“This is it,” Max said a few hours later, nodding towards a house in front of us.
We pulled into the driveway of Max’s cousin’s house. He’d just moved back to town and he and his wife had invited us over for dinner. I was a bit nervous; it always made me anxious to meet Max’s family. It was the natural progression of things for most relationships, a step to more, which was why I felt like I was walking the plank every time another Quinn or family friend was introduced.
“When was the last time you saw Pierce?” I asked Max. We climbed out of his truck in front of a quaint stucco house with a red tile roof. The breeze was warm and purplish bougainvillea leaves were scattered across the driveway and a stone pathway leading to the front door.
Max met me at the front of the truck and immediately grabbed my hand, rubbing his thumb across my palm. “I saw him a few days this past summer. But before then? Hell, I don’t remember. He must’ve moved to Texas five, six years ago or somethin’? I went out there once a while back . . .” He grinned to himself at some memory he didn’t share.
“He’s married, right?” I asked, chewing a fingernail on my free hand.
“Yeah. He met Isabella in Texas. She’s really sweet. You’ll love her.”
The door in front of us flew open and a man immediately grabbed ahold of Max. “Maxie! Damn, buddy! It’s good to see ya!” They shook hands and smiled at each other, exchanging greetings while I took it all in.
The man, who I presumed to be Pierce, reminded me a lot of Max. He had the same dark hair and tall frame, although not as built. His face was softer than Max’s and his eyes a sparkling blue instead of Max’s wild green.
“It’s good to see you, man,” Max said. He turned towards me. “Kari, this is my cousin, Pierce. Pierce, this is Kari.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Pierce said, wrapping me in a big hug. I looked at Max, causing him to laugh. The Quinn’s were apparently huggers all-around.
Max took my hand again and led me into the house behind Pierce. It was a typical tract home with high ceilings and fresh white paint. There were boxes lining the hallway to our left. Family pictures hung on the walls and were sitting along nearly every flat surface. A playpen was in the middle of the floor, loaded with pink toys.
“Pierce! Is that Max?” a woman’s voice shouted from another room.
“Yeah, babe.”
“Isa has been waiting for you. She made you tamales,” Pierce said, leading us to the kitchen.
“She didn’t have to do that,” Max grinned. I could tell he clearly loved that she had.
We entered an eat-in kitchen that was open to a small family room. A short, dark haired woman was standing in the kitchen, holding a baby. She was absolutely gorgeous with dark eyes and a smile that would light up a room. She looked exotic, yet approachable, and I knew she turned heads wherever she went.
“Look, Jos! It’s Uncle Max!” Isa said to the baby on her hip.
“Isabella, you get more beautiful every time I see you.” Max kissed her on the cheek. “Hey, Joselyn! Remember me?” He patted the baby’s head much in the same way he did Titus and it made me and the baby coo.
“Come here.” He looked briefly to Isa before taking the baby, earning a squeal from the child. She immediately reached for his hat and removed it from his head.
“Hat,” she said clearly.
“Yes. Hat. And you shouldn’t take a man’s hat, Miss. It’s a good thing you’re pretty.”
“Pretty,” she repeated, making everyone laugh.
“Isa, I would like you to meet my Kari. Kari, this is Isabella.” He turned to me, his eyes soft.
My Kari.
I felt the air stutter in my chest at the sound of his words and the picture of him with Jos. It was almost too much to handle.
I smiled, tearing my eyes away from his. “It’s nice to meet you, Isabella.”
“Oh, please. Call me Isa. Everyone does,” she said, smiling and tossing a towel onto the countertop. “Can I get you something? Water? Wine?”
“I’m alright, thank you.”
“I made Max tamales. Are you hungry?”
“You know I’ll never turn down those,” Max grinned at her.
“Y’all go sit down and I’ll grab it out of the oven.”
Pierce and Max headed to the table, Joselyn grabbing at Max’s nose. He laughed, pulling her hand away while she used her other to grab his hat again.
I watched Isa work around the kitchen, feeling a little out of place. She moved effortlessly around the room and looking like a million bucks while doing it. She wore a pair of black pants with a purple sleeveless shirt, showcasing her toned arms. Her hair was glossy, almost out-sparkling the diamonds in both ears.
“Can I help?” I asked, not sure what to do. Besides spaghetti, kitchens weren’t really my friend.
“Absolutely,” she smiled.
Joselyn squealed from the table and Isa went to take her from Max. Instead, he swirled her around.
“Jos wants to stay with me, right? Tell her. Say, ‘Max,’” he instructed the baby.
“Mwax!”