“As long as you guys don’t scare her off,” I snap under my breath, shaking them off and hurrying to catch up with Mom and Rylee as they enter the dining room. The long maple wood table is set with seven places and illuminated by the lights of a ceiling fan above. Family portraits decorate the walls and an antique buffet sits on the opposite side of the room against the wall, Mom’s good China tea set on display on top of it.
Dad is just bringing a casserole dish out of the kitchen to put on the table and grins up at Rylee when he spots her.
“Hello, there!” He hurries around the table to reach her and offers his hand to shake. Dad’s not as much of a hugger as the rest of the family. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and silver-white hair. He used to play football when he was younger, and is still a big guy and a bit intimidating at first sight, but he’s got deep laugh lines around his brown eyes. “You must be Rylee. I’m David. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” she replies with a smile.
Dad shoots me a grin. “How’d you manage to get a lovely girl like this, Zander?”
Okay, he’s already gotten his first goofy dad joke out of the way. I chuckle and shrug. “I got really, really lucky.”
“Well, Rylee, you are very welcome here,” Dad exclaims, and I can’t help but smile at how quickly everyone is accepting her and making the effort to be warm and inviting. “Come, sit, sit.” Dad ushers her to a seat at the table, even pulling her chair out for her. “I hope you like lasagna.”
“Love it,” she assures him.
I move to sit beside her, and once my parents and sisters are also settled, we pass around the food and everyone starts chatting rapidly.
“Oh, did you all see my text about Toby’s Christmas chorus concert next month?” Lauren asks. “He’s going to be an elf.”
“An elf?” Paige arches a brow. “They’re making them dress up for their concert? Are they doing it like a play or something? We only ever had to wear nice clothes when we were younger. No costumes.”
Lauren shrugs and sighs. “No, more like little skits between songs… maybe. I don’t really know, but he’s excited.”
“Ahhh, I probably won’t be able to come,” Rosie pouts.
“You and Kyle going to his family for Christmas?” Lauren asks.
“Yeah,” Rosie sighs. “It’ll be fun, and obviously we have to split up the holiday time somehow, but it’s always hard to miss out on these times with you guys.”
There’s never a gap in the conversation. It’s just like when I was a kid, my sisters dominating the conversation while Mom and Dad interject with random stories about the neighbors or relatives I vaguely remember from growing up.
Sitting back, I steal glances toward Rylee to make sure she’s not too overwhelmed. She’s way more reserved and quiet than usual, but she’s smiling as she watches my family and listens to their rapid fire conversations. She seems very at ease with everyone except me, but hey, that’s okay. I just feel a rush of relief that she appears to be enjoying herself.
“So, Rylee,” Rosie says. “Tell us a little about yourself. Zander says you’re a photographer for ICON?”
“Uh, yeah,” Rylee answers. “That’s right.”
“That’s so cool,” Rosie gushes. “I love ICON!”
“Their Lifestyle Edition is fantastic,” Paige adds. “There was a really great article last month about a new boutique downtown that I’m dying to go to.”
Rylee grins. “Oh, yeah, that was a good one. I know the photographer they used for that article. She’s really talented.”
The girls keep going back and forth, including Rylee in the loop, and I can’t help but regret feeling so nervous about my sisters at first—their exuberant greeting set the tone, and they’re making her feel so included at every turn. The rest of dinner goes by smoothly, we all help clear the table, and afterward Lauren and Paige get ready to take off for the night since it’s so late. Much later than any of us anticipated, really.
Gathering at the front door, they give us all hugs, including Rylee.
“It was really nice to meet you,” Lauren tells her. “Can’t wait to hang out more tomorrow!”
Rylee smiles. “I’m looking forward to it too. Thanks!”
“We’ll see you all tomorrow,” Paige says as she and Lauren head out the front door.
“Good night!” Lauren calls.
“Night,” I reply.
“See you tomorrow,” Rylee says.
