Page 33 of Chasing Honor

Honor was now a part of our daily lives. We ate dinner together every night, the girls took pictures together, and Honor helped Carson with her reading homework. There hadn’t been a day since she’d moved in that she wasn’t involved in some way.

“Carter is in town next week,” my mom reminded me.

“I know, I spoke to him yesterday.”

“We’re having a barbeque next weekend, the whole family,” she continued.

“Yippy. Uncle Carter and the cousins.” Carson clapped her hands.

“You’ll be there, too, won’t you, Honor?” My mom took a bite of her waffle as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb.

“Yeah, Honor, you have to! Everyone will be there. It’s so much fun.”

“I don’t want to intrude,” Honor told my mom.

“Nonsense,” my dad cut in. “You’re welcome anytime.”

“See? Please. Pretty please, with a cherry on top. I want you to meet my Uncle Carter.”

“Carson,” I tried to dial back the begging.

“What, Daddy? I’m just asking.”

“No, you’re pestering. Honor may have plans or have to work,” I told her.

“Do you?” Carson turned to Honor. “You don’t have to work, right?”

Honor was fidgeting in her seat. I reached under the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing it before I place it on my thigh and covered it with mine.

“Thank you, Mrs. Lenox. I’d love to come.”

“Please call me Lily. It will be wonderful to have you there.”

“Yay. Yay. Yay. Now I get to show Honor off to the uncles.”

“Honor’s not a pony, Carson.” She jerked back in confusion. “Saying you’re going to show her off is kinda rude.”

“Sorry.”

Without missing a beat Honor pulled Carson into a hug and snuggled her. “Nothing to be sorry for. I’m honored you want to show me off, darlin’ but I’ll need you to make a list of everyone for me. There are too many people for me to remember.”

“We’ll practice all week. We’ll start with Uncle Jasper and Aunt Emily. They have most of the cousins.” Carson went on to tell Honor all about “the cousins,” as she called them.

By the time breakfast was over, I was ready to be alone with Honor. My dad laughed and caught on quickly when I told my mom not to clean the kitchen and tried to rush them out the door. Carson, of course, took no urging. She was ready and dancing around the door two seconds after she’d swallowed the last bite of her waffle, completely abandoning the donuts my mom and dad had brought.

“Thank you for breakfast, Honor.” My dad clapped his meaty hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

“Yes, thank you. It was wonderful getting to know you.” My mom, being the hugger in the family, pulled an unwitting Honor into her embrace.

“Thank you for your help. Glad you stopped by.” Then shyly she added. “Maybe we can do it again.”

“We’d love that, right, Lenox?”

“Right.” Once again, I got the look and I knew he smelled blood.

Well, damn, so much for keeping Honor to myself. Uncles Levi, Clark, and Jasper would know about her within the hour. I swear to Christ they’re worse gossips than teenage girls. Once my uncles knew, my aunts would know shortly thereafter. And that meant, they’d converge on my house like vultures circling their prey, trying to gather any morsel of information they could.

The three of them piled into my dad’s truck, and I slammed the front door.