Swinging open the door, Minnie nearly slurs, “Welcome!”
Ariel gives her a one-armed hug, saying playfully, “Seeeester. I see someone is having a good time without me already.” In her other hand, she carries a bag with a few appetizers already neatly stacked.
Both her parents step in after Ariel, Marla giving Minnie her typical bougie greeting with air-kisses. Reginald stands awkwardly to the side, shifting on his feet, seemingly out of sorts. Marla flashes her eyes meaningfully at Minnie, trying to wordlessly convey meaning.
Oh.He needs Minnie to hug him, does he? Because he’s all sore about Gage taking the money and using it for Minnie?Hah. Daddy…
Using all the alcohol in her veins, Minnie goes to his side and hugs him, saying in an overly sweet tone, “It’s good to see you,Daddy. I don’t like thinking you’re angry with me.” She pouts for good measure; her father likes being the one to save her from just about anything, even from his own anger.
The tension in his shoulders softens slightly, and he leans down to kiss her forehead. “I can never stay mad at you, Minerva. That…man…of yours, though…” he trails off, scoffing.
Trying to bridge that gap, Minnie offers up, “The guys are looking over the new smoker that Gage has. I know you’ve been thinking of getting one. I’m sure he’ll want to show it to you.”
“We’ll see. Hopefully that ruffian didn’t purchase a subpar model.”
Minnie makes a face. “Well,that ruffiandid manage to find a suitable home in budget and a home with low maintenance thus far. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Ariel is poking around, looking at different rooms. “Yeah. Dad. Stop being an old bear. You’re just mad that the man outsmarted you.”
Her mother is already scanning the countertops. She runs a skeptical finger over one of them and examines the result. “You’ve done such a lovely job decorating the new place, but honey, would you like to speak to my maid-”
“I don’t need a maid, nor do I think I can afford one, Mom.” Minnie grins, “But thanks for the offer.”
They all admire her kitchen, commenting on the perfect size of it. “So much counterspace!” Marla quips, impressed. “Not as much asmykitchen, but this is just perfect for you.”
As always, her mother finds ways to make compliments half-insulting. “Your house is twice the size, Mom. No doubt your counterspace is more.” At the hurt look on her mother’s face, Minnie softens her response. “I’m glad you like it, though. Aren’t the cabinets gorgeous?” Sometimes, she forgets that her mother lives in a different reality and doesn’t always have the best self-awareness of what she says.
Ariel is peering out the back doors, looking at the men already eating chips and salsa in the back, laughing over their beers. She seems to be watching something with interest. She comes over close enough to whisper in Minnie’s ear. “Who is the blonde in the backyard? He looks fun.”
Minnie doesn’t even have to look to know that Chase has caught her sister’s eye. “That’s Chase. He thinks you might be fun, too, by the way. He also makes a rather strong drink.”
“Oh, I’m not looking to get sloppy today. Beers for me.” Ariel’s eyes widen with a certain level of intrigue. “Wish me luck; I’m going to go introduce myself to all of thosefine criminals.”
Jaw dropping open, Ariel watches as her sister promptly goes into the backyard, the first of her family to introduce herself to Gage’s circle of friends. Minnie bites her lower lip, watching, but nothing bad happens. They greet her with smiles, and Chase gallantly cracks open a beer for Ariel, cracking the top off with the edge of-
Minnie gasps and flings the door open. “Chase!Not the edge of the table! You’ll damage it!”
“Shit! Habit.” Chase smiles weakly before handing the beer to Ariel. “Your sister was thirsty.”
Her mother shyly comes outside next, but seems to glow when Gage goes out of his way to pull her chair out for her. “Goodness,” Marla says, placing a hand where her pearls would normally be. “So gentlemanly.”
Marlin chuckles. “I’ve tried to teach him some manners. He’s passable.”
Reginald Fray stands just at the back door, watching the engagement with a dry scowl. Clearly, nothing bothers him more than seeing Gage doanything. Gage meets his gaze, and one of his eyebrows lifts. “Well? What do you think of the place, Mr. Fray?”
Stiffly, as though a stick were up his bum, Reginald replies, “It’s a very well-put together home.”
“Good.” A hint of wickedness dances in Gage’s hazel eyes. “You bought it.”
Minnie’s father splutters at the reminder.
The housewarming party continues forward, thankfully without any sort of chaos when her father finally joins them outside, asking Gage through gritted teeth to show him the new smoker he’d gotten for the pulled pork.
“You can breathe, you know,” Marlin reminds Minnie as she stares nervously over at her fiancé and father. “There’s not gonna be a brawl on your neat lawn.”
“That you know of,” Ariel replies, sipping her beer.
“Girls,” Marla says haughtily. “Your father doesnotengage in fisticuffs, you know this.”
