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ChapterFive
Andrea was greeted by the sound of loud chatter and laughing as soon as she stepped through the porch door.
There had to be more than fifteen of her family members out by the patio, some she was able to recognize and some not so well.
Making her way off the back porch, she made the short walk toward the gathering.
“There you are.” Cora was the first one to spot her.
She’d been standing by the patio entrance speaking with another woman who looked about their age. When Cora acknowledged her presence, the woman turned in her direction, a small smile of recognition on her lips. She looked very familiar. As soon as she focused on the electric blue eyes that were so compelling and made you feel as if they were staring straight into your soul, coupled with the chestnut-colored hair, she knew who it was.
“Tessa,” she found herself saying in wonder.
“Oh my God, Andrea. It’s been too long.” The woman walked over to her and, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around Andrea’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it back in time for Uncle Sam’s funeral, but I’m so happy to see you.” Pulling away from Tessa, Andrea gave her arm a short squeeze.
“It’s so nice to see you, too, Tessa,” she replied sincerely.
Cora, who had remained silent, watching the interaction, walked up to them.
“The others are waiting to greet you,” she informed her. Andrea turned to see that most of the people who had been chatting and laughing a short while ago were staring in her direction.
She felt self-conscious. Even though she’d briefly spoken to a few of her cousins and their children at the funeral, she still didn’t know them that well, but if they were willing to come and be a part of the family gathering, then she supposed that meant they had an interest in rebuilding the family bond.
As she walked toward them, she took the time to look over the patio space. She remembered her mother explaining that her father had hired Jamie Hillier to make it a few years back so they could host family gatherings like this one.
She liked the space, especially the irregular mosaic flagstones that lined the floor and the semi-circular enclosure stone wall that provided additional seating if the bamboo chairs or the long stone bench on either side of the stone table wasn’t adequate. She also loved how the colored cushions complemented the floor. It all reminded her of the last few days of fall when the trees were down to their last set of leaves, getting ready to fall to join the ones on the ground that had started to lose their bright color.
She especially liked the view it provided of the harbor, where the trees that lined most of the property’s border thinned to reveal the pristine waters reflecting the blue of the sky. From this distance, she could see a few sailboats on the horizon. It was so beautiful.
Andrea noted the charcoal barrel grill and smoker in one corner where Uncle Luke stood flipping what looked like steaks.
She could envision herself standing by that same grill flipping steaks or maybe some burgers before her family, who would be happily lounging around and enjoying themselves— her father included. She pushed the thought away as another of her cousins greeted her. This time it was Uncle Luke’s son Charles.
“Andrea, it’s great to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you again too, Charlie,” she greeted him by the old childhood nickname.
“You already met Sharon.” He gestured to the small brunette standing at his side.
“Yes. It’s nice to see you again, Sharon,” she acknowledged.
The woman gave her a warm smile as she shook her hand.
“And this is Trevor, our youngest.” Andrea looked at the young man, who seemed to be in his early twenties sitting on the stone bench before the table.
Trevor barely turned his eyes toward her and gave a slight nod of greeting before his eyes were once again focused on whatever was on his screen.
She heard Charles’s sigh of frustration at his son’s lack of interest but knew it would be a lost cause to prolong any interaction with him. Trevor then continued to introduce a young woman that had shiny black hair cut in a sleek bob just below her chin.
“This is our daughter Sara. She works with Sharon and I at the law firm.”
“Hi, Sara. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Andrea gave the young woman a bright, inviting smile, which she returned, her light caramel eyes shining.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
Charles expressed that his daughter Cassidy was away at John Hopkins University studying neuroscience. She could hear the pride with which he spoke about his two girls, but she could also see how irritated Trevor was as she caught him rolling his eyes at one point in Charles’s introduction.
