Page 4 of The Hardest Part

“I’m the only cousin you got.” Standing on her tiptoes, Emily kissed his cheek.

“So?” He ruffled her hair, making a mess of it. “You’re still my favorite.”

“Where’s Kel?”

“With Dad.” He hitched a thumb behind him. “They’ve got steaks going on the grill.”

She headed into the kitchen. Sure enough, her cousin and Uncle Matty, beer in hand, and her mom and Grams, were outside, deep in conversation. Judging by the looks on their faces, it sure wasn’t a prized bull they were talking about. Kellan saw her through the glass, and with a tip of his chin, alerted the others to her presence.

He turned his back on her, taking the meat off the grill. Three heads turned toward her, their strained expressions giving way to weak smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes. His mother and sister coming along behind him, Uncle Matty walked in and squeezed Emily to his side.

“Here’s my girl.” The sweet scent of hickory smoke lingering on his flannel shirt, he kissed her crown. “You been doin’ your schoolwork and mindin’ your mama like I told you to?”

Twice a widower, Matthew Brooks was the closest she had to a father growing up, being hers died when she was only three—killed serving in Afghanistan. She remembered little of it. But Uncle Matty filled in as best he could, teaching her to ride, and taking her to all the daddy-daughter dances at school. He was always there for her, the same as her mom was for Tanner and Kellan. Their mothers died when they were just babies.

“Course, I have.” Her smile building, Emily tilted her head to the side and glanced up at him. “So, did you have a good trip?”

“Sure did.” With a short nod, he smiled back. “And I’m gonna tell you all about it.”

“Sweetheart, help me with this, would you?” Grams handed her a big bowl of mashed potatoes. “As soon as Kellan brings the steaks in, we can all sit down and eat.”

Matthew took his place at the head of the table, her mother at the foot. Emily sat with Billy and Jake, Grams and her cousins on the other side. Smirking to himself, but then when wasn’t he, Kellan passed around a basket of biscuits looking like the cat that swallowed the canary.

Her curiosity in overdrive now, she nudged his shin under the table with the toe of her boot. “Why’re you lookin’ like that, babes?”

“Like what?” He licked his lip, the corner of his mouth ticking up.

Like you’ve got a secret you’re dyin’ to let out, but you won’t.

“Never mind.” Her gaze darted to the basket in his hand. “I’ll take one of those.”

“Help yourself.”

Jake got a biscuit for her, and buttering it, put it on her plate. He shifted closer, their thighs touching. Warmth infused her cheeks, and Emily smiled up at him. He was always doing little things like that. His countless simple gestures showed her how much he cared. She already knew it, of course. Even so, she appreciated the reminder.

Once Grams made sure everyone had a glass of sparkling hard cider in front of them, her uncle cleared his throat. Her lips twitching, Kimberly fiddled with the napkin on her lap, and exchanging a glance with his brother, Tanner cracked a grin. Unlike Kellan, he displayed his heart for all to see.

With a tilt of his head, Matthew Brooks expelled a breath as a smile crept onto his ruggedly handsome face. Wrapping his fingers around the glass, he rubbed its smooth surface as ifcarefully weighing his words. “This is probably the last time we’ll be sitting at this here table like we are right now.”

Her mind racing, Emily looked first to her cousins, then to Billy, and lastly to Jake. He took her hand, and giving it a comforting squeeze, held it on his lap.

“There’s gonna be a wedding.”

“Samantha Quigley,” Billy whispered in her ear. “Tellin’ ya.”

No way.

“Who’s getting married?” Emily asked.

His face lighting up, Matthew puffed out his chest. “I am.”

Oh.

“I’ve been seeing a lovely lady in Denver.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, she elbowed Billy’s ribs.

“We’re expecting a little one end of May.”

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