps her hands together. “I have been praying for this!” She pulls me into a hug.
“You know how weird it sounds to admit you’ve been praying for me to get divorced?”
Mom laughs, giving me one more squeeze. “Oh, stop it. I want you to be happy.”
“I am, Mom. I am.”
The garage door opens, sending the dogs running in a frenzy. Quinn and Archer make their way in, trying to make it to the kitchen table without being tripped by the dogs. Archer sets Emma’s car seat on the table, folding back the blanket she’s covered with. Somehow she stayed asleep through all the noise.
“Hey, guys,” Quinn says and notices Mom’s watery eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I assure her. “Mom’s being overly emotional.”
“Shocker, right?” Logan laughs.
“About what?” Quinn goes right for the tequila and unscrews the lid.
“I finally filed for a divorce,” I say.
Quinn reacts just like our mother, running over to hug me. “Yes! Can you make her take her maiden name back too? I don’t even want her to be a Dawson anymore.”
“Having your name be Daisy Dawson forever is almost a punishment,” Logan says.
“It’s pretty awful,” Archer agrees. “Sounds like a cheap porn star.” He yawns, and I notice he looks dead on his feet.
“Long day at work?” I ask.
“I had a nine-hour surgery and then spent forty-five minutes arguing with a patient’s insurance company.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know if want to punch someone or take a nap.”
“Have a drink first,” Quinn says, going back to the margarita. “Then take a nap.”
“Why are you here?” Logan asks, grabbing another chip. “I’d be passed the fuck out if I did anything for nine straight hours.”
“I’m hungry,” Archer says, and we laugh. “And it’s nice coming here and being together. It means a lot to Quinn.”
“You’re so whipped,” Logan teases.
“I don’t mind it. Not one bit.” Archer watches Quinn mix him a drink. Gaining my approval to date my baby sister isn’t easy. But Archer’s a good guy, and I know he really cares about her.
“I think it’s sweet,” Scarlet says with a smile. “And it is nice that you all get together like this.”
“I love it.” Quinn pours way too much tequila into the drink, making Logan wince. “I missed it when I lived in Chicago.” She mixes up the drink and pours it into a glass. “Anyone else want one?”
“Let me take over, sis.” Logan gets up, patting Quinn on the shoulder and takes the margarita from her hand. He smells it and shakes his head. “Are you trying to get Archer drunk?”
“Kind of. Then I’ll ask for another cat.” She flashes Archer a smile. “Kidding. Eight is enough.”
“More than enough.”
“Actually,” I start, sure I’m going to regret this. “If you still want to get rid of one…Jackson keeps asking.”
“You guys need a pet,” Mom says, taking Emma out of her car seat. “But dogs are much friendlier.”
“Cats are easier,” I counter. “I’m not home enough for a dog.”
“But Scarlet is,” Mom goes on.
Scarlet wrinkles her nose. “I’m more of a cat person.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Quinn beams, going over to the chips and salsa. Dad, who was grilling corn on the covered patio, comes in. He’s a die-hard griller and will stand out there in the middle of winter.
Owen and Jackson come back to the kitchen, ready to eat. Dean and Kara aren’t here yet, and we all try to convince Mom to let us go ahead and eat without them. Right when we’ve just about got her to cave, we see Dean’s car pull into the driveway.