Page 1 of A Crane Family New Year

Chapter One

12 hours ’til midnight

Zander Crane stepped out of a rented sleek black Mercedes and onto the curb, head tipping back to take in the luxury warehouse before him. Located in the heart of Chicago, the building was offset by neighboring houses as well as an old cathedral. Inside the structure were his cousin Eli, Eli’s wife Isabella, and their baby boy, Aric.

Zander had yet to meet Eli and Isa’s son, but he had been in touch with his cousins—call it a long-overdue reunion. Just two days ago, he’d been out with the lot of them: Eli and Isa, Tag and Rachel, and Reese and Merina. It’d been good for his soul to visit with his Chicago relatives.

The move from London was necessary but disorienting. Zander hadn’t intended on ever leaving London, but neither had he intended on many things that had happened in the last few years. He was more than ready to leave the past behind and make a go of this city, no matter how foreign it’d become since he’d left it as a young boy.

Returning had been less like coming home and more like landing on a planet that felt familiar but was one he didn’t have a lot of memories of. He’d only known that he’d needed a change. Chicago was the start of that ball rolling.

He straightened his cuff beneath his black wool coat and buzzed at the gate to be let in. The lock disengaged a moment later, and Zander swung the gate inward to enter the property. The building, Eli had told him, had been an old machine shop before it’d been completely renovated into a home. The former concrete parking lot had been recently overhauled. In the spring months, the grass would be green and the small, raised garden beds would be sprouting with flowers and vegetables. Three large sliding doors had been installed on the lower level, enclosing a massive garage.

Zander climbed aboard a creaky factory-style elevator, punched a button, and began his rattling ascent to the house. The heavy metal door slid aside before he could open it.

“Zander.” Eli, hand extended, welcomed him into the house. Isa was behind him, a baby in her arms and a tired smile on her face.

“Sorry about the curb parking,” she said. “Until we have the driveway poured, there isn’t a great parking option.”

“No worries. I’m right across the street.” Zander looked around the warehouse, which was inexplicably cozy. Exposed brick walls, concrete floors with homey rugs here and there, and a huge slab of wood that acted as a dining room table. Around that table were mismatched chairs, each upholstered in a different style of fabric. The vibe was reminiscent of the pubs back home.

The ache in his heart was less pronounced than he might have expected. When he thought of London, he thought of Emily. She’d passed last year, in February. Since then, London had felt less and less like home. Immediately after she’d died, the city had seemed like one big cemetery; lately it felt more like an island perched on the River Thames.

“Nice place. It’s incredibly unique. Filled with personality.”

“It’s home,” Eli said simply. “Can I offer you a cup of coffee?”

“Sure. Black.” Zander had never taken to tea despite living in London for the majority of his life. And despite living with a very proper British woman for over five years, his accent was dominantly American.

Eli walked to the kitchen, separated by a half wall. A Marine, Zander’s cousin had been honorably discharged after an accident caused him to lose his right leg. Watching him walk, one would never know that Eli had a prosthetic from the knee down beneath his jeans. He moved like it was a part of him.

Loss was another thing the Crane men had in common. All of them had been touched by loss in one form or another. The Chicago Cranes seemed to have arrived at a place of peace. Each of them was happily married—their unions ushered in by fate, by the sound of their stories, and they’d told some good ones the other night.

“Great to see you again.” Isa kept her voice low so as not to wake the sleeping bundle in her arms, and Zander leaned down to receive her offered kiss to the cheek. Isabella Sawyer-Crane was a beautiful woman with long, dark hair that fell over her shoulders, a wide, generous mouth, and deep chocolate-colored eyes. Her baby boy had a shock of dark hair, taking after both mother and father.

“Hi, Aric. I’m your cousin Zander.” He gently stroked the baby’s fist. “Blue eyes or brown?”

“Brown. I’m the dominant one.”

“She can say that again.” Eli handed over Zander’s coffee and then set another mug on the table. “I brought you a creamed cup, Sable.” He divested his wife of their son, and Isa wasted no time scooping up the mug as if it were a lifeline. She sipped, hummed, and focused caffeine-drunk eyes on Zander.

“I am so excited you’re attending the party tonight.” She grinned. “Is Jaylyn coming?”

“She is.” Zander’s younger, and only, sister had come to town for the holiday and was in no hurry to leave. Small as it was, he didn’t mind her being in his apartment—he liked having company. The space was a temporary living situation until he decided which part of Chicago he’d like to settle down in. His cousin Reese owned a stately mansion—where the New Year’s Eve party would be held tonight. Tag had chosen a penthouse in Crane Tower—which he owned. Eli’s warehouse was less traditional, but Zander liked it. As a man who owned a lot of framed art—all of which was in storage at the moment—Zander coveted this amount of wall space.

“I can’t wait to see her again,” Isa said. “We should get together for more than weddings and funerals.”

At the mention of Uncle Alex’s wedding to Rhona, and Zander’s wife’s funeral, he automatically smiled so that Isa wouldn’t feel the need to?—

“I’m sorry.” She winced, right on cue. “I’m sleep-deprived. It’s my only excuse.”

“Honestly, it’s fine.” He touched her shoulder. “You are allowed to bring up Emily whenever you like.”

“Thank you. I would have liked to meet her.”

Emily had been very sick when Zander had flown to the private island wedding ceremony for Alex and Rhona, but she’d encouraged him to attend. Family is of paramount importance, she’d told him. Only after she’d threatened to come with him if he didn’t RSVP “yes” had he agreed to go. He’d flown in and back out again on the same day rather than stay the night. Now that Emily was gone, he saw that she’d been right. Family was of paramount importance. He was grateful for the revived connection with his uncle and cousins.

Isa’s smile returned. “Well, it’s too bad your brothers aren’t going to be there tonight, though I understand. It’s quite a trek to make from either side of the country for one night. I’m sure their lives are plenty busy.”

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