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“Maybe you’re going through a growth spurt too. Mom says I am,” Ashlynn adds.
“That’s because you’re turning into a young woman,” my mother’s voice rings out from behind the massive island in the kitchen. “Did Fannie tell you that Ashlynn got her—”
“Mom!” Fannie and I both holler at her. I can imagine what she was about to tell me. It’s not something that Ashlynn needs to know I know about, and I honestly don’t need to know about my niece getting her period.
“What’s for dinner?” I ask, desperately trying to change the subject.
“I’m making this Korean beef dish. I found the recipe online, and it says it’s super easy. It was, though, wasn’t it, Mom?” Fannie turns back and looks at our mother.
“Yes, I really like the taste of the sauce. It looks like the beef is almost done cooking. Brennon, do you mind checking on the rice?” Mom asks.
“Sure.” I walk around the island and go over to the rice cooker. “It looks like it’ll be ready here in a couple of minutes.”
“Oh, that’s perfect,” Fannie mutters. She heads around the island and takes the spoon for the beef back from our mother.
“Are you guys excited about the party tomorrow?” I ask, trying to make some conversation with everyone.
“I think it will be nice to see everyone. It’s very rare that so many people come from your past and show up at one event,” Dad comments.
“Same here. It will be nice to catch up with everyone,” Mom adds.
“What about you? Are you happy to be home for a little bit?” Fannie asks.
I nod. “Yeah, I am. It’ll be a nice break from Los Angeles. Things at the club were a little intense a couple of months ago. I should have come out here sooner, but you know how life can get.”
“Super busy and overwhelming?” Fannie nervously laughs.
“Exactly.” I chuckle.
That reminds me. I was supposed to text the group chat and let everyone know when I arrived safely. I will after dinner, but I want to check in with everyone anyway. As long as everything is okay back at the clubhouse, I’m sure I can have a good, relaxing weekend with my family.
We’ve had a couple of peaceful months lately, which only means shit is going to hit the fan soon. I just hope it can wait until I get back. I want to be here to support my family.
CHAPTERTWO
Luna
Tonight is Hazel and Alfred’s thirtieth wedding anniversary, and I’ve been picking the right dress for the last hour. My hair is currently a deep Bordeaux red, cut in a playful bob, courtesy of my bestie, Stacey. She loves trying out cool new colors on my hair, and I love letting her. But even though this color really brings out the green of my eyes and looks better than the shade of the best red wine, as Stacy put it, I’m having trouble finding a dress that doesn’t clash with it too badly. And one that’s not too revealing, given that this is a family thing.
I finally settle on a simple, ruffled white dress with an open back and pair it with my favorite pair of cowboy boots, the detailing on which also kind of matches my deep red hair. I make it to the curb just in time before Fannie, Hazel’s daughter, who offered me a ride to the party, starts regretting her decision to do so.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I say as I slip into her SUV.
“No worries,” she says. “We’re still early.”
The party is on their family estate, a forty-five-acre piece of land on a hillside just outside of Julian. Every time I see their sprawling wooden home, with a wraparound porch nestled amid trees, I feel like I’ve come on a retreat of some sort.
Hazel was my mom’s best friend, and we got quite close while I cared for my mom before she passed. She understands exactly what I went through in those months, while my mom’s Alzheimer’s got so bad she hardly recognized me most days. I’ll always be grateful to Hazel for being there for me.
“Looks like most people have already arrived,” Fannie says as she parks her car at the end of a long line of cars snaking up the home’s long driveway. “Or not, since my mom did invite practically the whole town. Looks like we’ll have to walk from here.”
“Not a problem. I love it out here,” I tell her. “It’s so serene.”
“Wait until you see what all we have to carry before you make that statement,” Fannie says and laughs as she opens the trunk of her car.
It’s jam-packed with lawn chairs, dishes, cooler bags, balloons, and disposable torches. And that’s just the stuff I can see.
She laughs at the expression on my face as I stare at the mountain of things we’ll have to carry up the hill to the house. “Hang on. I’ll call my brother. He can come help.”
