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“Who’s Pete?”
Everyone dropped their forks and looked to where Nana sat. This week, Nana had magenta hair and wore a T-shirt that said, “I’m into fitness. Fit’ness taco into my mouth.” Living alone had become too much for her, and she’d moved in with Emma’s parents last year. She was old, but not so old she should be forgetting her children.
“Mom, Pete’s your son.” Her dad’s brows creased with worry. “My brother?”
“Oh, relax,” Nana said, chuckling. “I’m messing with you. Still got all my wits.” She tapped the side of her head.
“Not cool, Mom.” Edward shook his head. “Seriously, who can look after Oliver?”
Crickets.
“I’ll do it,” Emma said. “Maybe I’ll take him to my place, and he can hang out with Charlie and Tigger.”
“Thank you, Emma,” her mom said. “He’s not much trouble. Just stop by every other day to feed him and clean the litter box?”
Emma nodded. She knew how to take care of cats. Sadly, aside from her job, cats were pretty much all she had. At least they had been. She’d rededicated herself to a new life purpose, and it was going to keep her busy for the next few months.
“Lizzie, pass me the potatoes, will ya?” Emma tried again. Lizzie held up a finger to indicate she would in a second.
Emma sighed, stood, and walked to the end of the table to get the potatoes herself.
“I was getting them,” Lizzie said. “I just had to finish telling Lucy about what happened at the bar last night.” Lizzie and Lucy were twins, lived in the same condo building, and worked across the street from each other, but still always had something to say to each other.
“That’s okay,” Emma said. She was used to being looked over. Plus, getting a word in edgewise with everyone here was damn near impossible. Her father called it conversation combat, and more often than not, Emma didn’t feel like armoring up and going to battle.
The doorbell rang, and Sophie Parker, ever the hostess, went to answer it. The second surprise stood at the door and was sure to please everyone.
“Hey, come on, let’s all go,” Emma said, standing and shooing everybody toward the front door. They reluctantly, and not without complaint, got up and allowed her to herd them to the doorway.
“Daisy,” her mother yelled upon opening the door. “Edward, our baby girl’s come home.”
The entryway erupted in chaos as everyone jumped in to welcome home Emma’s youngest sister, Daisy. While most of the Parker sisters had settled in New Bern and opened businesses, Daisy, the free spirit of the family, had been off traveling the world for the last several years, returning only briefly and sporadically.
“My big sis is getting married soon. Since Katie’s so disorganized, I thought I’d come help with the planning,” Daisy said, laughing at her own joke and hugging Kate.
“Since we don’t have a fatted calf, we’ll have to kill your fat cat, Mom,” Lizzie said. “Here, Olly. Come here, boy.” She waved the dinner knife in her hand around like a ninja.
“Elizabeth Michelle,” Sophie said. “Stop it. That’s not funny.”
“It’s actually pretty funny, Mom,” Lucy said through her giggles. “Lizzie, why do you have a butter knife?”
“Well, I didn’t know who was at the door, did I?”
“So you were gonna protect us with that?” Lucy asked.
“What were you gonna use? Your bare hands?” Lizzie said, and Lucy laughed.
Emma had to throw a few elbows to finally hug her sister. Everyone loved Daisy. Including Emma. Especially Emma.
She’d always been envious of Daisy. To just flit off and do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, seemed so freeing. Emma couldn’t imagine not knowing where the next paycheck was coming from. Or where home would be in a few weeks. She would have no fingernails left from all the biting if she’d lived like Daisy did.
A plan was in the works to change that though. Several months ago, on New Year’s Day, Emma had made a bucket list of things she wanted to accomplish before her thirtieth birthday. September loomed, and she only had a few months left to meet her deadline.
The list was designed to propel her from boring and reserved to wild and crazy. Although, at this point, she’d settle for normal with a dash of confidence. Frankly, anything above boring-as-hell would be an improvement.
“So, Daisy, are you back to stay?” Sophie asked with a hopeful look.
“Sorry, Mom. Just visiting for a week or so. I’ll be back for the wedding though. Besides, what would I do in New Bern?” she said. “Kate’s cornered the real estate market, Lucy owns the best coffee shop in town, Lizzie owns the best bar in town, and Emma is the best accountant in the whole wide world. And as mayor, Dad reigns over it all. There’s nothing left for me to do.”
