Page 48 of Commit

Cheers erupt from the family room where Matt and his family are playing a game. I glance over my shoulder to where the noise is coming from.

“We’re loud,” Marilyn says as she scoops the potatoes out of the pot she cooked them in and drops them into a fancy Christmas bowl. “I bet it’s hard to get used to.”

I scratch the side of my hair. “A little.”

Or maybe a lot. This is the first time I’ve met Matt’s family and extended family. I’m used to being alone for the holidays, so a house full of people I don’t know who all want to get to know me feels staggering.

“Don’t let us overwhelm you,” Marilyn says. “If you need to take a break, I completely understand. Especially from Tessa. She thinks everyone’s business is her own.”

I let out a small laugh. Tessa and her twenty questions have already cornered me.

“I always wanted a big family,” Marilyn says as she bangs the spoon on the side of the bowl, trying to get the last of the potatoes to fall in with the rest. “I didn’t grow up that way. I was an only child, and holidays always felt empty at my house.”

I relate to the emptiness more than I’d like to admit.

“So, it’s fun when we get everyone home together.”

I nod.

Fun?

I’ve never thought of a family as being fun.

Matt comes into the room behind us, holding his cousin’s baby. “Look at this little guy.” He raises him above his head, sitting the boy down on the top of the refrigerator, then he steps back a little bit, smiling up at him.

I straighten. “Matt, is that safe?”

“Yeah, I’m right here.”

“Paul used to do that with all of our kids,” Marilyn says, looking over her shoulder at them. “We have a picture of each one of them on top of the refrigerator when they were one.”

Is that baby a year old? I thought he was, like, four months. I watch Matt tickle his toes and poke his stomach, getting the child to laugh, and suddenly, I feel very inadequate. I don’t know anything about children, about making them laugh, about taking care of them. While we’re at it, I don’t know anything about Christmas dinner, or festive tablecloths, or holiday china.

I’m entirely out of my element.

I’m an imposter, acting like I fit in, but I don’t. And the worst part is, Matt doesn’t even know that I don’t fit in. He just assumes I do.

Matt gets a big laugh out of the child and turns to look at me. “He’s cute, huh?”

I smile, trying to cover up the insecurities I’m feeling. “Yeah, really cute.”

His eyes linger on me. “You okay?”

I widen my grin. “Yep, I’m having a great time.”

CHAPTER 30

REMI

“Now for the last touch,” I say as I pick up Jana’s veil and walk to her. I really shouldn’t be trusted doing this kind of stuff. Like, where’s Jana’s mom? I’m probably going to push the comb in too far and wreck the curls that the stylist spent two hours on this morning. I slowly push the veil down into her brown hair and fluff out the netting around her shoulders. “It’s perfect.”

Jana smiles at me through the mirror. “Thanks for being here.”

“As if I would miss it. I’m taking full credit for your marriage since I’m the one that set you up with Reece.”

“Matt thinks he’s the one that deserves the credit.”

I roll my eyes. “We both know that Matt doesn’t have a matchmaking bone in his body. He thought Chelsea should date that smelly guy from my building.”

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