“You’re right, we do have to talk it out, but it won’t be a problem.” Grant smiled at Alex.
“That’s been our address for eight, almost nine years,” Reagan said thoughtfully. “It’s sad to think of letting it go.”
“You haven’t lived there in some time,” Grant reminded her.
“I picture you there, though. When we’re on the phone or I’m thinking of you, I like that I can be sure you’re on the saggy couch.”
“Do you remember the foster home we were in for a few months?” he asked.
Reagan groaned. “I blocked it out.”
“You were in foster care?” Davis asked. “I thought Grant had custody of you.”
“Our parents died a few months shy of my birthday,” Grant answered him. “Between the selling of the house, the debts I had to settle, and my age, we weren’t immediately together.”
“That’s just so sad,” Luna said.
“Being separated was the worst. We’d just lost our parents, after all. We saw each other, but not often. Grant busted his ass to get that apartment so he could pull me out of the system when he turned eighteen.”
Hudson took Reagan’s hand on the table. “No wonder you blocked it out.”
“I have so many good memories of that apartment, though.”
“I can’t hold on to it forever, sweetie,” Grant reminded her.
“I know.” Reagan looked down at the table for several moments.
“Anybody else ready to move on and open gifts?” Davis asked.
It worked to break the tension in the room. The tables were cleaned off and put away, and Reagan insisted Hudson stop hiding in the kitchen. They could do the dishes later.
Everyone had a gift for everyone else. Alex looked around the room as they exchanged gifts and ripped off paper. These people were part of her extended family now. It didn’t matter than none of them were related to her by blood, or that only one of them was directly related to her fiancé. She loved him, and he loved her. That made them family. Alex had decided during the meal that she would get Luna’s phone number. She had a way of quietly encouraging and supporting others that Alex enjoyed. She had Reagan’s number and made a promise to herself to use it on occasion.
“What are you thinking about?” Grant whispered in her ear.
She turned her head, finding him leaning toward her. “Family.”
“I haven’t met yours.”
“No, I guess not.” She bit her lip. “We need to make that happen now.”
“I think we do. It would be nice to tell them we’re getting married.”
“Oh, my aunt is going to flip. She’ll want to feed you until you burst.” She laughed at the thought.
“I can’t wait.”
“She’s a great cook, so you’ll be happy.” She looked down at the gift in her lap. It was from Reagan. “We’ll have to arrange to visit my parents, too.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to come here?” Grant asked.
“With all the time you’ve taken off lately? I’ll make sure of it.”
“Thanks.” He kissed her cheek, and she turned again to kiss his mouth. “I love you.”
“I love you.” She kissed him again before pulling away and refocusing on her gift. It was a bath set. Alex grinned. It wasn’t a surprise since they didn’t know each other that well.
“You’re going to be my sister now,” Reagan said from across the room.
