Page 6 of Claiming Their Omega

We drive up and the moment we enter the driveway, I can hear the clatter of my family. They pour out of the front door, and I’m shocked that so few people can make such a racket.

“Grace!” Mom reaches me first, right as I get out of the car, hugging me tightly. I hug her back, letting her squeeze all the air out of me. “Oh, Gracie, look at you. You’re so beautiful. I love your skirt.”

“Thanks, Mo—oh!” I’m swept up by Dad. “Hi, Dad.” I giggle as he spins me around, like I’m still five years old.

“You’re too damn big, baby girl,” he tells me solemnly as he sets me down. “They treating you right over in that big city? Huh? Are you getting enough to eat? You look like skin and bone.”

“I’ve always been small, Dad!”

“Skin and bone, I’m telling you. You need some proper home cooking.”

It’s true, I haven’t eaten much that isn’t takeout or a restaurant lately. Too busy with work or being William’s date to things. Now that he’s mentioned it, I do miss my dad’s cooking. My stomach rumbles a little. I was so nervous I barely had any breakfast.

“Oh, Gracie.” Gram is next, hugging me tightly. She’s still healthy, still hugs me with strength, but her skin is so soft, and there are so many wrinkles that I don’t remember seeing before.

My heart aches in my chest, and I feel a sting in my eyes. I squeeze my eyes shut and will the emotions away.

“And who’s this?” Mom says, and I turn to see her smiling at William.

“Mom, Dad, this is William. William, my parents, Beau and Nora Whitmore.”

William holds out his hand for my father to shake. “This is such a charming little town you guys have here, it’s nothing like New York. I’ve been so excited to visit.”

Dad shakes William’s hand, and I can already see a bit of a bemused look on his face, like he’s not sure what to make of him. Mom opts to hug William instead, because that’s just how Mom is.

“Hey, hey, baby sister!” Aiden sweeps me up, distracting me. “I was starting to feel like an only child!”

“Aiden!” I scream as he picks me up. “Put me down!”

“Nope.”

He hauls me over his shoulder. I playfully smack his back. At six foot three, it really is far too easy for my annoying big brother to pick me up and cart me around. He’s always done it. It makes me feel like a kid again in a fun way.

“We’ve got you back now,” he teases. “We’re keeping you.”

“Mom! Make him stop!”

“Put your sister down,” Mom says, laughing.

Aiden sets me back on my feet, and I grin up at him. He looks more and more like Dad all the time, same height, same smile, same warm blue eyes, same rugged features. I got Mom’s hair and height.

“Ugh, look at you. You look old.”

“And look at you, you look ridiculous. Are you wearing heels?”

“Yes, specifically so I can kick you with them.”

“Not if I do this.” Aiden picks me up again, this time under his arm.

“Mom!” I yell again, but I’m laughing. I missed being teased by my older brother. Aiden was always so cool growing up, always the guy that everyone else relied on, and trusted. I admired him so much. I still do.

I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him.

“You two, stop horsing around, what are you, a bunch of fillies?” Dad says in that stern voice I heard many a time growing up, usually while Aiden and I were tearing around the house. “Everyone inside, I’ve made us a nice meal and you’re going to sit down like civilized people and enjoy it.”

We’re herded inside, where Mom and Gram sweep me up to show me around the house. I’m immediately hit by all the changes as they chatter about the new paintings on the wall.

“Done by Abigail. You remember her, sweetheart, she was a year ahead of you. She’s such a talented artist now—”

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