Page 30 of Until Joy

I glared at him.

“What? You can’t wear a swimsuit like that and not get it wet.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

Ellie and July stood up at the same time. “Come on, you three. Let’s get you some food.” July pointed at the kids.

They followed their mothers to the food table, and I took a moment to catch my breath. Jax winked at me. “She’s a wonder.”

“She is that,” I agreed. “How do you keep up?”

“Lots and lots of caffeine.”

Again, the table burst out laughing.

July appeared with a margarita in hand. “Thought you might want this. It's my mama's special recipe.”

“What's in it?” I asked, accepting the glass gratefully.

“Love and tequila,” November called out. “In that order.”

I took a sip and felt the warmth spread through my chest. “It's perfect.”

“Mama makes the best margaritas in Tennessee,” December said. “It's scientifically proven.”

“I did not conduct any scientific studies,” November protested.

“You didn't have to,” Asher called from the grill. “The evidence speaks for itself.”

I took another sip and felt my shoulders start to relax. These people were impossible not to like.

“Aunt Joy.” Dean tugged on my hand. “Will you come in the pool with us? Hope says we can't play Marco Polo without enough people.”

I don’t remember at what point I became ‘Aunt’ Joy, but I was tickled.

I looked down at his earnest little face and felt my resolve crumble. “Okay, but I have to put sunscreen on first.”

“I'll help!” Hope announced, appearing with a bottle of SPF 50. “I'm really good. I help Mama with the hard-to-put-on spots.”

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by helpful hands—July reapplying my sunscreen, Kayan fixing my hair so it wouldn't get tangled, and Miss Laverne offering commentary on the proper way to enter a pool.

“Don't you dare just stick your toe in like some delicate flower,” she instructed. “Jump right in. Life's too short for slow entries.”

“Listen to the woman,” Wes said as he cannonballed into the pool, sending a massive splash toward everyone within a ten-foot radius.

“Wesley Silver!” July shrieked and laughed when Wes surfaced. “You got my margarita wet!”

“Your mom will make you another one, sweetheart,” he shouted back, grinning.

“I will, honey,” November called out.

I watched as July dove gracefully into the pool, her gold tassels catching the sunlight. She made it look so easy, so natural.

“Your turn, Joy,” Graham said softly behind me.

I looked around at all these people—this big, warm, chaotic family that had welcomed me like I'd been part of it forever. Hope was bobbing in the shallow end with her water wings, directing James and Dean like a tiny lifeguard. They were both wearing water wings and holding onto the same noodle. The adults were all watching me with encouraging smiles, not a hint of judgment in sight.

“That's it!” November cheered.