Page 44

“You wouldn’t.” He almost, almost wore a pout. “It’s been ages.”

Roy jogged up to meet them, looking slightly worse for wear, whether from his new job or the chaos of—another firework—the party, Molly didn’t know.

“Whatever you think she wouldn’t,” Roy said as he approached, “she probably would. She’s ruthless, my wife.” Roy pulled Molly in for a short hug. “I’m here to fetch you.”

“It’s time to face them, isn’t it?” Molly asked.

It wasn’t that she was afraid to see the Clay family again; she’d had enough time to wrap her head around the idea that she and the Clays weren’t as close as they used to be. Not like when she’d spent Thanksgiving here three years in a row, plane tickets to Arizona too much of an expense to justify.

It was more the density of all the Clays in one place that gave her pause. That and the idea of facing the woman she’d once thought would be her mother-in-law. Apprehension spiked Molly’s pulse.

“And that’s my cue to find somewhere else to be,” Aster said. “Clays aren’t my forte. I can really only handle this one”—he gestured to Alannah—“because of the name change. Though being a Waters is another issue altogether.”

“Do you want to see the kids or not?” Alannah asked, narrowing her eyes.

Aster lifted his brows, staring her down. In this brief and vicious battle of wills, Alannah emerged victorious.

Aster sighed. “Lead the way.” He shifted his gaze to Molly for a passing moment before it landed on Roy.

“Have fun,” he said, and Molly had no idea how to dissect his tone.

Roy ignored Aster and instead tugged on Molly’s arm. “Alright, let’s get this over with so we can actually enjoy the party. We’re doing a quick tour and calling it a day.”

“Right,” Molly agreed, distracted as she watched Aster and Alannah heading to the gardens, still bickering, but strangely friendly.

“You’re never going to get used to it,” Roy said. “I wouldn’t bother trying.” He turned to her, halting them just shy of the house. “So, here’s the plan. I’ve figured out a whole play-by-play for us.”

“Oh God.”

“Simon and Rachel are with some of the cousins right now. We’ll stop there first, quick hellos—and it will be totally normal and not uncomfortable at all.”

“Thanks for the confidence, Roy.”

“Only considering precedent. Also, don’t say anything about Rachel’s pregnancy. She was due on Tuesday, and Simon said she might murder the next person who reminds her she hasn’t gone into labor yet.”

“I thought she was due in two weeks?”

“Evidently she saw a psychic who disagreed.”

“Oh. Uh, noted.”

She and Roy shared a moment of eye contact.

“We’ve got two brothers in the kitchen with Alannah’s folks right now. That’ll be our biggest obstacle: four Clays at once.”

“Do I need to review a playbook for this?”

Roy shot her an annoyed look. “This is my primary skill set. Appreciate me. Mrs. Clay is the most likely to ask a well-intended but invasive question. If and when she does, I’m pretending to hear one of the kids crying and we’re leaving.”

“Roy—”

“Now Mr. Clay will probably defer to whatever tone his wife sets, so he’s a bit of an anomaly. I doubt the guys will say much. Really, that room is all about Mrs. Clay.”

“Roy—”

“Then we hook up with Alannah and Aster in the gardens. I’ve got about six other plays in case anything goes sideways.”

“Roy, stop.”