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“You’re moving around like a hen at feeding time,” Landon says from behind his laptop. “It’s giving me a headache.”
Landon is sitting on one of the couches, his laptop in front of him, probably searching for prices on a new saddle. He promised Kitty last week that he would find her one.
I pull my hands back from the stack of magazines on the table that I was repositioning for the second time and resist the urge to re-stack the coasters again.
I sigh. “I want everything to be perfect for her.” Because I want her to look at this place and see herself in it, with us.
“She’s not going to just turn and walk away if she spots a magazine out of place. You know she doesn’t care about that sort of thing.”
I run a hand over my face. “Yeah, I know.” The house is looking better than ever these days, all thanks to Kitty. She remodeled the place when she and Landon were dating. The wood-look tile floors bring a nice warmth to the blues and greens and the feminine touches she added really make the space feel like home again—like it had when Mom was still around.
The doorbell rings, and I glance at my watch. It's five minutes until six.
Dillon strides into the room. “I’ll get it.” He smiles at me. “At least she didn’t stand you up this time.”
If I’m being honest, I’ve had this irrational fear that she won’t show up. I sometimes worry that the responsibility of a child might be too much for Malia. Like it was for Brittany. But I remind myself that Malia is nothing like her.
Just before Dillon reaches the foyer, Preston comes tearing down the stairs and bolts past Dillon to the front door. “I got it! I got it
!” Preston calls out.
He swings the door open. “Lia!” He grabs her into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground before setting her back down again. She’s wearing a pair of jeans and a thin white sweater. Her hair falls almost to her waist in a beautiful mess of waves and curls. Her eyes are lit up with excitement. She’s magnificent.
“Preston?” Malia says, stepping back. A huge smile lights up her face. He puts his hand out, and they both do a series of hand motions, slaps, and forearm taps until they end with a both hands in a shaka motion. “You remembered!”
“‘Course I did,” he says.
Malia looks him over. “You’re huge. Last time I saw you, you were only to Jax’s shoulder.” She pats his face affectionately. “And so handsome. I bet you’re breaking all the girls’ hearts.”
“I’d never do that,” he says, grinning at her. “You taught me to respect them.”
“That’s right. You’re just as sweet as you were when you were young. Glad to see some things never change.”
Then her eyes fall on Dillon, standing behind Preston. She squeals, runs to him, and throws her arms around my twin brother. “Dillon!” Malia is one of the only people who has never mistaken Dillon for me or vice versa. We asked her once how she can tell us apart. She’d said, “Are you kidding, you two are nothing alike. Dillon’s a gentleman.” Dillon has liked her ever since.
“Malia Kalama, finally, in the flesh,” Dillon says, backing out of her embrace. “I was starting to think we’d only ever see you on our televisions.”
“So you’ve watched my show?”
He laughs. “Are you kidding, like Jax would ever miss an episo—”
“Okay,” I say. “Let the woman through the foyer already. Stop crowding her.”
But Malia turns to smile at me. “You don’t miss a single episode, do you?”
I shrug and she laughs.
Landon steps forward. “Welcome back to Wyle Away Ranch, Lia.”
She squeals again and runs to throw her arms around Landon. He picks her up in an equally affectionate bear hug before setting her back down. “We sure missed you ‘round here.”
My heart is full watching Malia interact with my brothers again. When they met her all those years ago, they became fast friends. My brothers treated her like one of the family, just as they’re doing now. I hope Malia can see just how easily she fits in here with us all.
Malia grabs Landon’s hand with the wedding band on it. “I heard you got hitched.”
Landon glares at me. “You wouldn’t have heard if Jax was any good at keeping secrets.”
Landon and Kitty technically eloped in order to keep their marriage a secret from her family. I did explain that part to Malia.
