Preparing myself, I stand in the backyard, feet stuck to the grass, as I creepily look through the sliding glass door at the scene in front of me. Two teenagers, who I assume are Sadie and Caleb, are seated at a dining table while my dad and Jennifer are working together in the kitchen. It radiates staged perfection as rays of light filter through the windows, providing a golden backdrop to the image. Perfect weather, perfect family, and then there’s me. My feet remain planted for several more seconds, battling my fight-or-flight instincts. Taking a few deep breaths, I gear up to enter this new world. A world where my dad is married to a woman I’ve never met and I have two step-siblings. It’s much easier to pretend none of this exists when it’s not right in front of my eyes.
Here goes nothing.
“Good morning. Come join us.” My dad is standing in front of an electric griddle, pancakes laid out in perfect, even circles. He’s wearing an apron that saysKiss the Chef.
A woman—Jennifer—stands at the sink with her back to me. She turns at the sound of my dad’s booming voice and wipes herhands on an apron that matches his, except hers saysI Kissed the Chef. Her arms open as she approaches me.
“Marisa,” she says, enveloping me in a hug. It’s a real hug too, tight and warm. She pulls me in so close I can feel the bones in her chest press against my cheek. My hands remain at my sides, clutched down by her arms. She releases me, keeping her hands on both of my shoulders and admiring me. “My goodness, you’re beautiful. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“G-g—good to meet you, too, Jennifer.”
Her hand waves off my formalness. “Please, call me Jenn.”
Smiling at me brightly, she practically exudes warmth. She has the kind of smile that immediately puts others at ease, her eyes crinkling at the corners, cheeks lifting beneath deep smile lines. Even her blonde hair, with hints of gray, glows like the sun is shining down on it. I was prepared to hate her. Mentally, I was going to catalog all of her flaws and use them to build an evil stepmom narrative. Unfortunately, she’s nice and it seems sincere. I can’t help but feel as if I’m betraying my mom by having one positive thought about her.
“Sadie. Caleb. Come meet Marisa. Your phones will survive if you set them down for a few moments.” She gives me a look that tells me this is a daily annoyance for her.
“Hi,” Sadie says shyly. She looks like a young Jennifer with her long, honey-blonde hair, a youthful round face, and the most piercing, cornflower blue eyes. She looks nervous, and I’m reminded of myself at her age—painfully shy, nose always buried in a book. I give her a half wave, and she smiles back.
“Sup,” Caleb says, sounding every bit the teenage boy he is. He looks similar to Sadie, but his features are sharper and his hair is chestnut brown. His cheeks and jaw are covered in patchy, uneven hair, an attempt at growing a beard that forces me to bite back a smile. It’s comforting to know there are some things, like teenage boys, that remain utterly predictable.
“How do you like your eggs?” Jenn asks.
I walk around to the kitchen island, using it as a barrier between us. “Over easy, but I’m not picky, whatever is easiest.”
“We are a runny yolk household.” She gives me a wink. “Oh, and if you’re a coffee drinker, help yourself.”
After making myself a cup of coffee, I take the far seat at the table, wincing from the giant bruise on my ass, a reminder of last night’s debacle. I clasp my hands in my lap, unsure of what to do with myself. Sadie and Caleb are focused on their phones, randomly kicking each other under the table. I’m guessing it’s some form of sibling communication, but as an only child, I can only assume.
My dad and Jenn work in the kitchen like a well-oiled machine, sensing and anticipating the other’s movements before they even happen. It’s a rehearsed dance they seem to perform often, and I’m hit with a pang of jealousy. I never got the two parents in the kitchen happily working together as a team. My parent’s relationship was rocky for as far back as I can remember. If they weren’t fighting, they were silent. Seeing this version of my dad is so foreign to me, he may as well be a stranger. In many ways, he is a stranger. I’ve never metthisman.
The breakfast spread is akin to something from a TV show—impeccably prepared and ready for the main characters to take a single bite of toast as they race out the door. All of Jenn’s dishes are a matching crisp white porcelain. So unlike my mom’s array of colorful dishes, acquired over years of thrifting.
Dishes are passed around the table, family style, while Jenn walks around, serving each person their preferred egg order. Is this real? Do people actually live this way?
Finally, she takes her seat next to my dad. “Is there anything you need for the cottage? Kitchen supplies, towels, household basics?” she asks, spreading a layer of butter on her toast.
“Not that I can think of. The cottage seems fully stocked with things like that, and I also brought a ton of stuff.”
Jenn looks to my dad. “Did you show her around the property?”
He shakes his head. “I figured she was tired.”
“We definitely should, or have one of the Ledgers do it.” Focusing her attention back on me, she says, “Not sure if your dad mentioned it, but one of the cottages is being used by Jack’s son, Ethan. In case you see a strange man around, no need to freak out.”
My dad’s eyes snap open wide, as if until this very moment, the information had slipped his mind.
I swallow harshly, the toast lodging in my throat, and a choking cough attacks me.
“Caleb!” Jenn yells. “Go get Marisa some water.”
I swallow again, this time more successfully. My cheeks flame. She mentioned Ethan, and suddenly I felt like she knew something, like she could read the embarrassment from last night on my face.
Caleb sets a glass of water in front of me, and I give him a nod of thanks.
Gulping down the water, my throat slowly relaxes.
“How about you take the next few days to unpack and get settled. On Saturday, if you haven’t already explored, we can show you around the vineyard property, and then venture into town. There’s the most adorable farmers market that takes over the whole downtown area. I think you’ll love it,” Jenn happily states. “It’ll be a nice little family outing.”
