“Are there fond memories for you here too?”
“Yes,” I answer, pushing open the front door.
Everyone’s attention turns towards Pepper and me. The conversation stops, the blare of the television the only sound in the living room. My mother’s hawklike gaze studies Pepper, and a wide smile spreads across her face. She rushes over from the sofa to give me a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“And who might you be?”
“My name is Pepper, ma’am.” Pepper holds out her hand.
My mom embraces her instead. “Call me Edith.”
“Okay, Edith it is.”
“Are you Dominic’s girlfriend, perhaps?” she asks, eyes lighting up.
“She’s an intern at his company,” Jensen answers. “Is it customary to invite a teenage employee to your parents’ home for dinner?”
“She’s not a teenager,” I growl at the same time Pepper says, “I’m twenty.”
“That makes you old enough to be her father,” Jensen scolds.
Pepper fidgets in embarrassment.
“Quit being a jerk.” Drew jabs Jensen in the arm.
“Honey, don’t be a sourpuss,” Sarah chides.
If my nieces and nephew weren’t here, I’d throttle their father. My mother escorts Pepper around the living room to finish introductions. Technically, Pepper and my brothers have met, kind of, but no one needs to know the circumstances of that unfortunate mishap.
“Hi, Uncle Dom,” Clara, my oldest niece, greets. “Long time, no see.”
I give her a one-arm hug and kiss on the forehead. “Sorry I’ve been MIA, kid”
“Hey, quit calling me kid. I’m practically an adult.”
“You’re fourteen.” I chuckle.
“Fifteen in three months,” she says indignantly.
“You’re right. Forgive my faux pas,” I placate her.
“Apology accepted.” She peers at me with sad sky-blue eyes. “I miss you, a lot.”
I love all my brother’s children, but Clara and I have a special bond. I was at the hospital during her birth. Once Jensen placed her in my arms, I was completely ensnared. While Clara spent most weekends with me, the other girls preferred to stay home. Then I became a bitter prick, not fit to be in the company of my impressionable young niece.
“I know I’ve been a shitty uncle, but I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Shitty doesn’t begin to cover it.”
“Hey, watch your mouth, young lady,” Sarah says, then points at me. “And you, stop being a bad influence.”
“Is the food done, woman?” my father asks my mother jokingly. “I’m starving.”
“Oh, you big oaf. One of these days I’m going to make you fend for yourself,” she huffs and stomps to the kitchen.
Pepper sits next to Sarah, and the two strike up a conversation.
Jensen approaches me. “Darling, I need to have a private word with your uncle.”
