“Hey, hey!”I called out as we walked into the kitchen.
Seconds later, there were hugs all around.Damn, it was good to see my brother.
I loved all of my family, but Lincoln, Haven, and I had been closest in our cluster of siblings.Not counting Bree, but she was gone.Every time I thought of her, my heart ached.It weighed on me how much I knew Lincoln was carrying her death as if he was actually responsible, when he was probably the only reason we had Tommy with us.
Lincoln stepped back, his smile encompassing all of us.“It’s good to be here.”
My mom beamed all the way through dinner.Tommy bounced around like a ping-pong ball, ecstatic to have another uncle home.Conversation after dinner meandered longer than usual, mostly because we were all soaking in Lincoln’s presence.
Tommy sat back down at the table after putting his plate in the dishwasher.“I still think I should be excused from clean up,” he pointed out.
Lincoln’s brows hitched up, his eyes crinkling at the corners.“Oh yeah?”
Tommy’s head bobbed.“I’m cooking most nights for the family now.I want to be a chef.”
Lincoln’s smile was warm as he studied Tommy.“Well, dinner was fu?—”
“Front door,” Tommy cut in.
“Front door amazing?”Lincoln’s brows hitched up at that.
“Yeah, Grandma says, ‘shut the front door’ instead of the other thing,” Tommy explained.
Lincoln threw his head back with a bark of a laugh.“Oh yeah, I forgot.Anyway, dinner was amazing.I’m surprised you’re not cooking for the guests.”
Tommy sat up a little straighter.“Grandma lets me help some nights, but I’m not old enough to be officially employed.”
My mom glanced at Lincoln.“He can cook for us and help me in the kitchen, but because that’s a commercial kitchen, there are special regulations about him being on staff.”
“I’m the sous chef,” Tommy explained.“Like Grandma is for me for family dinners.”
Lincoln chuckled.“I’m proud of you, man.You’re getting really good at this cooking stuff.”
Haven stretched an arm across the back of Tommy’s chair, lightly squeezing his shoulder.“We’re going to have to seriously look into culinary school.”
“We have time,” Tommy said somberly.“I’m only in middle school.”
Elsa’s eyes went wide.“When do you start high school?”
“Three and a half years,” Tommy chimed in.
Elsa looked a little panicked.
My mom glanced over.“No need to panic, Elsa, hon.You have time.”
“I just can’t even believe it.”Elsa let out a shuddery sigh.“How is he only three years away from high school?”
“Well, I watched seven kids graduate from high school and I survived,” my mom said.Her eyes landed on Lincoln.“I’m so glad to have you home.Are you really here to stay?”
The hope in her voice nearly cracked my heart.
Lincoln paused for a long moment before he nodded.“I am.”
“Are you ready to start tomorrow?”I asked dryly.“Because I have a group for you.”
“The college kids?”Lincoln flashed a knowing grin.“Asher told me they kickedyourass today after kickinghisass yesterday.”
“Language,” our mom cut in, although she was smiling broadly.
