“Time to meet the fam!” I say once we’ve parked. “I bet Mama is already waiting for us.” I take Samantha’s bag as well as my own so she can’t do something stupid like decide to go find a hotel for the two weeks.
Not that she has the money for it, since her parents cut her off.
It still makes my blood boil.
Samantha follows me inside, her steps careful and wary like she’s afraid of something going wrong the second she enters the house. “And I thought my house was big,” she remarks. “You have an elevator?”
“I think it was originally meant to be multiple apartments? But it was already a single-family home when Papa grew up here.” I hit the elevator button.
The button bleeds when I push it.
Seriously?
I’mhome. There’s no reason for anything to be bothering me!
She steps into the elevator with me when it opens. “I really can carry my own bag, you know,” she remarks, reaching out for it.
“Nope!” I get in and wait for her so I can hit the button to go up. This one gurgles when I do, but I ignore the sound. “Maybe we should skip straight to my bedroom and dropour stuff off.”
I take us to the first floor anyway, and I’m not surprised when Mama is waiting when the doors open again.
“Hi, Mama!” I grin widely. “It’s beensolong. Three entire weeks! Hope you didn’t get used to all that peace and quiet.”
“Never,” she says with a soft, rueful smile. She steps close so she can hug me close to her, and I can smell the floral scent of her shampoo. “But it’s familiar chaos. I’m looking forward to having you home.” She releases me and smiles at Samantha, too. “It’s nice to meet you, Samantha. I’m Vanessa, Pandora’s mother.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Samantha says politely. “Thank you for letting me stay with you, Mrs. Pavone.”
“Of course,” Mama says. “It’s nice to meet Pandora’s friends.”
Samantha doesn’t argue that we aren’t friends, which is nice.
Instead, she offers an uncertain smile.
“Where’s Samantha staying?” I ask. “I can sleep on the floor, I guess.”
Mama shakes her head. “We prepared the bedroom next to Mel’s.”
The one next to Mel’s? I frown, because that’s Daddy’s bedroom. I know he can stay in another room in the meantime, but it feels weird to kick him out of his space for two weeks.
I’m not going to kick up a fuss in front of Samantha though.
“Okay.” I motion back to the elevator. “That’s way up on the fifth floor. Let’s get settled, then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“Dinner will be shortly,” Mama says. “Your Papa is cooking. Damien isn’t here tonight, so Samantha’s taste buds will be safe from his contributions.”
Samantha glances uncertainly at me, and I give her a broad, reassuring smile.
“See?” I say as we ride up the elevator. “Easy! Simple! Mama is a gentle soul who will make you feel welcome, unless your name is River, Blaze, or Asch.”
“Right,” she says, not looking convinced. “Are you sure yourfamily is okay with me staying here?” It’s at least the twelfth time she’s asked, but she still doesn’t seem to be convinced.
“Yep. The more, the merrier. Although I think we aren’t meeting with Auntie Lucia’s family this Christmas. Something about them going on a yacht trip? Also, we saw them at Thanksgiving, and Papa and Lucia can only stand each other so much.” We reach the top floor, and I lead Samantha to Daddy’s bedroom.
I’ve been in here before, sure, but not often. I don’t know what I expected, but the large bed has simple blue sheets on it. The decor in the room consists mostly of family photos.
A lot of family photos. There’s a whole gallery wall of them, right over the couch that I know used to be Mama’s “reading” couch before Mel was born. The bookshelf next to the couch is stuffed full with books.
I set Samantha’s duffel bag down on the bed.
