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I rolled Violet off my lap long enough to jump up and turn the steaks on the grill. The sun was beginning its descent behind the glorious mountains surrounding the big cabin Ben had bought for him and Laurel to live in. I squinted against the bright orange, magenta, and purple spectacle and pulled Violet up to stand next to me. I wrapped my arm around her, and we watched in silent awe at Montana’s scenery.
Silent until my niece and nephew came screaming out onto the back porch. “I’m hungry,” Ava yelled.
“Don’t shout,” Harrison told her, only slightly quieter.
“I don’t have to do anything you say,” she shrieked, letting him have it with the raggedy doll she held.
He grabbed the doll and chucked it over the edge of the porch, where it landed about thirty feet below us in a tangle of shrubs and rocky terrain.
“It’s fine, don’t cry,” Laurel called, seeing what had happened and running to grab Ava in what we all referred to as the safety hold. It kept her from kicking, flailing, and biting until she could see reason. “I’ll get your doll for you, okay? I can climb down there lickety-split.”
Ben’s new wife wasn’t kidding. She did the most harrowing climbs, jumps, zip lines, and anything else that might give a sane person a heart attack from fear on a daily basis. She made Ben whole again after the accident and while she still worries about me, even though I have Violet to keep me on the straight and narrow, I’m quite fond of my new sister-in-law.
I noticed Will hovering by the door, not about to come out until the carnage with his children was over. He finally brought out the salads and put them on the long table, and we all gathered around.
“Cheesy toast,” Violet said. “Come on Will, you know you want to.”
He held up his wine glass. “To being together under this big, beautiful sky. To my brothers, my new sisters, and my babies. I love you all more than the highest mountain.”
We all clinked our glasses, and I glanced at Violet, who had tears glistening in her eyes. “You asked for it,” I told her.
“We’re not babies,” Harrison and Ava said at the same time, war in their eyes.
“He only means that you’rehisbabies. We all know you’re big kids,” Violet told them.
She still had a way with them, and Will still tried to get her to babysit whenever he was between nannies. I was the only one who knew she was secretly terrified of them, but she was always eager to help out. Not that either of us had much free time. We barely slept, we were so full of ideas we wanted to bring to fruition together.
“Okay, now that we’re all together, I need some backup,” Laurel said. “Ben wants to completely renovate this place, basically strip away its soul until it’s all granite and stainless steel.”
“Nooo,” Violet said. “I love this cool retro vibe. It would be criminal to change it.”
I personally thought the orange and avocado interior could stand an upgrade, but I sided with Violet, half because she’s my girl, and half because it pissed off one of my big brothers, always a plus. The kids wolfed their food down and ran back inside to play or fight, whichever struck their fancy, and we all settled back, enjoying the meal and each other’s company.
“So, Mrs. Blackheart is out?” Ben asked, referring to the latest nanny who couldn’t keep up with Ava and Harrison. “Any new prospects?”
“Her name was Mrs. Blackburn, but yes, I actually have a few interviews that seem promising when we get back.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly, all but given up on ever finding a permanent nanny.
“What about you two?” Laurel asked, turning to Violet and me.
“We’re visiting my parents for a few days after we leave here, then back to New York,” Violet said, looking at me questioningly. I nodded and even in the dim evening light I could see her face flush with excitement. “Actually we have some big news.” She paused to take a sip of her wine.
“A baby?” Laurel squealed. “Oh my God, tell me it’s a baby!”
Violet laughed so hard she spit out her drink. “What? No. I’m only twenty-four. We have plenty of time for a baby.” She frowned. “Now it’s not going to seem that big of a deal if you wanted a baby.”
“It’s a big deal,” I assured her.
“Out with it already,” Will said.
Violet reached for my hand, and I finally spilled the beans. “We’re starting a new magazine. The first issue will be out in four months.”
“A brand new magazine?” Ben asked, mouth hanging open, as it should have been. “You’re the first one of us to do that.”
They asked a dozen questions, but Violet and I refused to tell them anything. They’d have to wait for the launch party to see what we’d been working on.
Will squeezed my shoulder. “That’s great, Eli. I don’t think either of us doubted you’d be the most ambitious of us all.”
Ben gave me a brotherly punch in the chest. “Brilliant, man. I’m proud of you.”
