Delaney reached out and pulled me into an unexpected hug. “Don’t be nervous,” she murmured. “You’re right where you’re supposed to be and this family,your family, is so excited to have you here.”
When she pulled back I didn’t know what to say. Her warmth was immediate and genuine . And not only that, but she’d realised this would be difficult for me and wanted to help. To reassure me even though I was a perfect stranger. It was a welcome I’d never thought I’d experience and it made my chest tight.
Inside, the house was exactly what I’d expected from a working farm. Comfortable, lived-in, full of light. And full of people.
Four men stood as we entered. My brothers. My half-brothers. Strangers who should have been so much more.
I’d studied their photos, but seeing them in person was different. They were real. Solid. Here.
The tallest one stepped forward first. “I’m Trace.” His smile was kind, his handshake firm. “It’s good to finally meet you.”
“You too.” My voice came out steadier than I felt.
The others introduced themselves in turn.
Booker was quieter, his greeting simple but his eyes warm. “Glad you’re here.”
Xander had an easy charm, his perceptiveness evident immediately in the way he studied me. “Welcome to the chaos. Fair warning, it only gets louder from here.”
Gage was closest to my age, and there was something in his eyes that looked like sympathy and not the suspicion that probably should have been there. “I know what it’s like, being the new one. It gets easier. Promise.”
Then came the wives and fiancées. Reece with her gentle strength, Blake with her pink hair and artistic energy, Billie with her professional warmth. Each of them welcomed me like I wasn’t a stranger, like I was already part of this.
Kids ran through. A baby being passed around. A ten-year-old boy who looked at me with open curiosity. A toddler babbling happily in someone’s arms.
It was overwhelming and beautiful and terrifying all at once.
This was a family. And somehow, inexplicably, I was suddenly a part of it.
“Come sit,” Delaney said, gesturing to the large living room where everyone was gathering. “We thought we’d keep this casual. No pressure, just getting to know each other.”
I sat on the couch, Mom beside me, and tried to breathe normally. I could already feel the overwhelm at the edges of my mind but I tried my hardest to push it away. This meeting needed to happen, and once it was over we could all decide what happened next. I kept reminding myself that I didn’t have tostay. This could be it. One quiet afternoon visit and then back to my old life. But looking around this cozy room at the smiling faces, I realised that might actually not be what I want.
I had family back in Blue Point Bay. I’d grown up so close to my cousins that we were practically siblings. And yet, this felt different. This cluster of strangers felt like they held a possibility that needed exploring. Because with my cousins I was related but not really. Obviously we were blood relatives. My Mom and Aunt Rebecca were sisters. But I would never really be on the same level as my cousins. I’d never really be a sibling, always something slightly adjacent but not quite enough. But here? Here I could belong, I could be a part of something. I just had to decide if I wanted to.
They asked questions. Kind questions. About Blue Point Bay, about my photography, about what I liked to do. Nothing invasive. Nothing that made me feel interrogated.
I asked questions too. About the farm and the ranch, about their lives, about growing up here. They answered openly, sharing stories that made me laugh, that gave me glimpses into the family I’d never known.
They laughed and joked, poking fun in a way that only a sibling could. It was a glimpse inside a family that I could see myself joining.
Trace was paternal, always with one eye on the kids. You could see how much he cared about Delaney and his sons, barely ever straying from their side. Booker was quieter, reserved, but observant, the kind of person who listened more than he spoke. Xander was sharp and perceptive, his questions thoughtful. And Gage seemed to understand what it felt like to be on the outside. He made sure to include me, to pull the conversation back to me.
“You’re a photographer?” Blake asked, leaning forward with interest. “What kind of work do you do?”
“Mostly coastal landscape but I really like dabbling with candid street photography to capture those everyday moments we take for granted.” I relaxed slightly. Talking about my work was easy, it was familiar territory. “But I’ve been wanting to branch out. Try something different. I’m hoping to spend my time here sinking into a new project.”
“You should explore Willowbrook,” she said enthusiastically. “Document small-town life. I own the gallery in town. I’d love to feature your work sometime.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives.”
The conversation flowed naturally after that. Stories, laughter, the easy rhythm of people who genuinely cared about each other. And they were including me in it. Not as an obligation, but because they wanted to.
Maybe this would actually be okay.
Then Mom cleared her throat, and the room quieted.
