Macy's Parade (The Morrison Family Book 6)

by D. R. Grady

  Chapter 25

  They visited with Nick the next day, and everyone was relieved at how much more alert he was. Someone had cleaned up the remaining blood and there were less tubes and machines. Everyone relaxed now, and even though it was hard to see him with the bruises and abrasions from the accident, he looked a lot more like Nick.

  Savannah, especially, acted like the young teenager she was as she sat perched on his bed and joked and teased with him. Even Bryce was more talkative than usual. Nick had to feel loved as his family rallied around him. Macy was relieved none of the kids pushed for answers between her and Nick.

  Of course, when they left the room, Nick jumped her.

  “You’re worried about marrying me,” he said without any warning.

  She glanced at him, and his eyes snagged hers. Macy wasn’t certain what she was worried about, but she shook her head. “I’m not.” Padding closer to the bed, she settled beside him. “I do love you and I plan to marry you.”

  He sighed. “I’m glad. Because I want to marry you very much.”

  “Good, because that’s on my To Do list.” She tried to inject humor into the equation.

  “You’re still worried about something.” Nick frowned at her for a moment. “You’re worried about putting vet school off. There’s no reason to worry about that.”

  Macy turned to stare at him. “There isn’t?”

  “No. That will work itself out. I’ve been thinking about it. I think we can get married and you can still go to school.”

  Hope spurted in her heart. “I’m good but I can’t handle school and our four kids and the house and the animals.”

  “Our four kids?” Nick’s lips curled up in a smile she really liked.

  Her eyes popped wide. “I guess I’ve been thinking of them as mine lately.”

  His hand slid behind her head as he tugged her lips down for a kiss she really needed. “Keep thinking that way, Macy. Please.”

  Then any thoughts she had were eradicated by his mind-numbing kiss.

  ***

  Three days later, Macy pulled the van into the garage and helped Nick ease out of the passenger seat. “I still can’t believe they let you come home today. You had emergency surgery two days ago.”

  “Are you complaining?”

  “No, I’m pleased, thrilled, relieved,” she answered honestly and stared at his lips. She wanted to kiss him, but not until he was a little steadier on his feet. His appendix had needed removed, and the doctors weren’t certain if it was because of the accident or just because, but he was now without that body part. She still wanted to kiss him.

  Nick took the problem out of her hands and leaned into her, capturing her lips with his. She sighed against him, thankful to be able to kiss him again. She’d waited a long time.

  “Mmm, thanks,” he said. She smiled. Their noses bumped and she wrapped her arms gently around him, thankful she could still hug him. Thankful he was alive.

  “You’re welcome. Any time,” she returned. Macy savored the feel of his arms around her.

  Eventually she helped him into the house. He was steadier than before, but Nick still seemed grateful to plunk onto a sofa in the family room.

  “So, what are we going to tell the kids?”

  “About us?” She glanced up from the stack of mail in her hand.

  “Yeah.”

  “I told Savannah we’d talk to them all. I think they suspect something.”

  “What are you worried about?” He knew her so well. Even though it still loomed, vet school wasn’t a worry right now. Like Nick had said, it would take care of itself. But this other little concern that started out as a mere niggle had grown steadily into a full-fledged worry.

  She bit her lip. “What if they hate the idea of us together? What if they don’t want you to remarry?” Her voice cracked as she thought of leaving this family. Macy didn’t know if she had the strength. She could put vet school on hold, but she couldn’t put this family aside. They were hers.

  “I don’t think they’ll hate it. In fact, I think they’ll love the idea.”

  “I hope so,” Macy said, relief filtering through the fear.

  “What I’m worried about is vet school for you. I still feel like we can figure this out so it works well for our family.” She loved that he considered her a part of the family. Macy sat next to him and he tugged her close. She tried to remain mindful of his injuries. But she still snuggled into him.

  “I can go to vet school any time,” she said, trying to sound brave. But she knew her heart wasn’t in the statement.

  She still wanted to go this year, even though she was resigned to waiting.

  “Macy if you don’t go, then you’re telling yourself and our kids that your dreams aren’t important.”

  “I know,” she said. “But I can’t risk losing you. It nearly killed me this time. I can’t go through this anxiety again.”

  “Philadelphia isn’t that far away. You could still come home on the weekends,” he ventured.

  She shook her head. “I’d be crazy, living there, worrying about you all here at home. I couldn’t concentrate on my studies.” Macy bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking...”

  “So have I. But you go first.”

  Macy took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about this since before your accident.”

  “What?”

  “I received interviews from two other schools, and I was able to make the interviews a phone interview. If I’m accepted by Penn State, I could commute.”

  His arms tightened. “Penn State isn’t much closer than Philadelphia.”

  “This branch is,” she answered. “I was able to arrange for a phone interview, rather than an in person one. The interview went well, especially when I told them I’d already been accepted by the University of Pennsylvania.”

  “Your dream school.”

  “Yes. But you know, it’s not going to matter where I went to school once I graduate.” She plucked at a loose thread on the couch cushion.

  He frowned. “Why not?”

  “The important aspect of this whole situation is simply that I attend vet school, right?”

  “Right. We can’t have the kids see you sacrifice a dream they know you’ve had for a long time. It wouldn’t send the right message. They need to understand people don’t die from following their dreams.”

  “Exactly. They know I want to go to vet school. They know I’ve been accepted. But they don’t really know or care that I was accepted to my top choice.”

  He nodded, and she thought he followed. Nick was a smart man. “But?”

  “But circumstances are such that I need to be closer to Hershey. I can commute from here to Penn State. It’ll be a long drive, but I can do it.”

  Nick stirred and there was a smile on his face she’d come to know. “I’ve already arranged to have a housekeeper come in and take care of the daily activities in the house,” he said smugly.

  She sat up and turned to stare at him. “You hired a housekeeper?”

  “Yeah, you remember my cousin, Laurie Colson?”

  Macy nodded, she couldn’t place Laurie at the moment, but she thought Laurie and her husband had a bunch of children.

  “She has a housekeeper and apparently this lady’s sister recently retired and has grown bored. She’d like to do something similar to what her sister is doing in the Colson home.”

  Macy’s brain flooded with possibilities. “That’s fantastic, Nick. If we have someone here to take care of the everyday things, then I can study.”

  “Right. I think this lady’s sister will work out well. She’s had five kids of her own, all of them scattered across the state. And she likes the activity of a busy home.”

  “Ours qualifies,” Macy said dryly.

  “I think so.” Nick leaned forward and kissed her. “But it’d solve our problems, especially if you could commute so I can see you every day.”

  “I explained during my interview that I had a busy house and f
our kids. They assured me that there was some flexibility in the scheduling. I think they’ll be willing to work with me. There’s also the possibility of finishing sooner than four years if I can line everything up right.” Macy liked how the burden of the past month seemed to lift off her shoulders. They had a good chance; especially with Nick working with her like this. Maybe she could have it all.

  Provided the kids accepted her as a spouse for their father. Otherwise... she’d think about it later.

  ***

  “Dad’s home,” Brandt yelled when he entered the house and saw him seated in the family room. Nick had his paperwork spread out across the coffee table, thankful he had work to occupy his time.

  Macy couldn’t sit and entertain him all day. She had too many responsibilities. Which she attacked with fresh vigor and a spring in her step. She even sang some, a clear indication that she was happy.

  When his kids trouped through the door, she had their snack waiting for them at the island. They dumped their bags, and he pushed out of the couch. He also liked afternoon snack time.

  “Cupcakes,” Bryce said with a gleam in his eyes.

  “I know you like cupcakes,” Macy said and smiled at him. She pushed tall glasses of milk to each of them as they helped themselves to the treats.

  Nick reached over Starla and picked up a cupcake. Macy had frosted them with bright icing and sprinkled little stars and moons across them. They made for a pretty display. Too bad he and the kids wolfed them down.

  “We have an announcement to make,” Macy said and looked at him.

  The kids stopped eating and paused to stare at her, then him. Nick understood she wanted to get this over with, but he hadn’t anticipated so soon.

  He took Macy’s hand and stared at each face surrounding them. “Macy has agreed to marry me and stay with us.”

  “What about vet school?” Savannah asked. She had a bit of frosting at the corner of her mouth.

  “I’m still going to vet school. Just not in Philadelphia.”

  “Who’s going to take care of us?” Starla asked. Her lips pouted a bit as she jutted out her jaw.

  “A Mrs. McKinley. She’s a sister to Laurie and Greg’s housekeeper, and she’s planning to do the same thing her sister does there.”

  “She’ll be like a housekeeper?” Brandt asked.

  “Exactly. And I’ll be here, too, just not as much, because I’ll be in school.” Macy sounded so earnest, he wanted to hold her tight and squeeze her and kiss her.

  Starla cocked her head. “So you’ll be our mom?” She sent a message to the others that Macy probably didn’t understand, but he did. He well remembered her bombshell that Macy would be their mother.

  The other kids didn’t say anything. Nick beetled his brows. “Well, what do you guys think about this?”

  They shrugged. Starla finally answered. “I told you Macy would be our mom,” she said and daintily blotted her lips with a napkin. She smiled at Macy before sliding off her stool and hugging them both.

  “We hoped this would happen, but didn’t know how it could,” Savannah said. She also hugged Macy then returned to her cupcake and milk.

  “So you’re not upset that I’m marrying your dad?” Macy still sounded anxious. He squeezed her hand.

  “No, Macy. You’ve been our mom since you came,” Brandt said and reached for another cupcake. He didn’t seem all that interested in the conversation.

  Bryce munched on his cupcake, his nose already in the book in front of him. “What about you, Bryce?”

  “Huh?”

  “How do you feel about Macy and me getting married?”

  He shrugged. “I’m glad,” he said and went back to his book.

  Macy looked a little shell-shocked. The kids finished their cupcakes and wandered away. He stared at Macy’s surprised face and grinned. “Made that out to be a little more anti-climatic than it was, didn’t you?”

  “I really thought they might have a problem with my entering your family permanently.” Her eyes settled on him in an unfocused sort of way.

  “It’s true, though. You have been their mother from the beginning.”

  She nodded slowly. “Yes, it’s been gradual but they are mine.” Her joyful eyes honed in on him. “And so are you.”

  “Yes. And you’re all mine, too.” Nick tipped her chin up. “One nice thing about telling them is we don’t have to hide our kisses.”

  Her eyes refocused and she stared at him, light shining from her eyes. “Too true. Maybe you should get on with it,” she suggested in a husky tone.

  “With pleasure,” he answered and leaned down to kiss her.

  Life went on, kisses happened, and compromise worked. Nick gladly obeyed his wife-to-be. He couldn’t wait for their lives to finally meld, but he decided he’d also enjoy each day as they came.

  Life was precious and fleeting and he wanted to savor every moment. Starting by kissing this gorgeous blonde in his arms – she completed his family.

  About the Author

  D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She loves gadgets, books, plants, shoes and writing stories that resonate with others. You can generally find her in her “office,” a chair in the living room, hopefully writing, but sometimes playing Angry Birds or reading.

  Visit her website for more information.

  http://www.drgradybooks.com

  -Coming Soon-

  Bad Nerd Rising

  Book 7 – The Morrison Family Series

  She’s a nerd in nerd’s clothing, easily identifiable, so why is a prince attracted to her? Why would his hotness, Prince Aleksi, want her, Dr. Tia Morrison, major nerd? And why on earth did she give her cell phone number to a bona fide prince? She’s not princess material – ask any of her three obnoxious brothers. But it would take a stronger nerd than Tia to resist Aleksi’s pleas. His water wells are dying and his country is running out of water sources. He needs a microbiologist. He needs Tia. And Tia figures, what could go wrong? Watch out Rurikstan, there’s a Bad Nerd Rising.

  Bad Nerd Rising

  Chapter 1

  Tia Morrison felt confident she was one of the few females on earth who had no desire to be a princess. That urge had been tormented out of her at an early age. Being the only sister of three older brothers had squelched her eagerness for all things pink and princess-like.

  She clearly remembered the first and only Halloween she had dressed up as a princess. A puffy pink taffeta skirt with a lovely matching spaghetti strapped top made of silk, and a tiara. A gorgeous cubic zirconium and plastic piece that sparkled in the lamplight like every girl’s fantasy. She’d been the envy of every other little girl on the block. That one perfect costume had been the bane of her existence ever since.

  Her brothers had immediately begun addressing her as The Princess. While one was holding her down to give her a whirly the others would bellow, “What, doesn’t The Princess like whirlys?” Another flushed the toilet. While yet another held his dirty, stinky, teenaged socks to her nose. “What, doesn’t The Princess like my socks?”

  Every frog, snake, spider, or other vermin hid in her bed was so announced. “The Princess objects to (insert creature) in her bed.” And off they’d go. If she didn’t take seconds and thirds at the table, like they did, they’d sniff and take turns going round the table, “Since this isn’t caviar and champagne, The Princess won’t eat it.”

  In the natural chemistry between siblings, they ganged up on her at every point. If her cousins were visiting, and they generally were, the male ones, anyway, so swelled the Ape numbers infinitely. (None of the female cousins visited her house, ever.) Anything the boys could use against her, they did. Thus snuffing all girlish needs to play princess.

  As a matter of fact, Tia never wore pink even now. Ever.

  “Macy, what am I supposed to do?” she nearly wailed to her sister-in-law as her newest, adult problem reared its ugly head. “I guess I could move.” She bit her lip and thought about what a pain that would be. />
  “You’re going to move because you gave a prince your phone number?” Macy’s voice had gone up at least two octaves. In the very next one, it would shatter glass. Tia pulled the phone from her ear and rubbed.

  She heard her brother heckling, as usual, in the background. “What would a prince want with a nerd like Tia anyway? Oh, yeah, he probably needs a cafeteria lady,” Nick chortled.

  “Nick, knock it off. This is probably your fault,” Macy scolded him over the noise of the latest football game.

  Silence from that end, which didn’t surprise her. Nick and her other brothers all had the attention span of gorillas, so he’d already lost interest in the conversation. She was a teeny bit impressed he’d managed to utter those two sentences. That was major for him, even though he was an architect.

  Of course, her problem still wasn’t solved.

  “Macy, what am I supposed to do?” This time her wail might have shattered glass, except she’d learned in The Princess Years to keep her voice low and relatively even. Otherwise the Apes went on forever, mimicking her.

  “Let me get this straight. You’re stressing because you gave your phone number to a hot man you’re actually interested in, who just happens to be a prince?”

  “Yes,” Tia nearly shouted. Macy had managed to sum up the problem pretty well. What should she do?

  “Umm, Tia, I’m not seeing the problem here.” Macy’s voice, ever since she’d married Nick and taken on his four kids, had developed the “mom” cadence. A slightly superior, authoritative note usually sounded in her voice.

  It wasn’t a bad thing. The woman got things done. That’s why Tia had called her rather than her two other sisters-in-law-to-be. None of them had actually accomplished marriage yet, much less mom-hood, so they hadn’t learned the same skills Macy possessed.

  “Hello? How can you not see the problem? He’s a prince, Macy. He’s the ruler of his whatever.” She made a loopy-loop with her hand.