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Conversations filtered to the front door from the back of the house, where the kitchen was filled with people. Blake’s brother and sister, plus their spouses, children, and his momma.
Lauren had technically met her before, but not as Blake’s significant other. Not really. They’d been in test mode then. He took her past a clean, obviously new sectional, the huge hearth, and toward the dining room table which had been set for twelve.
Twelve.
Lauren swallowed, and the walls of her throat stuck together.
“Blake,” his brother boomed. “You finally made it.”
“We’re not even late,” Blake said, and he released Lauren’s hand as he moved into Peter and hugged him. They did laugh together, and Lauren wasn’t sure how often they got together, but it wasn’t every week or anything.
“Pete, this is Lauren,” he said, stepping to his brother’s side. They both faced Lauren, and she could see how they belonged to each other. His wife stepped between Blake and Peter, her arm sliding around her husband with his doing the same to her.
They belonged together too, and Lauren yearned for that. Whispers filled her mind that perhaps she could belong here too. To Blake. To Tommy. To his brother and sister and momma.
“This is his wife, Ruth,” Blake said.
Lauren put her hand out and shook Peter’s. “It’s so great to meet you. Blake’s been telling me so much about everyone.”
Ruth smiled at her, her own dark eyes and hair shiny and happy. She took Lauren’s hand and pulled her forward into a light kiss on the cheek.
“Nice to meet you,” she said to Lauren, and Blake took her hand again. Tommy went out the back door with a couple of other teenagers, and he said, “Those are Peter’s boys—Cardon and Aaron. Lindsey’s kids are Carl, Susie, and Jilly.” He glanced around. “I don’t see her husband.”
“He’s on the grill,” a pretty woman with redder hair than Blake’s said. She grinned like it was all her face knew how to do, and Lauren felt she had no other option but to return the smile.
“My sister, Lindsey,” Blake said. “Linds, this is Lauren Keller.” He leaned toward her, almost like he’d kiss her. He didn’t, and Lindsey pulled her away from him in the next moment.
“Oh, it’s great to meet you.”
“Lindsey,” Blake said.
“You know, he hasn’t brought anyone home in such a long time?” She picked up a bowl of macaroni salad and started toward the table. “Lindsey,” he said louder.
“Years, I think.” She put the bowl on the table and turned toward the kitchen again. “Oh, there’s Sterling. Sterling, this is Blake’s new lover, Lauren.”
“Lindsey, I’m going to kill you.” He lunged toward his sister. “Lover? You’re impossible.”
She shrieked and giggled as he wrapped her up in a big bear hug. Lauren wasn’t sure what to say or do. Her eyes couldn’t get any wider, and she gaped at the two of them.
If she ever got in the same room as Jess, there wouldn’t be any hugging. Or laughing. Or embarrassing exchanges, at least not like this. There would be plenty of tension and awkwardness, but only because they were complete strangers.
Sterling rolled his eyes and held out his hand. “Ignore my wife. She likes to tease her older brothers. Calls it payback for all the ‘torture’ they put her through growing up.”
They shook hands, and then the back door opened again. The teens entered, carrying plates and platters of steaming, grilled food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and even watermelon.
Tommy brought up the rear, and he said, “Guys, this is my dad’s girlfriend, Lauren.”
“Hey,” the two boys said, but they’d already gone by her to the table, where they put the food.
“Time to eat,” Lindsey called. “Stop it, Blake. It’s time to eat. Let me go.”
He did, and Lauren put her hand on Tommy’s forearm. He paused to look at her. “What? Did I do it wrong?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You did it exactly right.” She gave him a smile. “Thank you for introducing me to them.”
A quick smile came to his face too, and he nodded. “We better not dawdle,” he said. “Aunt Lindsey doesn’t like it.” He nodded over to her. “Look. She’s already gone into battle mode.”
She pointed to her kids, at Peter’s, and then the piles of food she had on the counter—buns, sliced tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, more bowls of salad, sweet tea, and more—got put on the table. Lauren wasn’t sure how any people could squeeze in with their plates, but she figured they would.
