We arrive in a kitchen filled with warmth and laughter and people. Lots of people. I clutch my bag closer to my side to avoid inadvertent touching.
“Look who I found at the front door,” Mrs. MacNamara announces to the group, like I’m an exciting addition to the party.
I’m not.
My appeal is in my unlikeliness to spill or break something in another person’s home. Not to provide entertainment in any way—unless this group would like to start a debate team–like discussion centering around electrical engineering, I’m not on the top of anyone’s social list.
Still, I do my best to smile at the assembly and acknowledge the waves in my direction. I know many of these people from my early years spent in Folk Haven. They know exactly how much to expect from me.
“Hi, Isla,” a husky voice calls my attention, and I find Moira MacNamara—the eldest of the MacNamara siblings—approaching. “Are you here for fun or to warn us that the dam is about to break and flood our party?”
I cross my arms over my chest, clasping my elbows to make myself more compact as teenagers in formalwear scoot past me in the crowded area. “You would receive notice of that through emergency alerts. And if the dam were to fail, Lake Galen’s water level would slowly lower. Only those downstream would need to worry about flooding hazards.”
Moira stares at me, her smile staying in place. Waiting.
“You were joking.”I should have realized.
“And I always enjoy your practical response more than halfhearted laughter.” She leans in to mime an air kiss an inch away from my skin. Another agreed-upon greeting. “Glad to see you out of your office.” She turns toward the other side of the room. “Calder,” Moira yells her brother’s name. “Get Isla a ginger beer, one shot of vodka, and three lime wedges.”
The youngest MacNamara grins over at me from his spot at the bar and gives a wave of acknowledgment. I nod back, a content hum filling my body that this family knows me so well. Growing up, I always felt more comfortable in their household than my own, where the rules were looser and love flowed without the undercurrent of anxiety. Hopefully, this familiarity will help me meld into the MacNamara clan once I officially mate their brother Owen.
If only I could find him in the crowd.
Moira gets caught up in another conversation while I move to collect my drink from Calder.
“Hey, Isla. Done earning your PhD?” he asks while staring over my shoulder.
I nod. “Six months ago.” Which is why I returned to Lake Galen. My educational and professional goals have been reached—for now. Time to pursue personal matters.
“That’s impressive.” He lowers his voice. “I’m actually working on my master’s in business. Tougher than I thought, going back to school.”
“It’s a good choice. You’ll likely earn a high GPA and find the degree beneficial.”
Calder’s cheeks color—a habit I remember him having whenever people discuss him in a positive manner.
“That’s nice of you to say.”
I shrug. “It’s the truth.”
Most people who return to earn a degree later in life take their studies more seriously and earn higher grades. They also tend to choose degrees that more closely align with their careers, meaning the education will be more useful.
But I’m sure he knows that.
“Hey, uh, did you happen to see anyone else out front when you first got here?”
“Please be more specific.” I sip my drink and mentally list off the people I observed when walking from my car to the house.
“She…well…she’s this beautiful woman. Dark hair like yours but a lot longer.” He eyes my inch-long tresses before glancing back at the door. “Sometimes, she wears glasses. Her name is Delta. New to town.”
“I didn’t see anyone like that.”
The man stares at the cups he’s been stacking in an impractical pyramid formation. “Oh.”
“If I meet a dark-haired woman named Delta, I’ll inform her that you’re looking for her.”
Calder gives me a full-faced smile. “Thanks for looking out.”
After a nod, I ease away, noticing how a larger crowd has formed around the bar, which means around me. A greater population of people does increase the likelihood of locating Owen, but the presence of so many bodies presses against my skin in an uncomfortable way. I head for the back door, discovering another MacNamara sibling sitting by himself on the porch. But it’s the wrong one—again.
