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Hank placed his hand on her shoulder in a show of territoriality that she couldn’t help but enjoy. When she looked behind her at Travis, he was shaking his head in warning at the twins, the “hands off” message clear in his eyes.
They both backed off and Jesse said, “Guess you’ve outgrown that, huh, Pudge?”
Hank said, “She’s outgrown the nicknames, too, gentlemen. Her name is Veronica, if you need the reminder.”
Cord and Jackson came chuckling up the steps and kissed and hugged Grandma Kate. Jackson even gently lifted her off her feet a bit as he hugged her before they went to Veronica. The tears brimmed in her eyes as she smiled at them. Having them there made it so much better.
Cord held up his hands and playfully said, “No teasing, no tickling, just a hug for you, sis.” In her ear, he whispered, “Congratulations, little Nika. You look gorgeous.”
Tears threatened to fall and her chin quivered as she said, “Thank you, Cord. I’m so happy to see you.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, baby sis.”
Jackson elbowed Cord aside and stood there smiling down at her for a second. He glanced quickly over her shoulder and then wiped an errant tear from her cheek and said, “Merry Christmas Eve, sis.”
She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and felt it when one of her men stroked the hand she held down at her hip out of sight. She glanced at her mother and noted the confusion that lasted in her eyes for less than a second. Yeah, Mom, this is what familial love looks like. You should try it sometime.
Jackson kissed her cheek and whispered, “I’m so proud of you, Nika. You give ’em hell and I’ll back you up. I’ve missed you something fierce, girl!” He released her and added, “Ari’s been dying to see you again.”
Cord and Jackson held out their hand to the petite redhead who’d stood back, her trembling lips pressed together as she watched the reunion . She hurried forward and wrapped her arms around Veronica and hugged her tight. She whispered, “You’re not the same girl I remember at all, Veronica. I’m so happy for you. So happy to see you,” she added as she looked at Veronica’s parents and sniffled.
Unable to resist, Veronica turned to Jesse and Barry. “Where are Phil and Gordon? Since you four were always joined at the hip, I figured they’d be along for the ride. That always seemed like a family tradition.”
Jesse and Barry looked at each other, and Jesse said, “Since Brent split up with you, we haven’t seen very much of them. I asked them if they wanted to come with us but I guess their mom must’ve had something special planned. Phil said they’d be dead men if they went on this trip. I don’t know why.”
Veronica laughed at his words and the little inaccuracy and said, “It’s cold out here, why don’t we all go inside.”
Grandma Kate and Grace agreed and everyone filed in and Veronica, Hank, and Travis brought up the rear.
Cord, Jackson, and Ari quickly reconnected with Grace and her men, and with Lucy, Patrick, and Beck since they’d met at a commitment ceremony in Lusty a few months before, and were soon involved in a conversation with several of the others.
Veronica introduced her parents around the room and all her friends gave warm greetings, and Veronica watched as it sank in to her parents that this was a gathering that included many ménages. She supposed this was therapy by immersion for them. Chance and Clayton Carlisle drew her father into a conversation with Joaquin and Angel about ranching and he seemed to settle right in, nodding to her before she continued on around the room with her mother and her sister.
“All these people are in threesomes and foursomes?” her mother whispered as Rachel Wolf approached and put out her hand.
“Not all of us, ma’am. I’m Rachel Wolf. I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Eli, and our son, Levi.”
Her mom smiled at Rachel and inquired about Levi who seemed entranced by her mother’s bright white hair. He grinned at her and held up a shy hand and waved to her. Her mother was captivated by his pale silver-gray eyes, which were replicas of his father’s.
Addison stood beside Veronica at the kitchen island, watching as the family got to know her friends. “So have you enjoyed your stay down here, Ronnie? You seem to have made lots of friends. Surprising.”
