AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I blew out a breath from the backseat, looking over at Juniper, whose car seat was next to me. She was sound asleep, despite the ongoing conversation for the hour-long drive between Holden, Chloe, and me. “I’m not sure about anything,” I admitted.
When we’d turned off the highway, my nervousness had inched upward. Not only was I visiting my dad and his wife for the first time, but it was Simon’s birthday. That apparently meant the entire extended North-Henry clan would be here in force.
“There’ll be beer,” Holden said, then got out of the vehicle and went around to his pregnant wife’s door.
Before he got there, I asked Chloe, “You were an outsider once, right? What should I expect in there?”
Her door opened, and she pivoted until her feet were on the ground, then looked back at me. With a sympathetic smile, she said, “In a word? Chaos.” As Holden helped her out, she flipped the seat forward for me.
I held a curse in, grabbed the bouquet of flowers I’d picked up at Oopsie Daisies, and climbed out of the Mustang’s small backseat. I went to the driver’s-side door and leaned into the back to get the baby and her car seat.
“You going to get a family car soon?” I asked Holden.
My half-brother let out a pained groan.
“We’re compromising,” Chloe said. “I get the new car, but it has to be a Volvo.”
As I pulled the diaper bag out, I said, “That sounds a lot better than a minivan.”
“I agree completely,” Chloe said as she took the diaper bag from me. Holden hefted a box with several full beer growlers from the trunk.
We walked down the block about three houses, past all the parked cars, then up Simon and Faye’s driveway. They’d explained on our way here that Simon had married Faye earlier this year, and they’d chosen to live in the home where all the North brothers had grown up. It was apparently the official family hub, even when the Henrys were included, which was most of the time. Faye liked to feed as many in the family as could show up every Sunday. The Henrys, I was told, made it about once a month due to the distance and the restaurant and brewery they owned that required plenty of attention.
But birthdays? Chloe had warned me they made a big deal of them, and generally no one missed. For adults, there was a strict no-gifts policy, but there would be multiple cakes, drinks, and loads of food. All in this modest two-story house.
I might be capable of chatting people up and being friendly, but I was an introvert deep down. A group of nearly thirty people wasn’t my comfort zone. Add that the people inside were my only remaining family—whether halves, steps, or any other kind of relationship, by blood or by marriage—and my inner self was huddled in a corner, sucking its thumb.
As we went up to the stoop, the inner door opened. Both my father and his wife crowded the doorway.
“Welcome,” Simon said as he opened the screen door. His smile was warm and seemed genuine.
“Hey, Dad. Happy birthday,” Holden said as he went in. “Hi, Faye.” He kissed his stepmom on the cheek. “It’s good to see you.”
Chloe gave Simon a quick hug and happy birthday wishes, then hugged Faye, who directed Holden on where to put the beer.
“Knox,” Simon said as I reached him. “My son.” The test results had indeed confirmed our biological ties two days ago. “Still getting used to that, but we’ll get there, won’t we? Come inside.”
“Happy birthday.” I stepped over the threshold. Instantly the weight of Juniper and her car seat lightened as Simon took them from me.
“Thank you,” he said. Then he turned his attention to the baby, who I’d told him about on the phone and texted photos. “My word.”
A dull, incessant roar of voices came from the other side of the house. Chloe handed Juniper’s diaper bag to Faye, and she and Holden headed off into the crowd.
“Heavens,” Faye said, her tone dripping with sugar and love. “Look at her. She’s absolutely precious.” She set the bag down, pressed both her hands over her mouth, and just stared at my daughter, her eyes tearing up.
“This is Juniper,” I told them, taken aback by the welcoming warmth this woman emitted.
Faye let out a happy gasp.
“We have all boys so far,” my father explained. “Wonderful, brilliant little boys, but my wife has been waiting for a granddaughter.”
That they already accepted Juniper as their granddaughter floored me in the best possible way and had my own eyes dampening.
“Our boys are the best grandsons ever,” Faye agreed, “but this one… She’s absolutely beautiful, Knox.” As if remembering I’d never been to her house, she turned her attention to me and hugged me. “Come in. Welcome. We can’t wait to get to know you and this gorgeous girl.”
There was no way anyone could not instantly like this woman. “Thank you. Same here.”
“Why don’t we duck in here for a few minutes before we join the horde in the family room,” Simon said, indicating a room near the front door.
