Page 277 of Josephine and Clay

Tessa shoots him a look. "Are you planning to help?"

Nash wipes at his eyes. "I tried helping three years ago. He used me as a ladder."

"Our child is a menace."

"Our child is ambitious."

Kai throws both arms wide from his perch like he's just conquered a mountain.

Nash cups his hands around his mouth. "That's my boy."

Tessa groans.

Hailey darts through the crowd carrying a blue ribbon above her head while Max races after her, demanding to know why she gets to hold it. They disappear between a cluster of cousins before either parent can intervene, and nobody seems particularly alarmed. At this stage, most of the family operates under the assumption that children usually reappear eventually.

The photographer, meanwhile, looks like he's reconsidering every career decision he's ever made.

Maggie settles into the front row and studies the crowd gathering around her. Her gaze moves from child to grandchild, from spouses to cousins, taking in the sprawling family that fills far more space than the photographer planned for.

A smile tugs at her mouth.

"Well," she says, shaking her head, "we've certainly been busy."

Several people laugh.

Maggie pretends she didn't mean the comment to be funny.

Nobody believes her.

The twins finally make their way over. Henry launches straight into the goat debate before he's fully in position.

Theodore pinches the bridge of his nose. "You've already lost."

"I haven't."

Clay slips an arm around my shoulders while the twins continue sniping at each other.

I settle against his side without thinking about it. After all these years, the motion comes as naturally as breathing. His hand rests against my arm, warm and familiar, and I find myself smiling before I even realize it.

The photographer lifts his camera. "Everybody look over here!"

The request goes largely ignored.

Kai is waving half a funnel cake from his fence-top kingdom.

Henry is making exaggerated faces every time Theodore looks away.

Faith is trying to confiscate Dallas's phone after catching him answering emails during family pictures.

Dallas keeps moving it out of reach.

Boone's attention drifts toward Ellie again, which sends Rose into another fit of laughter.

The photographer lowers the camera and mutters what looks suspiciously like a prayer.

Right then, my phone buzzes in my back pocket.

I pull it out and glance at the screen.