Kissing her knuckles, I did my best to ease her fears.“You’ve spoken to my mom over the phone lots of times.You get along with her already.So this will be the same, just face-to-face.”
She squeezed my hand, her body still strung tight.“But that was only over the phone.And we’ve only ever talked about the girls and gardening.This is in real life.Where she’ll actually see the sweat dripping off my forehead even though it’s the perfect temperature right now.”
“I promise you’ll forget all about being nervous as soon as you step through the door.”
My numerous nieces and nephews and the menagerie of cats and dogs would ensure it.My mom rescued as many animals as she could fit in her house.
“That’s a strong possibility, since it’s likely I’ll pass out.”
“Can a fish have a baby with a turtle?”Addy asked, oblivious to her mom’s state, but the question helped to take Mae’s mind off meeting my family.
Mae turned in her seat, thankfully not letting go of my hand.“They’re different species, so that’s not possible.”
“Hmm, but what about a dolphin and an orca?”
“That’s a good question.Let me look it up.”A minute later, she held her screen up so the girls could see it.“Apparently, it is possible.Well, kind of.A dolphin and a false killer whale—related to orcas but not actually one—canhave a baby.The result is called a wholphin.”
We pulled up to my mom’s place, but her driveway and the street in front of the house were already full of cars.“This is it.I’ll let you guys get out and then look for a parking spot.”
Mae’s head whipped around, her eyes full of panic.“No.No, that’s okay.We’ll walk.”
Elana groaned.“I don’t want to walk.My legs hurt.”
Not waiting for an answer, she opened her door, closely followed by Addy.Without another choice, Mae pressed a brief kiss to my lips, then raced after the girls, who were already halfway up the driveway.
My mom’s place was right on the beach, and the girls had been beyond excited when I told them about all the rescue animals.We’d landed late yesterday but had spent last night and this morning in the house I owned.It backed onto the beach and was only a ten-minute drive from here.
I found a parking spot and rushed back.I trusted my family and knew they’d take good care of Mae, Addy, and Elana, but I also didn’t want Mae to feel uncomfortable.
The front door was closed, no doubt to keep the zoo inside, but it was unlocked and I walked right in.Mae and the girls weren’t in the hallway, having no doubt already been dragged inside to be introduced to everyone.
Four dogs raced up to me, jumping and licking my hands.“Hey, Scruffy.Nice bow tie.”
I also greeted Teddy, Harry, and Lolo before making my way down the hallway and to the back of the house.The party was in full swing, and the large room overlooking the ocean was busy with people.
A hand slapped me on the back.“Hey, man, I didn’t think you’d show up.”Uncle Ted, one of my four uncles, greeted me with a grin.“I think the last time I saw you was five years ago for Tia’s wedding.”
I cringed at the reminder that I hadn’t been back since my sister’s wedding.My mom and sisters had come out to visit me plenty of times, but I’d never made the time to come to see them.Work was always a priority.Until now.
“Have you seen Mae?”
“Who’s Mae?”
“My girlfriend.Long black hair, about five three.She came in with two little girls.”
He frowned.“Sorry, I was out back helping with the burgers.Makoa is on his way to burning them again since Kaia is distracting him with photos of houses.She’s got her eye on some place in the middle of the jungle.”
My sister loved nature and rescued almost as many animals as Mom.Her latest idea was to move to a house with land surrounding it so she could take in bigger animals as well.Her husband, Makoa, loved her more than anything and usually went along with whatever crazy ideas she’d come up with.
I scanned the room, but there was no sign of my girls.“We’ll talk later.”
The thing about family gatherings that I hadn’t attended in years meant I not only knew everyone, but everyone wanted to talk to me and chew me out for not being there more.But the only thing on my mind was finding Mae.I’d been there for twenty minutes already and hadn’t even made it to the deck.
Growing increasingly frustrated, I ignored anyone calling my name and went outside.And the tension that had been growing with each interrupted step dissipated as soon as I saw Mae.She was standing with my youngest sister, Caliope, and Mom.They were laughing at something Mae must have said, their heads thrown back.
Searching the area, I found Addy and Elana playing tag in the sand with Tia’s son and Kaia’s girls.They fit right in, looking like they came here all the time.
Since about five relatives were between Mae and me, I took the rude approach and stomped through the crowd, past the pool and up to where my girlfriend stood at the edge of the patio, where she was keeping an eye on her girls.
