CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TALK ABOUT A BAD IDEA, LIZ thought as she stood in front of the house where Ethan had grown up. Denise had called to invite her and the kids over for dinner. Sort of a family bonding time. Liz had wanted to say no, but hadn’t been able to think of an excuse. Ethan’s brothers were out of town, but the triplets would be there. Which meant five members of the Hendrix clan to face down.
Liz kept telling herself that Denise had been perfectly friendly the last time they’d talked. That everything would be fine. The problem was she couldn’t quite believe herself.
She clutched the flowers she held tightly, then led the way to the front door and rang the bell. The children clustered behind her, talking about the newly installed shower in the upstairs bath back home. For reasons Liz couldn’t understand, the glass blocks around the window had been a big hit.
The door opened.
“You made it,” Ethan said.
“Was there any doubt?” she asked, trying not to let her nervousness show.
“We were taking bets.”
“Great.”
“I’m kidding,” he corrected, stepping back. “Come on in.”
She walked inside. Tyler came after her and hugged his father, while Abby and Melissa huddled together. Denise appeared, looking relaxed and pretty in a matching light green crop pant and T-shirt set. There was a rhinestone pink flamingo filling the front of her shirt, and she had pink sparkles on her flip-flops.
“Come in, come in,” the older woman urged as she hugged first Tyler, then the girls. She took the flowers Liz offered. “Aren’t you sweet? They’re beautiful and I have just the right vase for them.” She frowned. “But it’s up high and I can’t reach it. Melissa, honey, can you get it for me?”
“Um, sure.” The teen followed her into the kitchen.
“I always wanted to be tall,” she could hear Denise saying. “You’re so pretty. I don’t even want to think about all the boys you have interested in you.”
“Me, either,” Liz agreed, allowing Ethan to ease her down the hallway toward the large kitchen. Abby and Tyler trailed after them.
The kitchen was light and bright, obviously the center of the home. The blue floor tiles warmed up the white cabinets and dark granite. There were stainless steel appliances and lots of storage space. It was the perfect kitchen for a large family.
Through the far door, Liz saw the table in the dining room had been set for nine and there was still plenty of room. Ethan’s family had always been large.
“We’re keeping it simple tonight,” Denise announced as she put the flowers in water. “Barbecued chicken and salads. I made a few fresh pies earlier today, so we have them for dessert. Now let’s go into the family room. It’s more comfortable there.”
She led the way into a big open space filled with comfortable-looking sofas and chairs, plenty of small tables scattered around a fireplace. A long bar stood against the far wall and a big TV was mounted on the opposite wall.
Ethan’s sisters were already in the family room. They stood as Liz and the kids entered, moving next to each other.
“Sweet,” Tyler said as he stared at them. “You’re really Dad’s sisters?”
“Uh-huh,” Montana said. “Which means we’re your aunts. Very cool. I know I’d like me for an aunt. I’m Montana. You’ve seen me at the library and I babysat once.” She pointed to her head. “Long hair. I’m the pretty one, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“You’re a lot of things,” Dakota muttered. “Hi. I’m Dakota, Tyler. This is a lot to take in, huh? Don’t worry. You’ll get used to there being three of us. This is Nevada.”
“Long hair, medium hair, short hair,” Tyler said. “That works.”
Liz put her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t get used to it too much. Women tend to change their hair.”
“We might,” Montana acknowledged. “Nevada just cut hers. She says this cut is more sensible.”
Nevada, the quietest of the triplets, only smiled. “I’m not out there looking for attention.”
“Or a man,” Montana added. “It wouldn’t kill you to date.”
“Like you go out every weekend?” Nevada quipped.
“I’m waiting for the right guy,” Montana explained.
“You mean the perfect guy,” Nevada said. “He doesn’t exist.”
“You’re all making me so proud,” Denise said with a shake of her head. She turned to Abby and Melissa. “You two are sisters. Do you fight?”
Abby grinned. “A lot. But it’s okay. We still love each other.”
“She can be a pain, but I’m used to it,” Melissa conceded.