Hattie
Did I just get added to a family group chat?
I am removing you. This never happened.
Hattie
Honestly, it explains everything.
Phiny
She can stay.
SHE CANNOT STAY. You’re all going to traumatize her.
Hattie
I’m honored. I think.
East
Welcome.
Wade
Welcome.
I am going to walk into the ocean. East is going to start sending dick pics or pics of him in faerie costumes with wings.
Lila
You’re jealous.
Hattie
I’m intrigued.
Hattie was removed from the chat. Lila was removed from the chat.
“Kids. Get off your phones and talk in person,” Maggie admonished.
Properly admonished, the talk shifted to the table, and I was able to pull Hattie down to the seat beside me, whereI could keep one hand on her just the way I liked while watching her take in the chaos around us. A smile nudged at the corners of her mouth. “Sorry, my brothers and sisters are such weirdos.”
“I don’t know. I kind of like them.” She settled a napkin in her lap as I dished her up some salad and passed her some of Phiny’s homemade ranch. “Everything smells incredible, Maggie.”
“I honestly can’t take all the credit, dear. Phiny did the lasagna. Lo helped with the salad. Lila brought the dessert, which I’m sure is going to be incredible.” Maggie set a tray of lasagna on the table.
“Well, it all looks amazing.”
She wasn’t wrong, but dinner at the Holt’s was always guaranteed to please. Phiny’s lasagna was killer, and I’d say she learned from the best, but it had seemed like Delphina had come to us knowing how to cook already. She’d honed her skills in San Francisco, and everything was even better.
Dinner was loud almost immediately with all the chaos that I’d promised. Sage demanded that Hattie rank them in order of trustworthiness. Lo Lo insisted on hearing every detail about the investigation, which Wade attempted to interrupt with a dumb story about a crop circle that Jim Marshall had made out at his place for a laugh. East kept his focus divided between his plate and Lila while teasing Wade about crop circles. Lila immediatelystarted in on Hattie about coming to the next book club meeting, which Hattie actually seemed interested in.
“I’ll text you the time,” Lila was saying. “We’re going to have two books this round.” She clapped her hands excitedly. “It’ll be like a choose your own adventure.” She pointed sternly at the table. “No hints to anyone else.”
Lila was very strict about keeping the titles a secret before the month started, to keep the mystery. She always had people submit their orders in advance so that Lila could buy books for people who wanted to participate. Hattie didn’t know it yet, but I had placed her book order just in case she wanted to join everyone for fun, but I figured she would. I’d never been, but Maggie, the rest of my sisters, and East had a great time. Maybe I’d even go with her.
Throughout dinner, Hattie held her own. She complimented the food, shared a little bit of herself, and if I were honest, fit right in. My family liked her, and I loved that.
