Page 10 of Turn

“Okay, I choose hunger.” Cami stood up. “I was so busy unpacking and running around today that all I managed to grab for lunch was a granola bar. Come on, girls. Let’s see what we can salvage from the buffet table.”

I held out my hands and let my sisters haul me up out of the chair. I kept holding onto their hands a few seconds longer than necessary, cherishing the brief physical connection between the three of us. Cadence would be leaving first thing in the morning and I wasn’t sure when we would be in the same place again. I didn’t want to let them go but gradually I released my grip.

Cami, always hypersensitive to what went on inside my head, gave me a questioning look but I smiled to let her know all was well. And it was. This was a happy night, full of family and hope for the future.

Aunt Truly was the first person we ran into once we were back inside the crowded house.

“I didn’t want to disturb you girls out there,” she said in her musical southern accent as she reached out and fussed with Cadence’s hair. “But I need to let you know that I was able to scavenge some pulled pork sandwiches from these vultures.”

“Are we the vultures?” my cousin Derek asked, looking up from his phone and grinning at us.

“Loveable ones, but yes,” Truly said. “Now wipe that barbecue sauce from your face, sugar. Your girlfriend isn’t likely to be impressed with toddler-level table manners.”

“Luckily I don’t stick with one girl,” Derek replied. “So I don’t need to worry about it.” However, he did discreetly use the back of his hand to take a swipe at his mouth.

“Wait, what happened to what’s-her-name?” Cadence asked.

He shrugged. “I dunno. What’s her name?”

“Agatha,” spoke up Kellan. He was the second of Uncle Chase’s sons, between Derek and Thomas. Two years younger than Derek, he had the same brawny golden god looks and strong build but there was a perpetual glint in his eye that warned of trouble to come. “Or was it Adeline?”

“Abigail maybe?” Cadence tried.

“Are we even sure the name starts with an A?” I wanted to know.

Derek rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It might matter to Andrea,” Kellan suggested. “Or maybe it was Allison.” He shook his head. “You’re such a heartless player, D. What will the family think?”

“Shut up,” Derek said and gave his brother a light shove into the wall. “I don’t see you clinging to any particular girl in your fan club.”

Kellan responded with a winning grin. “I wouldn’t want to be unfair. They all deserve my attention.”

“Boys,” warned Aunt Stephanie’s voice from across the room. She raised a displeased eyebrow at her teenage sons and that was enough to quiet them down.

My rowdy cousins were sidetracked by the sight of a tray of cupcakes that had just been set out. They left us behind and jostled their way to the other side of the room, looking hungry enough to eat the linen tablecloth. Sometimes I still thought of them as the little boys who would trail after me and Cami, begging to be picked up. It was startling to realize they were nearly men.

Cami must have read my mind. “I feel old all of a sudden.”

Aunt Truly was amused. “Imagine how I feel.” She turned her attention to Cadence. “Jake was awful sorry that he couldn’t make it out here for your graduation last week.”

Cadence nodded. “Yeah, I talked to him yesterday.”

“And how is the city of Portland treating young Jake?” Cami asked.

“He works too hard but he seems happy.” Truly’s lips tilted into a smile as she spoke of her beloved son, who had shocked everyone a year ago when he moved to Oregon soon after high school graduation. Adopted by Aunt Truly and Uncle Chase as a baby, he was as much a Gentry as the rest of us. He and Cadence had been best friends since they could talk and she took his abrupt exit especially hard. Even though my sister had dozens of friends I knew she still felt a little lost without him.

“I’m glad,” Cami said.

Cadence looked away.

I cleared my throat. “So where are those legendary sandwiches? Suddenly I’m starving.”

Truly reached around my waist and gave it a little squeeze. “Your mother hid the plate in the back of the fridge but you girls should go claim them before the boys and their bottomless pit stomachs start foraging.”

I kissed her cheek. “Thank you Auntie.”

Truly Gentry beamed at me and it seemed like the sun itself had just smiled. Sometimes I forgot what a radiant beauty she was. About six months ago she’d found a lump in her breast and there were a few days of agony while awaiting the biopsy. There was one night in particular when I’d wandered into the living room after midnight in search of a book I’d left behind and noticed that the back patio was occupied. My dad was sitting out there with Uncle Chase and Truly’s devoted husband, Uncle Creed. It was startling to see Creed, a big and resolutely stoic man, slumped in one of the patio chairs with his head in his hands, his faithful brothers on either side, each with a comforting hand on his back. I didn’t stay and stare at them long. It was too private a moment, one meant only for the Gentry triplets, the three men who’d arrived in this world together with the odds stacked against them and survived by never wavering in their loyalty to one another.

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