“Vegas? Did you have a good time?” my mom asked with a smile.
Dad scoffed. “No one asked me if Vegas was okay.”
I nodded. “Yeah, a great time. So many memories.”
“We’ll have to share pictures,” she said and ate a bite of roast.
I nodded. “There’s some video too.”
Hale smacked his lips so loudly we all turned in his direction. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell the family? Something about what happened in Vegas.”
“Yes.” I narrowed my eyes at him, silently threatening to kill him in his sleep. “It was a great trip. We saw pirates, a volcano, the Eiffel tower, fountains and got married,” I said the last part under my breath.
“Married?” my sister Holly asked as Bacon laid his head on her leg when she stopped feeding him in her shock.
The brothers talked over each other, making it impossible to figure out what any of them were saying. Someone said Hale’s name a few times, and he threw his hands up in the air.
“Don’t look at me. I wasn’t in charge of her,” he said when the clatter lowered.
My father shook his head. He placed his fork on his napkin and pushed his chair back from the table. “Good news, Chance. Always happy to have you around here more.”
“Dad?” I asked.
“It’s been a long day. I’m going to bed,” he replied and walked out of the room with shuffled steps.
Holly leaned across Will at the table and gave me a fist bump over the dish of mashed potatoes. “Welcome to the family, Chance. Will didn’t know what he was agreeing to, but you’ve seen us in action. You don’t have an excuse.”
Chance laughed and sat in his seat, cutting into the roast and shoving a large bite into his mouth.
EPILOGUE
Hope
* A little while later *
“No one is allowed to go on vacation again,” my father answered Hale as he finished chewing his last bite of green bean casserole.
Looks like they weren’t getting that holiday in the Bahamas.
The entire family of siblings and their significant others gathered at the table with the younger kids eating at a smaller table in the kitchen. There were too many of us to fit into one room.
“Dad, don’t be cranky,” Holly replied as she stole Will’s roll before he popped it into his mouth.
Our dad laid his fork on his napkin. The fragrance of fresh pie drew his attention for a second, and then he turned back to Holly. “I’m serious, Holly. Every time someone goes on vacation, they get married or come back pregnant.”
I choked on my drink of tea. He had a point. Our family had a history of vacation babies and weddings.
Mom laughed. “They’re all fine now. We’ve gotten the surprises out of the way. Right kids?” she asked, shooting us all a look and a promise that if we did anything stupid, she’d make us pay.
She made eye contact with each of us individually, and we all nodded our heads. As soon as she left the table, Holston’s gaze dropped, and he became super interested in his water glass. That was going to become a thing, eventually. I hoped I’d be here to hear it when it happened. I’d take pictures.
Mom left the dining room and returned a minute later carrying a large pie. She placed it on the edge and cut a line right down the middle before counting pieces and making measurements.
“You can start over here, Mom,” Holston said and handed her his plate since he was right next to her.
Ember placed her hand over his and dropped it on top of her napkin. “Your dad should get the first piece.”
Dad laughed. “I like her.”
