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Thankfully, no one has caught wind of our entrance. We stand by the door as I take more breaths to settle my stomach. The nausea subsides for the most part. I slide my hand into Devlyn’s and lace our fingers in a silent ready signal.
Now that my stomach is calmer, I zero in on the chatter and laughter spilling from the kitchen. No doubt, Mom has Micah cooking again while Dad and Peyton watch the show.
My brother has been such a trooper through it all. A year ago, he would have burned the house down making dinner for the family. But through his persistence and desire to be a better man for Peyton, he learned to navigate the kitchen like a certified chef. Mom was on standby, in case he needed help, but mostly stood there with a smile on her face. Pride in her eyes as she watched her son accomplish a task he never cared for until he met his wife.
On quiet feet, Devlyn and I round the kitchen island near Dad and Peyton. Peyton spots us first and spins on her stool, a warm and welcoming smile on her face.
“You haven’t missed much of the show,” she says as she slides off her stool and pulls us in for a hug.
“Good. I need these moments for posterity,” I say on a laugh.
Peyton hugs Devlyn briefly before everyone catches on to our arrival. “Nice to see you again,” she tells him. “No need to be nervous. Promise.”
My favorite smile softens Devlyn’s face as he thanks Peyton. Then Mom and Dad are footsteps away. Dad appears cool and collected. Mom, on the other hand, looks as if she is about to squeal like a tween at a boy band concert.
Please, I beg you, universe, don’t let Mom scare Devlyn.
“Mom, Dad, this is Devlyn.” I gesture to Devlyn, his arm snugly hooked in mine. “Devlyn, these are my parents, Nicole and George Reed.”
Dad offers a warm smile and extends his hand. “Nice to meet you, Devlyn.”
“You too, sir.” Devlyn takes his offered hand and shakes.
Before their hands separate, Mom steps in and wraps her arms around Devlyn. My eyes widen more than Devlyn’s as he looks to me for help. He doesn’tnothug her back, but the embrace looks awkward from where I stand.
“Mom,” I admonish. “Please don’t frighten Devlyn.”
It’s a half joke. A way to lighten the mood, but also tell my mother to take her enthusiasm down a notch. She just met him for crying out loud. Yes, my mother is an exuberant woman, but I damn well know she doesn’t hug strangers like this. Devlyn may not be a stranger to me, but he is to them.
She drops her arms and takes a step back. Then another. “I’m so sorry, Devlyn. Where are my manners?” Pink stains her cheeks. “Please, excuse my outburst. It’s just—”
“Nicole,” Dad says, resting a hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Give the guy a moment to breathe.”
“Yes, of course.” She winces. “Sorry.”
Well, well, well. The hug could have been predicted, but the embarrassment and apology, not so much. Not that Mom doesn’t apologize when necessary, she does. In this circumstance, though, I expected her to wave it off like it was no big deal. To throw out some excuse as to why it’d be acceptable to embrace Devlyn so fiercely.
Hmm. How intriguing.
Stirring a pot on the stove, Micah glances over his shoulder and smiles at Devlyn. “Hey, man. Good to see you again.”
Devlyn nods. “You too.”
Mom resumes her spot in the kitchen near Micah while Dad and Peyton return to their stools. Devlyn pulls out the one beside Peyton and gestures for me to sit. After I do, he steps up behind me, wraps his arms around my waist, rests his chin on my crown and sighs. I rest my hands over his and give him a gentle squeeze, silently asking if he is okay. He answers by hugging my middle tighter and kissing my crown.
“What’s for dinner?” I ask Peyton.
“With St. Patty’s around the corner, Momma Reed thought corned beef and cabbage were a good idea. We’re also having roasted carrots and potatoes.”
Sautéed cabbage. That must have been what I smelled when we walked in the house.
Don’t get me wrong, I love cabbage. Coleslaw, in salads, cooked. To be honest, I love most foods. But something about the cabbage scent when we walked in… it was foul. Maybe they added different seasoning to it.
It isn’t long before Micah pulls the corned beef and roasted vegetables from the oven. Mom sets the serving dishes on the dining room table as Dad, Peyton, Devlyn and I rise from the stools.
The six of us sit around the table. Mom and Dad in their usual seats. Micah and I on the same side we’ve sat on since childhood, only now with someone special next to us.
As we fill our plates, I bypass the cabbage and pray it finds a resting place far from my seat.
