Dev leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head. “And now to ensure that my news overshadows any excitement brought on by the two of you, I’d like to announce that I’m getting married next month—”

Lavani once again gasped in horror. But Dev wasn’t finished. “And I’m going to be a father.”

Pesh’s mouth gaped open as the table erupted in absolute pandemonium. He wondered if his mother was going to pass out. Turning to Megan, he found her with her napkin over her mouth. From the way her shoulders were moving up and down, he could tell she was laughing. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Guess we’re off the hook, huh?”

She grinned. “Yeah, I think we’re good.”

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

Chapter Twenty

Now that he and Megan were an official couple who had said the “L” word, Pesh no longer had days off where he had to wonder how to pass the time. He wanted to spend every waking minute with her and with Mason, and she always made sure that they had time together. Today found him at Patrick’s house, wedged on the couch between some of Megan’s male family members. Just like at his parents, the women were all stationed in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Sunday lunch.

As soon as Becky came in the living room and announced it was time to sit down, there was a stampede to the dining room. He followed slowly behind the others, searching for Megan who he felt like was his lifeline in the crowd.

“Where’s Aidan and Emma? They’re never late,” Angie remarked, as she sat a giant platter on the table.

Liz shrugged. “They haven’t called. We could go ahead and get started, and then they can start when they get here.”

John pulled out a chair. “Good. I’m starving.”

Becky rolled her eyes. “You’re always starving. Between you and Percy, we’re going to be eaten out of house and home.”

Pesh hung back as the others started taking their seats at the massive mahogany table. Regardless of how welcoming the Fitzgerald’s had been, he still couldn’t help feeling like an outsider. Megan came in carrying a plate of ham. After she deposited it on the table, her gaze searched the room for him. When she spotted him, she gave him the smile that always warmed his heart before crooking her finger at him.

As he started to join her, Mason came running in. “Get me, Esh,” he urged, holding his hands up. Pesh grinned as he stooped over to pick Mason up.

“Are you hungry?” Pesh asked.

“Uh, huh.”

“Are you going to sit with me or Pesh?” Megan asked.

“Esh,” he replied.

“Is that okay with you?” Megan asked.

“We’ll be fine.”

She motioned for him to have a seat. Just as they sat down, Aidan appeared in the doorway of the dining room with Noah in his arms. “Sorry we’re late.”

“Where’s Emma?” Megan asked, as she took Noah from Aidan.

With a grimace, Aidan said, “She isn’t feeling well. It seems that with this pregnancy she’s having third trimester morning sickness. I told her I would stay home with her, but she insisted I come get a good meal.”

“Poor thing. We’ll fix her a plate for you to take home to her later on,” Megan said.

Aidan smiled. “Thanks. If she can eat it, I know she’ll be grateful.”

Patrick clicked his fork against his water goblet. “Is everyone here that’s supposed to be here?”

A chorus of, “Yes,” rang around the room.

“Good. Let’s return thanks.”

Pesh obediently bowed his head along with the others. When Patrick finished, the dishes were passed around and food was served. It was certainly a lot different than how his family did it, but he still enjoyed being with Megan’s family. While Mason ate off his plate, Megan gave Aidan a break by feeding Noah, or more appropriately letting him drape her in food while he fed himself.

“You’re a mess,” Megan said, into Noah’s carrot-and-corn crusted face. His response was to grin at her. “I’m sorry, mister, but that cute little grin isn’t going to work for me.”

“He’s so stubborn,” Aidan said.

“A stubborn Fitzgerald? I’ve never heard of such,” Becky joked across the table.

Aidan shook his head. “I’m serious. He refuses to let me or Em feed him, and then he ends up wearing more than he eats.”

“Sounds like his father,” Angie mused. When Aidan gave her an exasperated look, she said, “You were the exact same way. I don’t think you ate a meal until you were two that mother didn’t have to hose you off after you finished.”

Aidan grunted. “Don’t tell Em that story. She already blames me enough for Noah’s stubbornness.”

Megan smiled. “Let’s hope that this next baby has Emma’s temperament.”

“Like she isn’t stubborn,” Aidan countered.

“Much less than you are,” Megan replied.

Pursing his lips, he appeared to be surveying her words. “You might have a point,” he said, with a grin.

After everyone finished eating, the adults lounged around the table talking and laughing while the kids went into the living room. Both Mason and Noah wanted to go with the bigger kids. “Will you keep an eye on them?” Megan asked Percy.

“Sure,” he replied.

“I owe you, Perce,” Aidan said, as Percy took the boys by the hand.

As he sat with his arm draped over the back of Megan’s chair, Pesh enjoyed listening to the lively conversation around him. Occasionally one of Aidan’s sisters would ask him a question or his opinion. He had always been naturally quiet, and when he got in the midst of such a lively bunch, he tended to be even quieter. He realized if he was going to truly fit in, he was going to have to speak up more.

Their conversation was interrupted by a shriek that came from the living room followed by a loud wail. Aidan was out of his chair in a flash while Megan was close on his heels. Mason came running into the dining room. “What happened?” Pesh asked.

“Noah got hurted.”

Aidan reappeared in the dining room with Noah in his arms. “He’s fine. He just fell down.” Taking Noah’s hand, Aidan said, “Here Daddy will kiss the booboos away, okay?”

Noah sniffled and bobbed his head. Once Aidan finish with his hand, Noah stuck out his leg. Aidan smiled. “Okay.” Once he bent down to Noah’s leg and kissed it, he asked, “Are you Daddy’s boy?”