Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
My shoulders sag. I’m so relieved that I could cry.
“What are you hollerin’ about in here?” Lonnie asks, coming into the room. He stops in his tracks when he sees me. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
“Hi, Lonnie,” I say, grinning.
He comes to me and pulls me in for a one-arm hug. “How have you been, sweetheart?”
“I’m good. What about you?”
“Oh, I’m doing about the same as I always am. Taking orders from Maggie and Kate and shoving off what I can on my boys.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Luke mumbles.
Maggie rolls her eyes. “I’m embarrassed that I made a meatloaf for dinner.”
“Why would that embarrass you?” I ask.
“Because you’re here. I need to woo you so you come back more often.” She motions for me to follow her. “Now, come in here and help me mash these potatoes.”
My heart is so full it nearly overflows.
It feels so good to be among these people and treated like any other person in the world. I’m instructed to mash the potatoes and corrected when I don’t add enough salt. I’m quizzed not on which celebrities I’ve seen lately or about the songs on my albums but on if I take vitamins and what books I’ve read.
Refreshing doesn’t begin to cut it. This is … wholesome. There’s no guilt for hurting their son. No anger for not calling. No snide comments to make me feel like a jerk. All that’s here is love and forgiveness. It’s family.
It’s a home.
“Rinse that hand mixer off and put it in that drawer over there,” Maggie says, pointing across the kitchen.
“Careful,” Luke says. “She’ll go through every drawer in here.”
“Oh, I will not. I only go through your drawers,” I say, smiling at him.
“You didn’t find my new set of lures, did ya?” Lonnie asks.
Luke groans. “I told you I didn’t take them.”
“Then who did?”
“Not me, Dad. Probably that little shit of a granddaughter,” Luke says, grinning.
“I’m telling Kennedy you said that,” Maggie says, shoving spoons into the potatoes and green beans. “Gavin will be her favorite uncle. You know how much you hate battling back into first place.”
I laugh. “What are you talking about?”
“Guys, come fix your plates,” Maggie says before turning to me. “Gavin and Luke have a little competition going with Kennedy. It’s been going since she was old enough to know how to manipulate them. Poor boys. Anyway, she keeps a leaderboard of which uncle is her favorite. Gavin and Luke always try to stay on top.”
“Oh,” I say. “I see.”
“Here.” Maggie shoves a plate in my hand. “Eat up. I’m sorry that it’s just meatloaf.”
“Maggie, I haven’t had a home-cooked meal like this in forever.”
Luke’s hand slips across my lower back as he passes by. Goose bumps break out across my skin.
“If you need a home-cooked meal, just call me,” she says, pouring us all a glass of tea and taking it to the table. “I used to send Kate food all the time. I’m a pro. Send me a menu and I’ll have it to you the next morning.”
“She spoils those kids rotten,” Lonnie whispers loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Not me,” Luke says, putting potatoes on my plate and then his. “I’m the middle child. I get overlooked.”
Maggie sighs. “Now that’s an outright lie. Anytime I try to ignore you, you borrow my car and don’t bring it back, so I have to call. Or you fill my washing machine with your laundry and forget to start it. Or you—”
“We get the picture, Mother,” Luke says. “You love my brothers more than me. Got it.”
I smile at Maggie as we make our way to the table. She shakes her head at Luke.
“Why do you do this to me?” she asks him. “Why do you make me think you just might really believe that, so I’ll worry about it when I go to bed tonight?”
“I’m sorry,” Luke says as the four of us settle at the table. “I didn’t know you stayed up worrying like that. I’ll make sure you know I’m kidding before I leave or hang up. Promise.”
“Or just don’t drive me crazy on purpose.”
“Unlikely.”
We eat quietly, enjoying each other’s presence and the delicious food. I compliment Maggie on her cooking. She beams. I wish it were that easy to make everyone happy.
“Luke, what’s on the side of your head?” Lonnie asks. “Bend over here. Is that mud?”
I press my lips together and refuse to make eye contact with Luke.
“It’s nothing,” Luke says, his face heating before our eyes.
“Yeah, it is. Hold still.” Lonnie plucks a chunk of chocolate icing from Luke’s hair. “What is this? Candy?”
He chokes on a green bean. “Yeah, Dad. It’s candy.”
“How do you get candy in your hair?” Maggie asks, shaking her head. “You never cease to amaze me, Lucas.”
“He never ceases to amaze me either,” I say.