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Me: Change of plans. Sunshine.
Chapter Thirty-two
Jenna
“Have I told you how sorry I am?” I ask Shane as he drives us to my momma’s.
He holds my hand in his, his thumb stroking mine. “Yes, you have. About ten times now.”
“I just want you to understand how truly sorry I am.”
I wiggle around anxiously in my seat, unable to sit still.
Looking over at me, he asks, “Why are you so nervous? It’syourfamily.”
“Oh, I’m aware. Because of that, I know that they can be a lot to handle. You’re a saint for agreeing to do this.”
“Jenna, you went with me to spend time with my grandparents. What’s the difference between that and this?”
“Your grandparents might be the sweetest people in the entire world,” I explain. “With the Mitchell’s, you’re walking into the lion’s den.”
He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it. “You’re worth it.”
Lord, I hope he still feels that way after this evening is over.
We pull up in the driveway of the big farmhouse I grew up in. I instruct Shane to park over to the side in case we need to make a quick getaway.
Once we’re parked, he walks around to help me out. The crutches make it awkward as hell, but when we get inside, I won’t use them much. I don’t plan on doing much walking or standing anyway.
Shane helps me up the walkway to the house. When we step through the front door, it’s already loud as hell. Between my brothers’ booming laughter and all my nieces and nephews running around, the place is comparable to the Thunderdome.
We make our way into the kitchen, where my brothers and their wives are all sitting around the large table while Momma is busy cooking at the stove.
Jared gives a sly smile. “Well, well, well, look who it is!”
Jessie chimes in. “The prodigal daughter returns!”
My eyes roll so hard it hurts. “I show up, and you guys just want to bust my balls?”
Jessie’s wife, Tracy, chimes in. “Oh, leave her alone. Come on in, Jenna.”
Shane leads me in, and we have a seat at the table.
“How are you doing?” Tracy asks me.
“I’m good,” I lie.
The truth is I’m ready to get this evening over with. I wish Shane and I were back at my place…alone.
I love my family, but they can be a bit much, especially when I haven’t been around hardly anyone for over a month now.
My brothers and sisters-in-law all start asking Shane some questions to get to know him better, even though my brothers already know him from the ranch.
I feel bad because I’m sort of spacing out while they’re interrogating him. Shane must know I’m feeling off because under the table, he sets his hand on my thigh and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
Luckily, Momma is announcing that dinner is ready within a few minutes. My brothers and their wives all stand up to fix the children’s plates first.
The kids always eat in the dining room at their own table. With seven of them now, the entire family can’t fit comfortably at one table. So, the adults hang out in the kitchen while the kids go into the other room.
