Page 83 of Damien
“What starts with D?” Derek calls out from inside the house.
Mom quickly invites us to come inside so the girls can meet everyone.
Obviously, Mom hasn’t spilled the beans about my company because my brothers’ shocked expressions are downright comical when they’ve realized I’ve brought the girls with me. Derek’s eyes nearly bug out, and Davis’s jaw drops to the floor, but both of them quickly school their features when Mom side-eyes them as she makes introductions. Thankfully, Jules and Vanessa are none the wiser, but each of my brothers have that look on their face that tells me we’ll be discussing this later. Clearly, they want to know what’s going on.
“Well, now that you’ve met everyone,” Mom turns to Julia. “I know you’ve had a long drive. Dinner won’t be ready for a few hours. But are you hungry? I have some chocolate chip cookies with your name on them, if it’s all right with your mom.”
Julia’s eyes dart to Vanessa eagerly, who only smiles and nods.
“Does that mean we can finally eat some, too?” Davis hedges.
“Yes, I suppose you can.” Mom pretends to be disgruntled, then turns to Vanessa. “I had to turn them off until our companyat leasthad a chance to be offered some.” Then she turns to Jules. “We’d better hurry if you want to get more than a few.”
Laughing, we follow Mom into the kitchen, where we find my grandma at the counter, peeling potatoes. “Hey, Grandma. Where’s Pops?”
“You have a Pops, too?” Julia asks innocently.
“Yeah. That’s what we call my grandpa,” I explain.
Then she looks to the man in question and says, “Hi. I’m Julia. I had a Pops, but he’s in heaven. But it’s nice to meet another one, though.”
Vanessa’s face reddens in an instant. “Jules.”
Totally unaware she’s just told the entire room of Vanessa’s parents’ death, she asks, “What?”
Before anyone can say anything, Pops says the sweetest thing he could as he bends to her level. “You know what, Julia? I think I like you. I’ve always got room for more people to call me Pops. Especially from beautiful girls like yourself. Would that be okay with you?”
Julia nods emphatically.
Grandma leans over in their direction and tells Julia, “Just so you know, he rarely answers to anything else. So, if I were you, that’s theonlything I’d be calling him.”
“Hey… hey… hey…. This young lady can call me anything… but late for dinner…” Pops teases, making us all laugh at his silliness. Pops hasn’t changed a thing in all the years I’ve known him.
Julia’s wide eyes dart around the room, then return to my grandma.
Grandma, being the expert at putting everyone at ease, leans in and grins. “You’re welcome to call me Grandma if you’d like. I’ve long lost my given name with this crowd. Besides, who wants to be called Beatrice? Grandma issomuch better, don’t you think?”
Jules looks hesitantly to Vanessa who just nods in agreement.
“Okay,” Jules agrees. Then she turns to my mom. “Did you say there were cookies?”
“You’ll fit right in here.” Davis laughs as he reaches over the counter to snag one from the platter set out.
“No kidding,” Derek agrees.
I completely agree. Having Jules and Van here with me is as easy as breathing. I have no idea what I’d been worried about.
29
Vanessa
Okay,I’ll admit I’d been nervous when we first arrived, but Damien’s family quickly puts both me and more importantly, Jules, at ease. I nearly die when she tells everyone my dad’s in heaven, but at the same time, I’m glad she feels comfortable enough to share.
I haven’t met anyone’s family since high school. I don’t realize how nervous I am until we arrive. Knowing how important Damien’s family is to him puts more pressure on me than I anticipated. My stomach is tied in knots, and my hands are sweating. Thank goodness, I bring comedic relief in a pint-size package, right?
From the moment his mom squeezes me in her arms, the worries I’d fret over disperse. By the time everyone’s enjoying fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, I hardly remember why I’d been nervous in the first place. As I listen to the conversations around the room and see the way they do their best to put Julia and myself at ease, I feel a sense of belonging I haven’t had unless I’m with my family.
Eventually, the men in the house disperse to hang out on the back deck. Julia eagerly goes with them when Damien offers to play frisbee with her. Seeing his mom and grandma preparing dinner, I do what I do best—offer help.
