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Charlie’s mother, Francine, had decorated her walker with cardboard cutouts of turkeys, pumpkins, squash, and horns of plenty. She was a doll. In her eighties and suffering from debilitating arthritis that never got her down, she walked a mile every day. She was an inspiration.
Paige was very pregnant now. She didn’t have just a baby bump but a watermelon, and she also looked super happy, especially since Evan’s mother had come too, along with the twins. Tony and Kelsey were Lyssa’s age, which was ten years younger than Evan. His mom, brother, and sister had come back into Evan’s life only a year ago. Having been separated from his mother when he was a kid, he hadn’t even known about the twins. But it was all good now.
Gideon had Rosie and the adorable little Jorge with him. Chi had come too. Rosie, Ari, and Chi were best friends dating all the way back to their time in foster care together.
Jorge and Noah, and Harper’s brother, Jeremy, too, were bouncing around Lyssa’s parents, happy to see Grandpa and Grandma. Jeremy was a wonderful big kid, and Jorge and Noah adored him.
And then there was Cal.
He was gorgeous. The well-built body, his beautiful face, that kissable mouth.
Get yourself under control, she thought, her teeth gritted as she worked to regain her equanimity before she came face to face with him.
Kelsey, her sun-streaked chestnut hair pulled back in a ponytail, found her in the crowd of Mavericks. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.” She gave Lyssa the biggest, warmest hug.
“I’ve been really busy at the foundation. But it’s amazing work, and I love it.” And, if Lyssa was being completely honest, she would have to admit she’d been working extra hard to prove to herself that she was totally over her afternoon with Cal on the plane. As if to say, See, I’m not heartbroken. I feel totally fine!
Then Chi, Rosie, and Ari were rushing to hug her too. Of course, Noah and Jorge couldn’t be left out.
Lyssa tried to swing Noah into her arms the way she usually did. “Wow, you’re getting so big, I can barely pick you up anymore.”
At six and three-quarters—because Noah wanted to make sure he got credit for every quarter year of age—he was growing like a weed.
Giving Jorge a big hug, she smiled at Rosie and Ari. “They grow so fast.”
“And they eat like elephants,” Rosie said, her hair the same dark, curly silk of Jorge’s.
The boys made trumpeting noises and whooped around. Those two never slowed down.
“How’s prep for the gallery show going?” All of them were so excited that Rosie had a show at the end of January at a huge San Francisco art gallery. No one could have been more thrilled than Gideon, who absolutely adored everything about Rosie.
She’d worked as an accountant, but she was an amazing artist, her paintings beautifully detailed. Having quit her job at the end of September, Rosie was now painting full time, which was why she and Gideon hadn’t yet set a wedding date.
“I’ve got the whole first floor of the gallery to fill.” Rosie’s eyes were wide, as if she thought the feat was impossible. But she would do it. “I want to show a bunch of new paintings as well as works from over the years.”
Lyssa hugged her tight. “I’m so happy for you.”
A few moments later, the ferry began boarding. Lyssa couldn’t tell whether it was on purpose or by accident, but no matter where she was, Cal seemed to be on the exact opposite side of the group.
Evan had rented a room for all of them on the ferry’s top deck. Though it was chilly outside with the wind off the ocean, the big room was warm, with all-around windows for a great view. They snacked on finger food, champagne, and hot chocolate. Making her way to her mom and dad, she gave them big hugs.
“I haven’t seen you for so long, honey. It feels like years.”
Susan and Bob were both in their late fifties. Lyssa had always considered her mom beautiful—tall and slim, her hair a lovely silver she’d never dyed. And her father looked hearty and healthy, his smile wide. The back operation her brothers had paid for a few years ago had given him a new lease on life.
“I’ve only been gone a few months, Mom.” But she knew how her mother felt. In Chicago, they had seen each other all the time.
“I know. But I miss my little girl.” She cupped Lyssa’s cheeks. “I can hardly wait until we move to California. The house will be ready for us in only a few weeks, or so I’m told.”
Her dad threw his arm about Lyssa. “Your mom’s been going through everything around the house. I can’t believe all the stuff she’s throwing out. You’d think we were pack rats.”
