I crossed the deck immediately, meeting her at the doorway. “Mom.”
“Cameron.” Her face lit up when she saw me. “You look thin. Are you eating?”
“I’m eating, Mom.” I took her elbow gently, steadying her as she navigated the threshold.
“Janice, for the love of god, let Cam help you sit down.” Dad didn’t even turn around.
“I’m fine, Dale. It’s just a knee.”
“It’s surgery.”
“I’ll sit when I’m ready to sit.”
Brooke caught my eye and shook her head, half exasperated, half amused. This had probably been going on all afternoon.
“Come on.” I kept my hand on the small of Mom’s back, guiding her toward one of the deck chairs. “Let me help you before Dad has an aneurysm.”
She settled in with a sigh that she tried to hide, propping the crutches against the armrest. “There. Happy?” She looked at Dad.
“Thrilled.” He flipped another burger. “Cam, beer’s in the cooler. Help yourself.”
“Thanks. You want one?”
“Sure.”
“What about you, Mom?”
“Iced tea for me, thanks.”
I grabbed the drinks and handed them out, then took a seat next to Mom. The kids’ laughter drifted up from somewhere in the yard. Travis appeared from inside carrying a bowl of potato salad, our sister Erica right behind him with what looked like her famous coleslaw.
“Hey bro.” Travis set the bowl down and pulled me to my feet, into a one-armed hug. “Long time no see. You good?”
“Surviving the chaos. You?”
“Same. Thinking about opening another location in Asheville.”
“Ambitious.”
“Or stupid. Haven’t decided yet.”
Erica hip-checked him out of the way to hug me next. Her baby bump pressed against my stomach, and I automatically put a hand on it.
“How’s the little one?”
“Active. Apparently, she’s training for the Olympics in there.” She stepped back, studying my face with that look she got when she was analyzing something. “You look good. Tired, but good.”
“Thanks, I think.”
“Where’s Devin?” I glanced around the deck. My brother-in-law was nowhere in sight.
“Chasing Levi.” She pointed toward the yard where Devin was running after a giggling three-year-old. “He ate nothing but fruit snacks all day and now he’s completely feral.”
“Sounds about right.”
We settled into the easy rhythm of family. Dad manned the barbecue like he was born to it, while Mom directed traffic from her chair, despite everyone telling her to relax.
The kids reappeared long enough to inhale some food before disappearing again. Audrey made sure Alice actually ate vegetables instead of just the burger and chips. Alice made sure Audrey knew that carrots didn’t count as a vegetable if you didn’t like them.
