Page 77 of Trial and Error

She squeezes her arms around my neck and then pulls back, looking at me with a bright smile. I wait by the side of the car as Elias grabs out bags out of the trunk and once the car is locked, the three of us head toward the house. Oscar steps to the side as we walk in and then pulls me in for a hug.

“It’s good to see you again, Diddy.” He smirks and I find myself blushing. “Liv, why don’t you take Diddy to the living room to see Mommy and Grandma?”

Olivia nods and squirms in my arms until I let her down, and as she reaches for my hand and drags me over the threshold of the living room I hear Oscar whisper to Elias.

“You’ve got it bad.”

Elias sighs. “Don’t I know it.”

I blush at his response but don’t get to hear what else is said as Olivia pulls me into large room. It’s cozy, with a three-seater couch and matching loveseat. There’s a brown leather recliner, where Helen is sitting, and I admire the bookcases behind her, all of which look like they’re about to collapse under the weight of what has to be over a hundred books.

The space is homey and I already find myself not wanting to leave.

Isobel is sitting on the loveseat with a sleeping Freya in one arm and she smiles tiredly at me as I approach and as I look over to Helen, I frown slightly. She’s a lot frailer than the last time I saw her and I immediately feel a heaviness settle over my chest.

“Granma!” Olivia giggles as she pulls me toward Helen. “Aunt Diddy is here!”

Helen looks over at Isobel with an amused smile before looking at me. Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she stands on unsteady legs and I rush forward to hold onto her.

“Bridget.” She beams. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

I lean forward and press a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Of course, darling. You’re family!” She reaches forward and cups my cheek in her palm. “Speaking of family, where is that handsome son of mine?”

A hand lands on my lower back and I lean into the touch. Elias appears at my side and keeps his hand on me as he leans forward to hug his mom. Helen looks between the two of us with a warm and happy smile, clasping her hands together softly.

“I’m here,” he says. “How’re you feeling today?”

She waves her hand dismissively. “I’m fine, but enough about me.” She looks between the two of us with narrowed eyes. “How’s the wedding planning coming along?”

Elias and I share a look and I don’t miss the way Isobel and Oscar look between each other with a smirk. “Honestly, we haven’t had much time to organize anything.”

I watch as Elias winces and shakes his head and I immediately realize I shouldn’t have said that when Helen says, “Oh, well then. We can get some planning done this weekend—I’ll help, of course.”

Oh boy.

Oh fucking boy.

Elias looks over at me as if to say, you’re on your own, before he walks over to the couch and falls down next to his brother. Isobel hands him Freya and winks up at me as Helen gently grips my elbow.

“Oh, there’s really no need…” I trail off, looking over at Elias for support but he only smirks, motioning for me to carry on digging myself deeper.

Asshole.

“I really wouldn’t want to take up this relaxing vacation planning for the wedding.”

She shakes her head, and I know by the bright look on her face that we’re going to be planning a wedding regardless of what I want. Helen walks me toward the door.

“Come with me, love,” Helen says warmly. “We can get a good start before dinner.”

I look over my shoulder at Isobel, Elias, and Oscar to see the three of them hiding their laughter behind the palms of their hands, and I glare.

Traitors, I mouth, and catch the bark of laughter coming out of Isobel as we round the corner and out of view.

elias

As Mom tugs Bridget out of the living room, I can’t help but laugh at Bridget’s glare as she rounds the corner. Ever since Freya was born, Oscar and Isobel have been busy, and finding the time to see them has been next to impossible what with them trying to juggle life with a newborn and toddler.