Ellis caught it mid-air, a rare grin cracking his scarred face. “Does this count as a date?”
“Nope. Don’t push your luck.”
He winked at her, apparently not caring that he got shot down again.
“We’ve got some garden work we’re supposed to take care of after dinner, so I’m glad you came. There’s going to be lots of shoveling, and I don’t want to do it all.” Kipp tried to snatch another cookie just as Lila slapped his hand away.
“That would be like your fourth one. Save some room for dinner, you oaf.”
We settled around the massive oak table, plates heaped high with tender roast slices glistening in rich gravy, mounds of creamy mashed potatoes flecked with chives, and vibrant steamed veggies, colors popping against the old white plates that we’d used for family dinner since forever. Chloe had even made a salad since there were a few finicky eaters when it came to steamed veggies.
"Okay, but seriously, that playhouse we built? A masterpiece. Though Rhodes here almost bolted the slide upside down. Military precision, my ass,” East said as he chewed around a forkful of potatoes.
Rhodes laughed, deep and rumbling, as he cut the pieces of roast for Opal's plate. "Hey, I was distracted by your 'expert' advice. 'Put it there—no, there!' Make up your mind, man. My expertise lies in other areas. You’re the building guy.”
“Expert is going a little far.” Kipp pointed his fork at East. “This guy once built a treehouse that collapsed under a squirrel. Remember?"
“I can picture it now.” Hattie leaned against Kipp’s shoulder. “If we’re building our kid a treehouse, maybe we should make sure it’s safe before we approve it for the kiddos.”
“I’ve improved,” East said grumpily. “I built a house for you guys and everything.”
Hattie snorted. “True, true. There are a few windows that are a little crooked, but you did build a house.”
We all laughed at the look of horror on East’s face. It was blatantly untrue that there were any crooked windows.
Lila rolled her eyes as she passed the bread basket. "Hattie and I could build something twice as sturdy, and with style."
Chloe, munching on a carrot, chimed in with a grin. "Style? Please. You'd add fairy lights and call it done. But hey, if we're voting, Sage and Opal’s fairy houses win—those things are magical. Opal, show us your best one next time?"
"Mine are getting real good! And Cheese guards them from bad fairies. Well, sometimes he stomps them.” Opal beamed at the attention.
The laughter swelled, warm and enveloping. Chloe bumped my elbow mid-bite and whispered, “East mentioned Catherine showed up at the market. We're here if you need to talk about it.”
“I’m good. I handled it.” I felt good about it. East caught my eye from across the table, his expression careful and assessing. My oldest brother was nothing if not protective, but I felt steady. Catherine might think that she could insert herself back in Rhodes’ life, but it wouldn’t be through me.
"We've ramped up patrols around the shop. Anything feels off, you say the word." Wade leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.
Rhodes chewed thoughtfully as the banter flowed back and forth, then leaned close to me so I could hear. “Your family's incredible. The way they just... fit everyone in. Opal's lucky to be part of it." He squeezed my knee under the table, and I saw the admiration in his eyes.
“They like you, too.” Warmth and pride bloomed in my chest. My family was incredible.
As plates emptied and people grabbed cookies for dessert, I slipped away to the garden with Maggie. The screen door creaked shut behind us, muting the indoor laughter to a distant hum. The garden still needed to be turned over for spring planting. That was what she wanted us to do tonight after clean-up, but maybe I could catch a quick conversation with her.
As I helped her gather some of the shovels and tools we’d need, I tried to figure out how to broach the topic.
"Mags," I started, my voice barely above the clang of metal as we maneuvered the tools, “I wanted to talk to you about... before I came here to you and Levi.”
She peered at me as we stacked everything by the garden fence. “I wondered if you might want to talk about it, but I don’t have much to tell you. Every placement was different, but yours was especially so. They were very stingy with the information. Your records were sealed tight. Even after the adoption. We never knew the whole story.” She pulled me close for a side hug, giving me a long look.
“You don’t know anything more about where I came from?” I was confused. Surely they would have been told something. Kids didn’t just appear from thin air.
“The agency only shared the very basics, and they weren’t forthcoming. We knew you were coming from a placement in Idaho.” She was thoughtful. “But we weren’t sure if that was where you were originally from. They said something tragic happened, but that was all. There were no names or any details, and Levi and I always figured that if you wanted more information, we’d help you when you were ready.” She gripped me tightly. “We loved you so much from the second you came here. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” The answer was automatic. “I’ve always known that.”
All I had were occasional nightmares and that sensation of cold dirt under my nails. Just shadows I couldn't quite grasp, and ones I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Was that something I wanted? To peel back layers that might hold things I didn’t want to know? Or leave it buried, let the Holts' love be enough?
"Whatever path feels right, we're all going to be walking it with you," she murmured, her voice a steady anchor. “This about that Alan fellow?”
