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I nearly hit the brakes out of shock, but I park safely anyway. As soon as the car stops, Ellie and Jonah want out of their car seats. “I’ll see you inside, Sawyer.” Unclipping those things always flummoxes me, so I have to hang up to do it. Between that and the news of Parker, I’m more frustrated than I was in traffic on the way over. But a Sunday dinner with the family feels like the right way to relax after a taxing week. Ellie can do it herself most of the time but something gets stuck.
“Dad, I got it.” Jonah says as he undoes his 5-point harness.
“You figured that out?”
“It’s easy.”
Ellie and Jonah flee the car for the house, and I take a moment to just stand there in the silence. All week, I’d been running to put out one fire or the next, and I just needed a fucking break. It didn’t help that I hadn’t been able to see Autumn all week, either. She’d called, and when I returned the call or texted, she blew me off. Probably just busy, but it was hard not to take that personally. And now, my relaxing family mealtime is invaded by Parker.
Not that he isn’t family—he’s my youngest brother—but he’s always kept to himself. Very private. Too private, according to our father. But Mom always dotes on him. Her very special boy. I roll my eyes as I walk into the house.
The Cargill Mansion is stately and well known, but for me and my brothers, it’s just home. In my mind’s eye, I can still see us running through the house while the staff tried to corral us into behaving like little gentlemen. The thought makes me smile. That was what my favorite nanny had called us. Little gentlemen. We were anything but.
Joining my family and both the fiancés at the East garden table, I ask Mom, “Where are the kids?”
“Getting their swimsuits on.”
I sigh. “I told them they had to eat supper before jumping in the pool.”
“I am their grandmother, Rowan. I outrank you,” she says with a sly smirk.
I roll my eyes at her and kiss her cheek. “Good to see you, too, Mom.”
My mother, Beverly Cargill, carries herself with poise and confidence, exuding a timeless charm. Her impeccable style reflects her refined taste and attention to detail. Despite her age, she has that ever-present youthful glow in her radiant skin.
“You too, dear. Did you see? Parker made it,” she says, nodding toward him.
He’s in the middle of a conversation with Sawyer and Brooks at the other end of the table. The fiancées make conversation with each other, presumably about their impending weddings, and Dad scrolls on his phone, probably checking the score to some game.
Mom says, “And now that you’re finally here, we can start.” She nods at Marta, who passes the signal onto someone else, and platters of roast beef, vegetables, and all the trimmings arrive, which draws everyone to their seats.
To my surprise, Parker sits next to me. Mom says, “It is so good to have the whole family here today. I am glad you could all make it. I hope—
Ellie comes squealing out of the house in a whirl of her baby pink ballerina clothes before jumping into the nearby pool, trailed closely by Jonah in his red and blue rash guard and shorts. He shouts, “I told her not to wear that!” before jumping in himself.
I’m about to go fish them out and make them sit at the table with all of us when Mom stops me. She was never this lenient when we were growing up but as a grandma she is anything but strict.
Parker leans towards me. “Did she really just jump into the pool as a ballerina? Tutu and all?”
“Yep.” I sigh and sip my wine.
He laughs. “Well, itissilly to have clothes you wear for only one thing.”
Mom continues, “As I was saying, I hope we can continue these monthly suppers. I know everyone gets busy, but I am grateful you were all able to make time for us today. Let’s eat.”
All of us dig into the mouthwatering food, and even the kids eventually come out to grab a bite now and then. I ask Parker, “So, what got you here for the dinner?”
“They invited me,” he says, like I should have known.
“Parker, you’re always invited.”
“I felt like coming.”
That does not sound like him. “Everything okay?”
He gives me a wink with his dark blue eyes that match mine. His tousled dark hair has grown out a little bit too long, giving him a carefree, effortless vibe.
Parker quietly says, “I feel bad I didn’t make it to the clam bake. I would have liked to have seen Brooks get engaged.” He gives a pathetic shrug, which actually makes me feel sorry for him.
