Shannon pressed a hand to her suddenly unhappy stomach. Despite telling her the basics of the whole Ava-Milton-adoption story, Cindy had left out the fact that the other couple was wealthy. As in very wealthy. A reality confirmed when Javiar turned into the circular drive and parked in front of a huge three-story house.
“Holy crap,” Aaron said, staring out the window. “We should have dressed better.”
“They won’t notice us,” Javiar told him. “All eyes will be on Shannon.”
“Ugh.” She got out of the back seat. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”
He put his arm around her. “In a situation like this, it’s every man for himself.”
“Hey, I thought you had my back.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I forgot.”
Aaron moved close and took her hand. “I’m right here. You look beautiful, and everything is going to be fine.”
She briefly leaned against him. “Thanks.” She eyed Luis’s comfortable sedan. “Mom and Luis are here already. I’m glad they got here first.”
“Me, too.” Javiar started toward the massive front door. “Shall we?”
Shannon’s first thought was to say no and bolt back to his SUV, but that was hardly the mature choice. Besides, her mom had asked her to come to the dinner. The least she could do was be brave enough to walk inside.
Aaron squeezed her fingers. “You ready?”
She nodded, and they climbed the steps up to the wide front porch. Javiar rang the bell while she mentally ran over the names. Ava, Milton and their daughter, Victoria. She could deal with them, she told herself. Hopefully there weren’t any other relatives in attendance.
After several seconds, the front door opened, and Ava smiled at them. “Hello,” she said, stepping back to allow them to enter. “How nice of you to come this evening.” She gestured them inside. “Please.”
Javiar went first, with Shannon and Aaron following. She found her mom and Luis with Victoria and a man she assumed was Ava’s husband, Milton. Cindy hurried toward her.
“You made it,” she said, her voice a little tense. “Good.” She turned to Ava and offered a bright if slightly forced smile. “You met my daughter the other day.” She turned to Milton. “This is Shannon.” She pointed to the two men with her.
“This is Javiar, Luis’s youngest. His older son is in Hawaii with his wife, so they couldn’t make it. And Aaron, Shannon’s boyfriend.”
“So nice to meet you,” Ava told them. “You remember Victoria, and this is my husband, Milton.”
Everyone shook hands and then stared at each other.
“Let’s go sit in the living room before dinner,” Ava said. “We can catch up a little.”
Shannon fell into step with Victoria who was still on crutches.
“Your black eyes are much better,” she said. “They’re barely noticeable. How are you feeling?”
“Good. I’m getting around better. Still waiting for my walking cast.”
“Were you really thrown out of a truck?”
“I was. I’m a stuntwoman. I mean not this second, but that’s my job.” She lowered her voice. “This is like the third time I’ve been injured. I’m starting to rethink my career choice, but don’t tell my mom I said that. She’d see it as a win.”
“She wants you to be something else?”
Victoria grinned. “Honestly, I doubt there’s a mother alive who wants their kid to get into the business. For most of us, it’s all about doing what seems like the impossible and making it look easy. But accidents happen, and the longer you do the work, the more the odds are against you.”
“I’ve never met anyone who is a stunt, ah, person before. It sounds both fun and dangerous.”
“Yes to both.”
They smiled at each other as they walked into the living room.
