When I don’t move, she drags my comforter off my body. “Shower,” she demands. “Now!”
As I drag my listless body out of bed, I mumble, “Geez, you’re bossy.”
The smile on her face is priceless. “Learned from the best, homie.”
59
Katherine
I glance down at my jeans and flannel and then look around. Everyone is dressed up today, and the house is packed. Someone must have brought some firecrackers because I don’t remember the last time this many people came over.
“Why are y’all wearing ties?” I ask my uncles as I hug them one by one.
Tío Chuey glances at my mom and then back to me and shrugs. “Just came from Mass. You shoulda come too, my little heathen.”
“You went to church for New Year’s Eve service? I thought you only did Christmas?”
“Nah, I do all the major holidays. The cute ladies host a big potluck after.” He waggles his eyebrows.
Ew.
I pat his big belly. “Looks like you’ve been indulging.”
“You know it!”
I laugh and kiss his chubby cheek. I’m greeting the rest of my relatives when my uncle herds me toward the end of the extended dining room table and then calls out to my parents.
“Sit,” my mom barks, pointing to me and then the place setting in front of me.
Tori saunters over and pulls out my chair. Leaning over to her, I whisper, “Is it my imagination or is everyone acting weird?”
“Our family is weird. You just never realized it.” Then she pretends to fellate a celery stick, but nobody seems to notice that my sex-obsessed little sister is being a total pervert.
Slouching in the chair, I wait for the rest of the family to grab a seat and for my mom to give the go-ahead to pass around the casserole dishes that fill the table. Except everyone keeps standing. And staring. At me.
Why do I feel like I’m in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode?
My mom moves next to my dad, who clears his throat. “It’s real good to have everyone here today. Margie and I are blessed y’all could make it.”
What the?
This is so strange. “Tor, seriously. Why is Dad being so formal?” I whisper.
She winks at me and motions for me to pay attention.
My dad shifts uncomfortably, and I’m afraid he’s gonna tell us he lost his job or has cancer. Mentally, I start calculating how much money I have in the bank to pay their rent.
“Margie and I are so grateful to have Katherine home with us.” Everyone turns to stare at me again, and I give an awkward wave. “In a few hours, it’ll be a new year, and we wanted to kick it off with something good.”
He pulls out a big black bag and motions toward me. “I’m sure everyone knows that my daughter is an incredibly talented public relations and marketing… type person.”
Poor Daddy. I smile. He’s trying so hard.
He clears his throat. “But did you know she’s also very talented with perfumes and making bath soaps and lotions? What do they call that oil stuff, Margie?”
“Essential oils.”
“Yes, essential oils. Katherine is real good with essential oils.”
Where the hell is he going with this?
Dad slowly unzips the bag. “In fact, she made all of these products.” He pulls out some soap and lotion and bath gel.
From the farm.
My mouth drops open, but I can’t speak.
He gives me a little smirk. “And I have enough for everyone to take home some of these beautiful… productos. It’s a belated Christmas gift from a family friend.”
“Dad, where did”—I swallow hard—“where did you get that?”
The chair next to me scrapes the floor and a familiar deep voice rumbles in my ear, “From me.”
Chills break out on my arms, and I close my eyes.
You know that feeling you get when you’re at the top of a rollercoaster, about to take the plunge? That moment where you’re not sure you’ll survive if you move forward but certain you can’t go back?
My heart is in my throat when I turn and see those black jeans.
I look up until I reach those intense green eyes and Brady’s beautiful face. Izzy grins in his arms, and I launch out of my seat and into their embrace.
My family is aww-ing and ooh-ing and clapping behind me. I ignore them and bury my face in Brady’s neck.
He’s here.
Blinking back the heat in my eyes, I kiss Izzy, who claps and squeals.
“Missed you guys,” I sniffle.
One of my aunts reaches for the baby, and the moment both of his arms are free, Brady lifts me into another hug.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper as I fight back the tears.
His hand sweeps through my hair, and he says the sweetest words I’ve ever heard. “Had to come get my girl.”
As he sets me down on the floor, all of the reasons we couldn’t be together come rushing back to me. “Aren’t you leaving?” I ask, my voice wobbly with emotion. “Aren’t you selling the farm? What about your family?”
For a moment, all I see is him. The sounds of my family fade in the background as he cradles my face in his calloused hand.