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“Oh my stars.” Gram pressed her hand to her stomach. “Where are your sisters?”
“Getting ready. They should be down any minute. And the babies should be awake shortly as well. Go on into the living room, and I’ll bring them in so we’re not gaping at them in the foyer.”
“You’re right, I know you’re right.” Her flustered grandmother grabbed Lucas’s arm. “Hold me up, Lucas. I just might faint.”
“I’ve got you,” he said, his voice soothing. He escorted her into the living room.
Footsteps clattered on the stairs, and her sisters came down. Isabelle held Caroline, and Amelia carried Noah. “Go on into the living room,” Carly said. “They’re coming to thedoor now, and I’ll introduce everyone.” Her sisters nodded and hurried for the living room.
The doorbell rang, and Carly rushed for the door and opened it. “Right on time. Come in. Gram is so excited to meet you.”
Lainey was in the lead. “This is my husband, Holt.” She gestured to the tall blond man at her side. “My grandmother is about to stroke out from excitement.”
“So is mine. It’s good to meet you, Holt. Come on in.” Carly opened the door wide and stepped back to let them file in. “The rest of the family is in the living room.”
Holt put Elizabeth’s hand on his arm. “Steady as she goes, Grandma.”
Elizabeth did appear a little wobbly, and Carly stepped past her to escort them. Was that a whiff of Tabu? Her grandmother’s signature scent couldn’t be missed. How crazy that they wore the same cologne.
When she reached the living room, her grandmother sprang up and pressed trembling hands together. Her gaze went past Carly to the woman directly behind her, and her eyes widened. “Y-you look just like me. I mean, I look like you. I don’t know what I mean.”
Carly stepped aside to let the meeting evolve however it would, and Elizabeth took a step closer to Gram. “Mary. I’ve always loved that name.” Her voice quivered. “I want to hear all about your life and everything.”
“These are my sisters,” Carly said after an awkward silence.
Elizabeth didn’t take her eyes from Gram. “I’m so pleased to meet you.” Her blue eyes filled with moisture.
Gram finally stepped away from the sofa. “Do you mind ifI hug you, Elizabeth? I’ve wanted a sister my whole life.” Her voice trembled, and the tears gathering in her eyes rolled down her cheeks.
Mary opened her arms, and the two women fell into a tight embrace. Carly sniffled and realized she’d stepped into the circle of Lucas’s arms. His grip steadied her, and regardless of what happened in the future, he was here for her now.
***
Lucas watched Carly scurry around the house all evening, making sure everyone was happy and had what they needed. It was so much in her nature, she couldn’t sit on the sofa and let anyone else do the serving. She caught Lucas’s eyes on her several times and exchanged smiles. One of the things about her that drew him was her giving nature.
He’d checked his safe and found the key. He reviewed his security videos and his gut tightened when he spotted a man wearing a ski mask sneaking in a week ago, before the family descended on his house. The man’s back was to the camera at the safe, but Lucas could see enough to realize the guy had taken an impression of the key before he locked the safe back up. Maybe the headset he wore was one of those new safecracking tools that let him hear when the right combination was reached.
Mary and Elizabeth, though separated for almost seventy years, bonded immediately. Mary had begun calling her by the nickname Beth, and they seemed to have never been apart. Elizabeth told her about her only child, a son who had died in Afghanistan, and Lainey talked with all of the sisters as ifthey’d been friends forever. It was already eight, and no one showed any indication they were ready to leave.
Lainey sat on the floor with Carly and the babies, and they looked like twins themselves. Lainey’s hair was straighter and a little longer, but they could easily be mistaken for one another. It was uncanny, though Lucas thought he’d be able to pick out Carly from her expression.
Elizabeth’s phone rang, and she frowned. “It’s the police. What on earth?”
Lucas stood from the side chair where he’d been watching the action. “You want me to take that?”
Elizabeth held out the phone. “If you wouldn’t mind. I can’t imagine why they would be calling me.”
Lucas took the phone and answered the call. “Detective Lucas Bennett answering Elizabeth Durham’s phone.”
There was a pause before a female officer on the other end replied. “Is Ms.Durham all right?”
“Yes, she’s fine. She asked me to answer her phone.”
The officer identified herself. “There’s been a break-in at her residence, and we were trying to see if anyone was injured. We found blood spatter in the living room and were concerned.”
“She and her granddaughter are with us. The granddaughter’s husband too. I think those are the only residents of the house.”
He glanced at Lainey’s husband for confirmation since he had joined Lucas where he stood. Holt nodded. “Just the three of us.”
