82 – This Gift, This Curse

 

 

"This would be easier if one of us had a car," Will said, turning away from the Realtor's online site to look at Mira and the others.

 

"I have one," Mira said. "Unfortunately it's halfway across the country at the moment, so we'll have to rent one." She leaned over his shoulder again to look at the house he'd pulled up. "Not bad."

 

"But no swimming pool," Kevin said, looking over Will's other shoulder. He grinned when his mother rolled her eyes.

 

Mick sat on the sofa observing them, not feeling left out because he could have been right there with them. It was more that he liked watching the interaction between them. They're a real family.

 

Mira took control of the mouse to click on the next house, muttered, "No way," and moved to the next one. "Now this one I like," she said, after scrolling through the pictures and the details. "What do you all think?" She looked at the others and apparently realized Mick wasn't standing there too. Turning, she saw him and went over to sit beside him. "Why aren't you over with us?" she asked quietly.

 

He shrugged. "No room?"

 

"Mick," she replied with a smile, "there's always room for you. You're as much a part of this as the rest of us now."

 

"Not really."

 

"Yes, really. You're Will's second son, to hear him tell it. Maybe not biologically, but in every other way. That makes you my second son too, and Kevin's… okay, I don't think I'll go there, all things considered."

 

Mick chuckled. "Yeah, probably shouldn't." He looked at her, head cocked in question. "Do you really feel that way?"

 

"Absolutely!" Standing again, she grabbed his hand, urging him to get up. "So come over and give us your two-cent's worth. But"—she glanced at Kevin who had obviously been listening to them—"no swimming pools."

 

"Well, shoot." Mick grinned, following her back to the desk.

 

Kevin put his arm around Mick's waist, pointing to the screen. "So what do you think?" he asked. Then he whispered very softly, "See, what did I tell you? You're family."

 

"You didn't actually say that," Mick whispered back. "But yeah." He smiled happily, murmuring, "But you are so not my brother."

 

Kevin grinned. "Not even a distant cousin twice-removed."

 

"I got it. I'm a changeling, left on the doorstep in a wicker basket."

 

Will turned to look up at him. "What the hell have you been reading?"

 

Mick smirked. "That fantasy book you found in the dumpster a while back."

 

"Knew I should have left it there," Will muttered, before going back to what they were doing. "Okay, we like that one." He bookmarked it. "Now, what about this one?"

 

After kissing Mick quickly, Kevin looked. "Not as bad as some of the others, but there's still…"

 

"No swimming pool," Mick said the same time Kevin did. Then they broke out laughing.