just took on a partner so he'd be able to have more time at home. “She should be alone shortly. So what’s going on, Seb?”
“ My family keeping secrets from me. After knowing Justin this long, I can practically smell a secret on him.”
“ Oy!” Justin responded.
“ Well now you know, how do you feel about it?” Melanie asked tentatively.
“ I couldn’t be happier for you,” and he gave her a brotherly hug before turning to give one to Justin too.
Right about the time the pot roast was served out on the table, Dymphna arrived. Not missing a beat, Skylar laid out another serving, and her sister immediately sat down behind it. “Smells good.”
“ There’s a carrot cake for dessert, too,” Melanie contributed.
“ Skylar’s going to make me fat,” Dymphna bemoaned her fate, but she barely even waited for the others to sit down before she dug in.
“ Your metabolism would be better if you’d eat lunch.”
“ Ah, well, some things don’t change.”
“ I also feel like in our surprise at her appearance, we may not have told Melanie how glad we are to have her in the family,” Seb said.
“ That’s why he had me make a cake for tonight. To informally celebrate a wedding. We weren’t sure if you’d want a big party or not. Earlier, things had been so tense between you and Justin that we weren't sure if we should be celebrating something you didn't want.”
Melanie’s eyes teared up. “No, no, this is perfect. Thank you all so much. My own father has told me never to contact them after he found out about Justin and the baby, but you guys wanted to welcome me. I’m so grateful.” Everyone smiled at her, and she felt more than ever before that her relationship with Justin could really have a chance. With such a loving family to show them how it's done, they'd have a better chance than with a family like Melanie's that would fight against a relationship.
“ You won’t be avoiding a big baby shower like you're avoiding a wedding shower,” Skylar warned her. “I’ve got time on my hands, and you’ve given me a motivation.” The others nodded.
“ Again, thanks.”
The others seemed to sense her emotions about to boil over into full on tears, and they changed the subject to Melanie's idea for Skylar's project. The others were delighted, and agreed that it could be a great way to both promote unity among witches and train new witches, or those who newly discovered their powers. When the conversation moved on, Melanie tried to listen, but didn’t hear much as she marveled over her acceptance into the Ward family. All that was left was to get Justin to love her.
After dinner and dessert, Melanie fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake up until she was in Justin’s bed at the Coven House.
“ Welcome home,” he said, and kissed her cheek. “Feeling better?”
“ Much, yes.”
“ We’ll have to watch you carefully to make sure you’re not overworking yourself. I know you want to help Skylar and Seb told me about the publicity campaign, and I think that’s great, but just try to keep as much of it in a chair or a relaxed environment as much as possible.”
“ You got it.”
“ After you fell asleep, Skylar said she’d call around ten to see if you’re ready to be picked up. She mentioned you were having your car shipped, so you won't need her rides soon.”
“ That's right. When I found out I'd be here until I had the baby to get Dymphna's magical help, I figured I'd just move all of my life out of LA.”
“ Do you need to rest some more?”
“ No, I think I’m fine for now.”
“ Then come with me.”
Melanie just grinned while Justin showed off his fancy entertainment center out in the living room of his suite. “I know you've seen it in action, but I never really got bragging rights on how I built it all. I’ve also never been one to bring people back here, so I've never gotten the chance to show the whole setup off. Now you can come sit.” He settled in on
“ My family keeping secrets from me. After knowing Justin this long, I can practically smell a secret on him.”
“ Oy!” Justin responded.
“ Well now you know, how do you feel about it?” Melanie asked tentatively.
“ I couldn’t be happier for you,” and he gave her a brotherly hug before turning to give one to Justin too.
Right about the time the pot roast was served out on the table, Dymphna arrived. Not missing a beat, Skylar laid out another serving, and her sister immediately sat down behind it. “Smells good.”
“ There’s a carrot cake for dessert, too,” Melanie contributed.
“ Skylar’s going to make me fat,” Dymphna bemoaned her fate, but she barely even waited for the others to sit down before she dug in.
“ Your metabolism would be better if you’d eat lunch.”
“ Ah, well, some things don’t change.”
“ I also feel like in our surprise at her appearance, we may not have told Melanie how glad we are to have her in the family,” Seb said.
“ That’s why he had me make a cake for tonight. To informally celebrate a wedding. We weren’t sure if you’d want a big party or not. Earlier, things had been so tense between you and Justin that we weren't sure if we should be celebrating something you didn't want.”
Melanie’s eyes teared up. “No, no, this is perfect. Thank you all so much. My own father has told me never to contact them after he found out about Justin and the baby, but you guys wanted to welcome me. I’m so grateful.” Everyone smiled at her, and she felt more than ever before that her relationship with Justin could really have a chance. With such a loving family to show them how it's done, they'd have a better chance than with a family like Melanie's that would fight against a relationship.
“ You won’t be avoiding a big baby shower like you're avoiding a wedding shower,” Skylar warned her. “I’ve got time on my hands, and you’ve given me a motivation.” The others nodded.
“ Again, thanks.”
The others seemed to sense her emotions about to boil over into full on tears, and they changed the subject to Melanie's idea for Skylar's project. The others were delighted, and agreed that it could be a great way to both promote unity among witches and train new witches, or those who newly discovered their powers. When the conversation moved on, Melanie tried to listen, but didn’t hear much as she marveled over her acceptance into the Ward family. All that was left was to get Justin to love her.
After dinner and dessert, Melanie fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake up until she was in Justin’s bed at the Coven House.
“ Welcome home,” he said, and kissed her cheek. “Feeling better?”
“ Much, yes.”
“ We’ll have to watch you carefully to make sure you’re not overworking yourself. I know you want to help Skylar and Seb told me about the publicity campaign, and I think that’s great, but just try to keep as much of it in a chair or a relaxed environment as much as possible.”
“ You got it.”
“ After you fell asleep, Skylar said she’d call around ten to see if you’re ready to be picked up. She mentioned you were having your car shipped, so you won't need her rides soon.”
“ That's right. When I found out I'd be here until I had the baby to get Dymphna's magical help, I figured I'd just move all of my life out of LA.”
“ Do you need to rest some more?”
“ No, I think I’m fine for now.”
“ Then come with me.”
Melanie just grinned while Justin showed off his fancy entertainment center out in the living room of his suite. “I know you've seen it in action, but I never really got bragging rights on how I built it all. I’ve also never been one to bring people back here, so I've never gotten the chance to show the whole setup off. Now you can come sit.” He settled in on
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