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A single tear spilled over, and I let it fall. “Every single one of you has made decisions that the rest of us might disagree with, but when you made them, I listened to you when you wanted to talk. I never made you feel like you couldn’t handle whatever was going on in your life. And I loved you through all the shit you’ve pulled over the years.”
When I finished, I was breathing hard, and my hands were shaking a little, but holy shit, did it feel good to say all that.
That was the thing about being the steady, easygoing sibling at the back of the pack. I might only get one freak-out per year, but I would make itcount.
My mom was the first to speak. “I’m proud of you, Poppy. I think it was brave for you to face us all like this.”
“It was,” Adaline agreed. Greer was quietly crying in her chair, and Ian gave me an encouraging nod.
“Did I miss the first agenda point?” Parker whispered. “I’m really lost.”
“Maybe set your alarm next time,” Cameron snapped.
“I did,” Parker said. “I swear, it got turned off.”
“By who?” Erik asked.
Parker grimaced. “Never mind.”
Greer took a deep breath. “You’re right, Pops. We should’ve trusted you to handle it yourself. And no matter what you said earlier, I think we do owe you an apology for earlier.” She managed a tiny smile. “I really am sorry.”
Cameron met my eyes. “I’m sorry, too.”
Parker cleared his throat. “I wasn’t there, so … I don’t think this is a moment I need to add anything.”
Erik rolled his eyes.
“Forgiven,” I told them. I picked up the agenda and exhaled a laugh. “Well, the agenda was a nice idea in theory.”
Mom smiled. “Anything else you want to let us know?”
I swallowed. “I don’t know what this will look like for Jax and me as co-parents or the types of decisions I might make. But unless I ask for your advice, I need you to respect the way he and I move forward.”
Everyone nodded.
Wearily, I sat back down in my chair, resting a hand on the top of my bump. “I think I’m done.”
Ivy raised her hand. “May I have the floor, boss?”
“I’m pretty sure you’re the boss, Ivy, at least in this building. But sure.”
She waved that off. “While we have the whole family here, I think this is the perfect place to discuss your promotion.”
My head reared back. “What promotion?”
Ivy leaned back in her chair, studying me with a shrewd look on her face. “I’ve been thinking about our plan to have you manage the store, and I’m not sure it makes sense anymore, what with the forthcoming bundle of joy and all.”
Cameron cut his girlfriend a curious look. “When did you decide this?”
“Right now,” she said, never taking her eyes off me. “Managing the store isn’t very flexible, and it’s not like you’re going to bring one of those baby cages into work every day.”
“Baby cage?” Parker asked in a horrified whisper.
“Do you mean a playpen?” Greer asked, fighting a smile.
“Sure, whatever it’s called,” Ivy said dismissively. “But as the Wilder House Director of Operations, you could work from home a few days a week if you wanted.” She tilted her head, glancing around the room. “What do we think?”
Cameron smiled. “It’s a yes from me. Poppy is ten times more organized than any of us here.”
