Families. Love. Couples.
She shouldn’t have worried about being uncomfortable the way they all worked to include her, to draw her into their circle. They ate, got seconds, and now reclined, letting their food settle while the frozen ice cream dessert softened.
“It’s always about you,” Andrew was saying to Tony.
“As it should be,” Tony said with a laugh. “I’m number one.”
“Which makes you the oldest,” Sarah said. “Might not want to brag about that too much. I think I saw a gray hair.”
“What it makes me is wisest.”
“Not,” said the woman beside him.
“Remember that time at Disney World?” Lizzie chimed in. “When we were all waiting like good little children, and Tony and Matt were off riding rides?”
Paige enjoyed the back-and-forth. She watched the faces, the smiles and loving looks. Especially from Jake’s parents, who seemed amused at their grown children still acting like kids. Even as they cut each other down, you could feel the love.
Matt shrugged. “We lost track of time.”
“Right. And we lost an hour of park time while Mom thought you’d been kidnapped and the park police were called out.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” Tony said, looking at her. “We were maybe fifteen minutes late.”
“Ten,” Matt said and laughed at his grumbling siblings, then caught the balled-up napkin his mom threw him.
Paige laughed too, but noticed Jake didn’t. He’d been quiet through all the rehashing of childhood. “Where was Jake?”
“Probably sacked out in his stroller. Or back at the hotel with Grandma,” Lizzie answered.
Right. Because he’d still been in a crib during most of their trips down memory lane. “You should see what Jake’s built in California. He’s a genius, you know.” The chatter quieted, eyes turned her way. “People come from all over the country, the world even. Did he tell you about the patents he’s sold?” she went on, because there were times her mouth just wouldn’t stop. This was one of those times. She took a breath when Jake’s fingers curled warmly around the back of her neck.
“We should plan a trip,” his dad said. “I’d like to see the place.”
Matt nodded, his other brothers and his dad added praise. Their faces were full of love and pride, and she realized too late she didn’t need to champion him. But she wanted to.
“He was always a smart boy, and such a beautiful baby,” his mother said, gazing at him with love.
“Especially in my dance outfits,” Lizzie added. “Really cute.”
He rolled his eyes at his sister. “I was two.”
“You were four,” Lizzie corrected.
Things deteriorated from there and several conversations broke out as they talked over each other. Jake was still quiet, but he smiled. It was the best family gathering she’d ever been to. The only family gathering she’d ever been to. She and her mom didn’t exactly count as a gathering.
Sometimes at Christmas, Jenny would be there with her own mom, maybe her stepdad. There were other people too, but never the same people twice. There were no shared memories except the ones she had with Jenny.
“God help me.” Jake shook his head at his brothers’ laughter. “It’s not funny. She never dressed you up.”
“Nope.” Tony chuckled and took a sip of his beer. “Just the luck of the sibling order draw.”
“Well, he was a beautiful little boy. That dark hair curling around his ears. Big brown eyes.”
“Mom. You’re not helping.”
“I’ll help. He was gross. Always dipping his pizza in orange juice.”
Paige’s mouth dropped open and she swung her gaze to Jake.
He winked and squeezed her neck.
“Besides, I played with you,” Lizzie said, just as a group of kids came rushing in. “I let you be the dog, didn’t I?”
“You were the dog?” Casey asked, climbing into Jake’s lap and making herself comfortable.
“And painted your nails,” Lizzie added, laughing. “You can’t say I left you out.”
“I painted his nails too!” Casey exclaimed.
Jake shook his head at the relentless heckling that ensued, but then Casey smiled up at him, and the way he smiled back told Paige he’d let her do it again if she asked.
Mary, Caroline, Cole, and Mitchell sidled up to their respective parents, all angelic faces.
“Uh-oh. Looks like a plan has been hatched,” Matt said. “Brace yourself.”
“We want to have a spend-the-night,” Caroline said.
“Hmm.” Stephen grabbed his son in a headlock. “That might be arranged.”
“And Casey wants to stay too,” Cole added.
Still in Jake’s lap, Casey turned to her. “Mommy, you have to see this room. It’s the best room ever!”
“Really?” She didn’t doubt it. Everything about this house and family was the best.
Andrew stood and stretched. “Time to round up my people.”