Page 126 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

“Hmph.” Big Mama works the folds on her turtleneck. “Conversations like what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Exactly.” My mom pats Big Mama’s knee. And when they both smile at each other, something cracks loose inside my chest.

All these years I tried to separate from my family. I fought against being the ham in our triplet sandwich. But now a piece of my heart wants to spend more time with my sisters. I want to be closer to my mom. Not to mention the other three chambers of my heart that are whispering, I want to grow old with Hudson.

I’m just a little fuzzy on where we left things.

I remember him kissing my face off on the porch swing. That bit of bliss is etched in my brain in spectacular detail. I remember Jacqueline interrupting us. I remember Teller and Winnie. An engagement ring and a cheese board. There was a meeting scheduled in Aspen. A travel mug of coffee the exact way I like it, and a copy of The Stand. Then the flash of Ford lifting me into an ambulance.

The rest of everything else is just a cloudy fluff-ball of dreams.

And now I kind of want to go back to that quiet state instead of listening to my sisters talking over each other.

So much for one-at-a-time conversation.

Darby and Tess are both debating which one of them should take care of our mother in her old age. Tess says Mom really should move back to Apple Valley when she’s losing it, because there are two of them there: her and Mac.

Darby says Mom should live with her in San Francisco because she’s the only one who’s fully single now that Hudson and I are a thing.

“Are Hudson and I a thing?” I ask, but everyone ignores me.

“Mom never even lived in San Francisco, Darby.” Tess has her hands on her hips. “Her roots are in Apple Valley where she and Dad raised us.”

“Actually, her original roots are here in Abieville,” I say.

Still ignored.

“Do I need to remind you all, I’m a doctor?” Darby chimes in, and this gets everybody laughing. She purses her lips. “I’m not even bragging. It’s just a fact that I’m just more equipped to care for the elderly.”

“Let’s not make Mom elderly before her time,” Mac interjects.

“Who are you calling elderly?” Big Mama warbles.

“Me.” My mother rolls her eyes. “Your grandchildren are fighting over maternal custody.”

“Grandchildren?” Big Mama glances around, and bends to peer under the bed. “Are Daisy and Teddy here? I didn’t hear them come in with Mac.”

At the mention of his kids, my brother grins. “Daisy and Teddy are your great-grandkids, and they’re back home in Apple Valley, Big Mama.” He bellows this like she suddenly went deaf. “They’re with Brooke. She’s due to have baby number three in a month.”

“Oh! Is Three here?” Big Mama looks toward the bathroom, then shrugs. “Where are you people hiding everyone?”

“No, Three isn’t here,” Mac says. “I’m just expecting a third baby. With Brooke!” My brother breaks into a grin, and a flicker of warmth stirs inside me. A feeling I didn’t see coming. Like … maybe I’ll have a baby someday.

Where did that come from?

I was always sure I never wanted kids. Then I started falling for Hudson, someone I could see building a future with. And now I’m looking at Mac’s big goofy face and questioning all my life choices. Has it really come to this? Am I going to be just another big grinning doofus in our family?

Maybe.

“Hey, everyone,” I say, trying to be heard above the mayhem. But they keep talking over each other, so I have to get loud. “HEY! BE QUIET!”

The room goes silent, and three generations of family are gaping and blinking at me. Now that I have their attention, my mouth hangs open too. Ah, man.

What was I going to say?

“We’re listening, Liv,” Tess says.

“Yes.” Darby takes as step toward me. “What do you need?”

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