She clutched his arm. “Maybe for some families, but the Byrds are all warm and welcoming, and I know they’ll open their arms for you too.”
“Or spread their wings.” Ian laughed.
Malone rolled her eyes.
“No matter what happens, it’ll be better than the incident I was called in for this morning.”
She released his arm and rested her hands on the sides of the casserole. “Families can be the hardest to deal with.” He knew she spoke from all of her experience with battered women and her time as a prosecutor.
“Worse than everyday fights are when families get together for the holidays,” he added. “We get so many more calls on holidays. Which was the case this morning. The large family started arguing over politics, and one guy grabbed the turkey carving knife and stabbed the cousin, killing him.”
“Oh, no, really?” She gaped at him. “That poor family.”
“When I got there, two guys were still arguing about the same political issue, and I had to break up a fistfight on top of the homicide call.” He shook his head. “Political views and holidays don’t play well together.”
“You won’t experience anything like that at the Byrds,” she said adamantly. “I promise.”
He hoped she was right. Putting sixteen adults together who might get into a fight wasn’t his idea of a good time. But then, sitting home alone or working on a holiday wasn’t his idea of a good time either. Right now in his life, he didn’t know what was a good time, but he hoped Malone would show him what God intended for families to be like, because it certainly wasn’t like the family Ian had seen that morning. Of that, he was certain.
Malone led a shell-shocked Ian to the couch. She’d warned him about the numbers, but not about how loud and lively the Byrds could get. Especially around the football game that was playing in the family room. She loved all the noise. The warmth from the fireplace. The smell of Peggy’s turkeys cooking in two big roasters. But most of all, she liked Ian’s hand holding hers as if he was afraid one of the Byrds might abduct her. How fast her near death had caused the two of them to change their priorities. God brought them to the end of themselves and then gave them the mercy to survive and realize what was important in their lives.
Ian shifted on the couch, then shifted again.
She looked at him. “Everything okay?”
“It’s a lot to take in,” he said. “You said I should expect chaos, but it’s way more than what you described.”
She slid closer to him so their legs touched in hopes of giving him some comfort. “I know you don’t have much family, but your parents had big parties, right?”
He looked down at their legs and eased even closer to her. “Yeah, but our house was bigger, and the people were more reserved. Plus, I didn’t hang out with them much.”
She didn’t like that her big, strong detective felt vulnerable, but she was glad she was there to help him. “Do you want to go?”
“No. I’m fine. I just need to adapt to it.” He smiled at her, that smile that had a hint of a secret and promise just for her. “Besides, you want to be here, and I’ll do anything you want. Though I probably shouldn’t admit that.”
“You say that now, but I’m sure there’s a line somewhere.”
He shifted to face her and took her other hand. “Honestly, I’m so glad that we’re together that anything that’s not illegal or immoral—and I can afford without going into debt—it’s yours.”
“If only we were alone right now.” She held his gaze. “I would be kissing you senseless.”
“Okay, changed my mind. I want to go.” He laughed.
They must’ve drawn Peggy’s attention because she came straight across the room to them with purpose in her step as she was drying her hands on her apron. “I wanted to take a moment to say how happy I am to see you two holding hands. I knew it was a match the moment I saw you together.” She pointed her focus at Ian. “And I’m especially glad you worked out whatever was in the way.”
“Me too,” Ian said, sounding so sincere.
“As am I.” Malone smiled up at Peggy. “So your work is done. All your children have found their life partners, and me too.”
“Is it?”
“What do you mean?” Ian asked.
“I was thinking about the Steele girls. They’re all still single, and each of them are such a catch. They might need some help in that area.” A timer buzzed in the kitchen. “Their parents probably have that in hand, but you never know. I’ll give Iris and Rose a call next week.” Peggy wrinkled her nose. “Dinner’s almost ready. Got to get that pie out of the oven.”
She hurried away.
Malone chuckled. “She does love matchmaking.”
