Page 114 of An Endless Memory

Her gaze caught on Wilder coming out of the house with Drew and her expression turned dreamy. Alex was in my mom’s arms.

Tova and Vienne approached.

“Your sisters are a riot,” Tova said.

“You mean Poppy and Clover?”

She nodded. “Violet too. I was just hanging out with her, Ivy, and Cali.”

“Violet’s a riot?” Shock filled my voice. I loved my sister, but a riot? That was not Violet.

“She’s one of those serious ones with biting sarcasm that’s hilarious if you’re not on the receiving end,” Vienne said.

Violet did have a dry sense of humor. “I hope her ex was on the receiving end for once.”

Aggie joined us and gave me another hug. “I can’t believe I grew up the only sister and now I have four.”

“I more than doubled the number of sisters I have.” And it was amazing. “Brothers too.”

Ansen slipped an arm around Aggie’s waist. “Welcome to the family, Lily.” The corner of his mouth lifted. “Again.”

“We like to have two weddings around here,” Aggie joked.

Tova’s eyes went wide. “Oh my god, you’re right.”

“Wait.” Vienne’s brow furrowed and she toyed with one of her four necklaces. “Aggie and Ansen didn’t go through with the first wedding.”

“But we were minutes away,” Aggie said. “Everything was set up and ready for me to walk down the aisle.”

“I’ve only been through one wedding,” Tova added. “But Cody’s been married twice.”

“Same with me and Austen,” Vienne said. “Austen’s been married once, but I’ve been married twice. Wilder and Sutton. Now, Lily and Eliot.”

“We’ll do anything for a reason to party.” Aggie grinned and leaned her head on Ansen’s shoulder.

Violet approached Poppy and Clover. I gave Eliot’s hand a squeeze and released him. “I think Violet might be taking off. I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Sutton said. “And like Ansen said—welcome to the family.” She grinned. “Again.”

I was still smiling when I reached my sisters.

Violet’s gaze lifted to mine. Her eyes were tired, but she still had an energy around her that Willis had sucked away. “Will you be upset if I take off early?”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Of course.” She didn’t sound convincing. “I’ve just been tired lately. My appetite’s off.”

“Oh no.” Horror crossed Poppy’s face. “Willis didn’t implant his arrogant alien seed in you, did he?”

I almost laughed it off, but shock was scrawled over Violet’s expression. “No.” Her voice pitched up. “Not Willis. He probably got a vasectomy at eighteen and never told anyone.”

True. “I’ll walk you to your car.” The driveway looked like the parking lot of a county fair—a line of dusty pickups.

“No.” She squeezed my hand. “This is your day, and I don’t want to take you away from anyone. It’s just been a long few months, but I’m going to be back. Visiting my family is so much nicer when I don’t have to drag a man-child along.” She rolled her eyes. “Or argue with him about going in the first place. Enough about him. I love what you and Eliot have done with the place.”

To keep himself busy until he could get the horses moved, Eliot had started renovating the house. He’d opened up the living room and kitchen, removed the wallpaper, and painted. The work helped distract him from a calving season he was minimally involved in. Jasper and Chambers kept him updated. “Thanks. I love what he’s done.”

“Have fun on your honeymoon. Vegas?”

---