Two redheaded children race through the house, chased by Celia’s husband, Flint Mendota. The man is 6’7” and looks like The Rock, but he’s quick on his feet, or should I say hands-and-knees. Looks like he’s pretending to be a grizzly bear as he growls and chases after my niece and nephew, Sienna and Ruston.
“Hey, Cam,” Rand Kestrel, Carolina’s husband, hollers from the bar. “Get you a drink?”
I raise my eyebrow. “Cab, please.”
He nods and begins pouring my red wine and drinks for everyone.
Wysdom’s parents are in the kitchen with an older stocky man wearing a T-shirt that says:Caution. I have no filter.
Next to him is a dark-haired woman wearing a T-shirt that says:Girls Gone Wine.
I chuckle. That must be Wysdom’s Uncle Dixon and his wife, Kate. I’ve heard their T-shirt game is strong.
Thin arms surround my shoulders in a hug. “Hey, Aunt Cam!”
I smile at my new niece Faylor Kestrel. She’s slightly taller than me, and today she’s sporting a bright pink streak in her otherwise jet black hair.
“Hey,Amorcita!How’s summer school?”
She rolls her eyes, as only a teenager can, and I laugh again. Kid is whip-smart and will be a junior in high school next year. Instead of goofing off for the summer, Faylor takes university classes to get a jump on her college credits.
“S’okay. Finally got my driver’s license, so that’s cool. Uncle Daddy and Auntie Bonus Mom bought me a car,” Faylor laughs.
Rand and Carolina both give her the stink-eye, which makes me laugh. She loves riling them up. Rand is indeed her uncle. His sister, Faylor’s mom, died in childbirth. There was a whole lot of drama that led to Rand adopting Faylor as his daughter. She knows the truth and teases him about his dual roles. Now that Carolina’s part of their family, she gets a teasing nickname, too.
I’m glad for her. Carolina’s happy ever after was a long time coming.
Everyone is talking loudly and all at once. I’m not that big on crowds and usually would retreat in the face of this many people, but this is family. No matter how we got here.
My phone dings again.R.M.
Shit. I silence the phone and stick it in my back pocket. I’ll have to call him back later.
“Alrighty then,” Wysdom lets out a loud wolf whistle. “Everyone to the table. It’s time for lunch!”
I follow the crowd to an extended dining room. One of the walls is a giant pocket door and has been pushed back to open up the space. The dining table is practically the length of a football field and set for 17 people, with two high chairs for the family’s newest members, Wil and Carmine. Wysdom and Luke’s twins.
“Cam,” Wysdom pats the seat to her left. “Come sit by me in the guest of honor seat.”
I grin and make my way through the chaos to sit down.
Mama and Papa sit across from me, then Faylor, Carolina, Rand, Sienna, and Ruston on that side of the table. Luke sits at the head. Celia sits to his right, followed by Flint, Kate, Dixon, Wysdom’s Bonus Mom Denise, and Wysdom’s Dad Deuce. There’s an empty seat between Deuce and me.
It’s at that moment I hear a loud noise outside. The rumble of an engine. An engine that isn’t from this century. I frown. “Are we waiting for someone else?”
The entire table freezes.
The Bible says there are seven signs of the Apocalypse. Things like war, famine, plague. The one sign that didn’t make it into the big book, but should have, is when the Saber-Ward-Mendota-Kestrel-Abreo family all shuts up at once.
If you see it happen, it’s a sign to bend over, kiss your ass goodbye, then run for the hills. I know better, yet I still don’t do this.
I freeze, wanting an answer and dreading it all at once.
Then, the doorbell rings, and it feels like someone walked over my grave. It’s an old-fashioned saying that means -shit’s about to hit the fan.
No one moves.
I look around the table.
