“Because she is,” Asher and Kailey say in unison.
Kristina shakes her head. “I don’t have favorites.”
Callum sets a glass filled with water next to his mom. “You just keep saying that, Mom. We both know it’s me.” He holds one finger over his lips, his eyes finding mine as if letting me in on this secret of theirs.
Kristina gives him a little headshake. “Of course, son.” She waves him off. Her eyes are back on me, waiting for an answer. “Your favorite?”
I nibble on my lip, then my cheek, and then I say, “I love certain scenes more than entire movies. The scene where Darcy walks through the field to meet Lizzie Bennet.You’ve Got Mail,when she’s sick and he comes to visit.The Proposal, when he comes back to the office for her and she’s afraid, but he calms her fears.”
“I like that. Scenes over movies.” She nods before turning back to her cutting board. She lifts the flimsy board and slides the contents from it into the bowl at her right. “Cal, honey, put this in the sink for me, please.” She holds out the cutting board, passing it off to him.
My eyes follow Callum back as he works with his siblings and father.
“Food’s ready,” Brady says as he sets a warm pot of pasta with a red sauce and andouille sausage atop the table.
We all gather around. A big family gathering—and me. I’ve been to a few of Rosalie’s family events. But they werealways bigger things—receptions, Christmas parties, family reunions. I sat around the Hunters’ table when my mom was gone. They only had one child, though. Carol Anne and I ate with her parents, but this feels different. Big, but small. An intimate family gathering, and I’m here as Cal’ssomething—I’m not sure what.
“So,” Kailey says. “Where are you from?”
“I’m from Reno. Born, raised, and still there.” I take a bite just as question number two fires.
“You’re still in college? How old are you?” Tiffany asks.
“Tiff,” Kailey whispers, shushing her sister.
“What? It’s not like she’s a grandma. I’m just curious.”
“I’m twenty-five,” I say with a smile. I don’t mind her questions. “I started college late.”
“And you’ve never left home?” Tiffany’s eyes are blue like Callum’s, but her hair is as blonde as Callum’s father’s.
“I mean, I moved out of the apartment where I grew up. But I’m still in Reno.”
“Whew,” Tiff says. “You’re kind of old to be living with your parents.”
I laugh, and Kailey elbows her sister once more. “I left my mom’s place a week before my eighteenth birthday. I graduated at seventeen and turned eighteen a couple of weeks later. I didn’t have the money to leave town or start college then, though. So, I went to work. I saved money until I could afford school.”
“Good for you, Fran,” Brady says.
“Your parents didn’t help you?” Tiff says. “Mom says we have to earn scholarships and pay for our own schooling, but she’ll help with my dorm room.”
“Not everyone has the same situation, Tiff,” Kristina tells her.
But thistime, Tiff blocks Kailey’s elbow.
“I guess. But you don’t know what to study. Even Asher knows what he’s studying.” Tiff shakes her head.
“Hey,” Asher moans, his fork halfway to his mouth.
“Tiffany,” Callum scolds, and I’m surprised when his hand, warm and gentle, finds mine beneath the table. He laces his fingers through mine and squeezes.
“Sweetheart,” Kristina says with kind inflection in her tone. “Everyone does things differently. And that’s okay.”
“I just really hope I know what I want to be and that I’m out of school by twenty-five.”
“Do you have any ideas?” I ask her. I’m not offended. I won’t reject Callum’s comforting hand, but I know I’m steps behind the average twenty-five-year-old. I’m just grateful to be where I am.
“Biology. I’m going to be a biologist and work in a lab. I’m going to make crazy discoveries and tons of money.”
