An older woman leans against an open doorway. Silver blonde curls are gathered on top of her head, little spirals falling around her face, and familiar blue eyes. I can see Isabelle in her features, but I’ve seen her somewhere else as well.
Jennie shares the same whimsical style as her daughter—light blue jeans paired with fluffy, hot pink flip-flops and big purple daisy earrings dangling from her ears.
“Hello, Gage,” she says gently once she reaches me and pulls me in for a hug.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Asher. Thank you for having me over.”
“It’s Jennie. Please. And we were thrilled when Izzy asked if you could join family breakfast. We’ve heard so much about you.” Jennie moves to stand with her husband, instantly tucking herself under his arm.
Isabelle rejoins me at my side, staring up at me with a smile.
A clatter erupts in the room next door, followed by a young guy’s voice. “Everything’s fine.”
“I leave them for two minutes.” Jennie sighs. “Come on, time to introduce you to the rest of the family.”
Isabelle’s parents lead the way, and Joe shoots a narrowed glare over his shoulder when his wife can’t see.
“Dad.” Isabelle’s warning makes his eyes flare at being caught, and he quickens his steps ahead of us.
When we make it to the kitchen, two guys are hovering over the stove. While two women, both with blonde curls, sit at the island bench.
One swivels around in her chair, holding a toddler on her lap. Her hair is in little pigtails, with pink ribbons tied around them, wild ringlets sticking up in every direction.
“Is this the famous Gage?” the woman with the baby asks.
“Yes.” Isabelle wraps her hands around my bicep. “This is Gage. Grim, these are my sisters, Madeline and Chelsea. And thislittle munchkin,” she steps away to tickle the baby’s stomach, earning her squeals of delight, “is Wren.”
“The one over there flipping pancakes is my husband, Evan.” Chelsea points to a guy with dark hair.
He waves at me with a spatula in his hand. “I’d shake your hand, but the boss is watching. I can’t leave my station.” Jennie smacks his back playfully.
“And this is Madeline’s husband, Jacob.”
She points to a guy I recognise with red hair, hovering over a toaster.
“Jacob Caine.” I nod. He’s a footy player for the Heart City Hurricanes, one of our state's football teams.
“Gage Heart. It’s nice to finally meet you. Isabelle’s told us nothing but good things.”
“Debatable.” Her dad coughs under his breath.
Jacob looks over at Joe, back at me, then surveys the room. “Is it happening? Am I no longer the least favourite?”
“We love you all equally,” Jennie says.
“I get bonus points for producing the first grandchild, though, right?” Jacob leans down to her.
Madeline raises a hand. “Ah, I produced the first grandchild.”
“Yeah, but my involvement made it way more enjoyable.” He bobs his eyebrows at his wife, the amusement dying on his face when he sees Joe’s unimpressed scowl. “It’s comments like that that keep me on the bottom, isn’t it?”
Isabelle looks over at me. I can tell she’s wondering if now’s the right time to bring up our news.I think I’m going to pass out.
“Hold that thought, Jake.” Isabelle joins me again, wrapping one hand around my lower back while the other rests over my heart. “We have some news of our own.”
“Oh my goodness.” Jennie’s hands fly to her cheeks as she looks between us.
“Gage and I have not only been blessed to find each other, but we had a scan the other day, which confirmed we’re expecting.”
