“Welcome,” Joseph’s mom greeted when she entered the living room. She approached Katherine with open arms.
“How are you, Mrs. Storm,” Katherine returned while they hugged.
She took a step back and smiled. “I’m doing well. Katherine, please call me Emily.”
Katherine nodded her compliance. “You have a beautiful home.”
Emily’s home was beautifully decorated. The houseplants occupying a corner of the room offered a sense of serenity. The space was warm and inviting. Surely, Joseph had grown up in a more loving home than she could have even dreamt of.
Katherine pointed to a picture of Joseph and Jonathan wrestling in diapers. “Why are they so cute?”
Emily laughed. “Adorable, right? They were such little monsters.”
Katherine’s mouth flew open. For some reason, she’d assumed Joseph had come out of the womb as the focused, level-headed man that he was now. “Were they really?”
Emily sighed. “Little hulksters… destroyed everything.”
Katherine looked at Joseph and giggled. “Little hulksters, huh?”
Joseph shrugged. “She’s exaggerating.”
“What’s up, baby bro!” Jonathan shouted from the archway.
He walked over and gave Joseph a bear hug.
Joseph hugged his brother, then pushed him off. “That’s enough. I didn’t know you were still here,” he told him.
Jonathan grinned. “Interning with the Chicago division of Lehman Brothers.”
“Isn't that great?” Emily grinned from ear to ear. “Both of my babies are home at the same time.”
“That is great,” Joseph agreed.
Jonathan walked over and pulled Katherine into a hug. “Hello, miss lady. It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too, Jonathan.”
Katherine smiled, but she could feel her face warming. She was burning with unintentional envy. She would have given anything to have had a family like Joseph’s. And somehow, Joseph sensed it.
He pulled her out of his brother’s arms and turned her to face him. “You okay, sweetheart?”
Katherine forced a smile. “Of course. I was just thinking how lucky you guys are to have such a loving family.”
Katherine looked away, uncomfortable with the pity in Joseph’s eyes, and diverted her attention back to the fireplace. She pointed to a picture of a tall, handsome man with a thick, dark mustache. “Is this your dad?”
The pity in Joseph’s eyes turned to what looked like sadness. “Yes,” he responded with a sigh.
“Katherine, will you help me with drinks?” Emily interjected.
Katherine was studying Joseph’s strange reaction when Emily touched her.
“A little help?” Emily urged.
Katherine had struck a nerve and she didn’t know why. “Of course.”
She acquiesced, following their mom in the kitchen.
“Dinner smells delicious,” Katherine complimented.
