I took the carrier from her, since I was closer, and set the food out.
“Let’s eat,” Lana said, coming closer. “I’m starving.”
“When aren’t you starving?” I’d never met someone who could eat the way she could. Lana ate more than some athletes I knew and never put on weight. Her job probably helped. She worked for a catering company and had just started her ownevent-planning business. It was a rare moment when she sat down.
She elbowed my side, then moved in between me and Mina.
“Hi.” Lana held out a hand. “I’m this idiot’s sister, Lana.”
Mina shook her hand. “Mina. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Lana handed her a plastic plate.
“Oh, we’re introducing ourselves, since this one is lapsing in his duties?” My mom wedged herself into the space beside Lana and grinned as she sent me a teasing look. “I’m Leanne. I know we’re not very original with all the ‘L’ names, but it was easy.” Grinning, she held out a hand, which Mina shook.
“I like it,” Mina replied. “It shows yours and Les’s playful side.”
I laughed. “Don’t let her fool you. They liked the name Lucas, then didn’t want Lana to feel left out.”
Mom lifted one shoulder, grinning. “It’s true.” She lifted the foil covering the pulled pork.
My mouth watered. “That smells amazing.”
“Your sister made it.” Mom picked up a fork and put a portion of the meat onto a plate.
“I made the slaw too.” Lana remarked.
Truthfully, it all looked amazing. “I’m glad we were all able to get together like this. I can’t cook the best, but I’m happy to eat the fruits of your labor and pass along my extreme gratitude.”
“You helped with the cornbread.” Mina poked me in the side.
“I did what you told me to do.”
“It’s still helping.”
I shrugged. “If you say so. I’m just happy we could all get together.” And I truly was. Despite my nervousness over Mina meeting my family, I was glad we could spend the holiday together—even if it wasn’t technically the holiday yet.
“You got lucky,” Lana said. “I somehow didn’t get booked the entire weekend. I put in my hours at the caterer this morning toprep for tomorrow and hightailed it out of there before Jeremy could ask me to cover someone’s shift.”
Lana’s schedule was the reason we were celebrating on Friday, the second, and not tomorrow or Sunday. It had the added benefit of freeing me up tomorrow, so Mina and I could go on a hike. Despite the idea of having to tote Ozzie and Claire’s dogs around, I was looking forward to it.
“You turned off the ringer on your phone, right?” Mom asked Lana. “So he can’t call you in?”
“Yep.” Heaping coleslaw on her plate, Lana smiled.
Once we all made our way through the food line and Mom made a plate for Dad, we settled into seats around the room, chatting about things while we ate. Mom, a professional photographer, made a remark about a family she recently photographed, at which point, Dad sat up and waved a hand, pointing toward a corner of the room.
“I almost forgot. Fetch those pictures I had you bring, Leanne.”
Mom sent a wicked smile at me, and my stomach sank.
“Pictures?” My gaze tracked her as she got up and went to a large tote sitting on the floor at the end of the long counter where we’d placed all the food. “Please don’t tell me you brought my baby book.”
She laughed. “No, but I should have.” Lifting the bag, she retreated to her chair beside Dad’s bed.
“When your mother told me you wanted to bring a date, I had an inkling of who it would be.” Dad accepted the first album Mom passed him. “I thought Mina might like to see some old photos of you and hear some memories of your crazier youthful exploits.”
I groaned, making Mina laugh. There were a few stories I would rather see die a pauper’s death.
