Page 193 of Nyx

"The women will be better for it. I promise," I assure her.

"I think it may work," she says after a silent moment of consideration. "We can work through their schedules and come up with a calendar."

"Sounds good," I say as I stand. "Now I heard someone talking about your famous potato salad. Any chance you'll show me how to make it?"

"There's nothing secretive or special about it," Emmalyn says as she stands and pushes in her chair. "I think people just continue to praise me about it because they don't want to peel potatoes to make their own."

"Peeling potatoes is one thing I can do with confidence," I tell her with an easy smile.

"That won't get in the way?" she asks, pointing to the bandage on my hand.

"Not at all," I reply, grateful that she doesn't question how it happened.

We get to work in the kitchen, and, as blasé as Emmalyn was about her potato salad recipe, she sure did add a million spices that made it special.

The guys have brought in massive tables and set them up to put food on in the living room because as the people started showing up, each with their own contribution to the gathering, there just wasn't enough room in the kitchen to put it all and still have room for people to sit and eat.

I spot Daisy standing against the wall, watching everyone with a strange look on her face. I head in her direction to make sure everything is okay. I know what it feels like to be a child who gets overlooked, and I don't want her to feel like she doesn't matter.

"You don't find this weird," Daisy asks as I step up in front of her.

She leans to the side, trying to look around me, so I step over and stand directly beside her.

"What's that?" I ask, not wanting to lead her in a particular direction.

"Those people brought a big bowl of salad," she says, pointing toward Delilah and Lawson before pointing toward Griffin and Ivy. "They brought a plate of fruit and a tray with meat and cheese on it."

"They're just contributing, so no one has to do it all."

"I heard this wasn't planned until a few hours ago," she argues. "How did they get it all together so quickly?"

"It's my understanding that they gather a lot like this, so I imagine when they grocery shop, they take that into account."

"But they all seem so happy," she mutters.

"Because they are."

"My dad would complain if he had to even show up somewhere. I don't even want to think about how he would've been if he was expected to bring something as well."

"Was he around people he didn't care for?"

"He doesn't like anyone."

"Maybe that makes all the difference," I suggest. "It isn't a hardship when you do things for those that you love."

"We're family," Emmalyn says as she walks up, having caught part of our conversation.

"I wish I had a family like this," Daisy mutters, and I can tell that she's really feeling the loss of it right now.

"We're family," Emmalyn tells her. "You're a part of this now, too."

Daisy snaps her head in her direction so fast, I fear a scathing remark is coming next, but her eyes soften, her little chin quivering a little.

"We help each other because we love each other," Emmalyn continues. "Can you find a place on the table for this?"

Emmalyn holds out a bowl of her potato salad. It's only a portion of it to save room on the tables for the other food.

"Really?" Daisy asks as her hands come out in front of her. "Of course!"