Before she could ring the bell again, Adanne swung the door wide. “My girls!” She spread her arms wide, bracing herself as they all tumbled into her. Joy overflowed from Adanne’s face, giving Kenya the shot of energy she didn’t realize she needed. When her siblings released, Adanne didn’t. She held Kenya closer, tighter.
“You okay?” Adanne’s barely discernible mumble buzzed against her ear.
“Mm-hmm, of course.”
Her cousin stepped back, the slight concern in her gaze doing nothing to diminish the glow on her face.
“Marriage looks good on you.” Salome grinned.
“The extended honeymoon too.” Celise pursed her lips.
Adanne’s usually expressive eyes sparkled, and her high cheekbones lifted, kissed by the light from the lamp hanging above them, and Kenya swore the shine took on a rosier hue.
“So...” Adanne blinked. “More on all that later. Welcome, welcome. I’m ready to hear about all of y’all.”
“First, tell me again why out of all the houses, you guys decided to live here?” Celise asked.
“Seriously?” Kenya said, and Celise jerked her head, rolling her eyes at her sister. Kenya smirked. She’d been thinking it. Celise mentioning it first at least confirmed she wasn’t the only rude one.
“Because it’smyhouse.”
“Okay, and what about John? No offense, but this doesn’t exactly scream celebrity,” Celise responded.
Salome shook her head.
“And what’s wrong with updating?” Kenya gazed around the foyer.
“Nobody said nothing about not updating. I know you’re itching to give your decorative input, Kenya.” Someone could one day take this woman out of the event agency, but never, ever would event design leave the woman.
Adanne led them into the kitchen where they were greeted by amouthwatering spread of appetizers and small bites. “John wanted to start our life together out here in Hope Springs to keep us, well, mostly him—his words, not mine—grounded. More space will come one day.”
Before Kenya could inquire further, Adanne turned and opened the fridge to grab lemonade and tea.
She set the pitchers down and filled four glasses with a mixture to create Arnold Palmers, remembering the specific amounts each cousin liked.
“Besides,” Adanne continued, “I amdefinitelyokay with the lavish hotels and resorts we do get to stay at when we travel.”
Kenya raised her glass to her girls. “Now, that deserves an amen.”
They clinked their glasses. “Amen!” Their voices rang out and dissolved into giggles.
A few hours later, Kenya hugged her sisters goodbye, with Adanne promising to drive her home if she wanted to stay a little longer.
“So...”
“So, what?” Kenya turned away from the door her sisters had just departed through. Adanne closed it and shifted perceptive eyes to Kenya.
“You know what. I asked earlier. You don’t seem like yourself.” She joined Kenya on the sofa. “I’ve had my share of overwhelming moments. And even though I’m not trying to assume anything, I just want to make sure there isn’t anything I needed to check on.”
Kenya smiled. “This is nice, you know.”
“You’re not changing the subject, are you?”
“Of course not. Me? Never ... at least not intentionally.” She picked up a pillow and squeezed it to her chest. “I do have an intentional thought forming. It’s nice to sit here with you and see what God has done.”
“What God is still doing,” Adanne added. “Marriage is beautiful but still not easy, and—”
“It suits you,” Kenya interjected.
