Charlie chokes out a laugh. "That damned duck needs a muzzle and a tranquilizer dart," he mutters, but his eyes are soft when they meet mine over Evie's head.
We reach the porch, and Rachel pulls me into a hug before I can prepare for it. Her belly has rounded noticeably since the dinner party and she has that pregnancy glow about her that makes her even more stunning.
"I'm so glad you're here. Charlie hasn’t shut up about you."
I glance at Charlie, who has the grace to look mildly sheepish. "He doesn't shut up about much," I tease.
Rachel laughs and squeezes my arm. "You're going to fit in just fine around here."
Mason tips his hat at me. "Good to see you again, Sunny."
A lanky teenager steps forward from behind Mason.
"Sunny, this is my nephew Cody." Charlie nods toward him. "Cody, this is Sunny."
Cody gives me a shy grin. "Nice to meet you, ma’am."
"Hi, Cody. I've heard great things about you." A flush creeps up his neck, and he ducks his chin like he's not sure what to do with the compliment.
The front door opens, and Gran appears with Oscar half a step behind her.
"Sunny, my dear." Gran takes both my hands in hers. "I've been looking forward to this all week."
"So have I, Gran. Thank you for having me."
Gran squeezes my hands and turns to lead everyone inside.
"You're sitting next to me," she announces, as though this is both decided and non-negotiable. "I've been meaning to get to know you properly, and my grandson keeps hogging you."
The dining room table is set for seven. Oscar moves efficiently between the kitchen and the table. Gran seats me to her right, with Charlie on my other side. Rachel and Mason take the opposite end of the table, with Cody beside his father and Evie in a booster seat between Rachel and Gran. The arrangement puts me at the center of the family, and the deliberateness of it isn't lost on me.
"Now then." Gran settles her napkin in her lap and turns to me. "Tell me about your family, Sunny. I know you grew up in Austin, but Charles has been stingy with the details."
I glance at Charlie, who gives me an encouraging nod.
I'm not usually one for personal questions. I've spent most of my adult life keeping things brief and redirecting the conversation before anyone gets too close. But Gran asks with a directness that conveys curiosity rather than judgment, and the genuine interest in her eyes makes it easy to open up.
"There's not much family to speak of. My father left when I was five," I answer. "My mother, Marilyn, spent her career working her way up the ladder in the restaurant industry and is a chef in Austin. She’s the strongest person I know."
"She sounds like an amazing person. Has she visited the winery?"
"Not yet. She's the head chef at a Michelin star restaurant in Austin, so her time off is pretty scarce."
"Well, the next time she has a free weekend, you bring her out here." Gran's tone makes it clear this is not a suggestion. "She'll stay at the ranch. We have more room than we know what to do with, and I'd love to meet the woman who raised you."
"That's very generous, Gran. I'll talk to her about it."
"You do that." Gran pats my hand and turns her attention to Evie, who is pushing potatoes around her plate.
Rachel asks me about our new wines, and Cody works his way through a second helping. I glance around the table at these people I barely know, and I realize I don’t feel out of place at all.
After the plates are cleared and Oscar brings out a chocolate cake that makes Evie squeal, Charlie and Mason drift into a conversation about business.
"The Fort Worth Stock Show is a week and a half away," Mason says, leaning back in his chair. "We need to have our catalog finalized by Tuesday if we're going to make the registration deadline."
"I already have the pedigree sheets updated. My contact at the breeders' association confirmed our entries, and I think our lineup is strong enough to turn some heads."
"I agree. Fort Worth is a big stage, and the buyers out there will remember what we bring."
