Page 34 of Made For You
“Yep, everything is exactly the same. I’m glad you’re home.”
With a smile, I told her that I was too. It wasn’t a complete lie, since I loved being surrounded by my family.
Aspen crossed the porch to enter the house, and I trailed behind her, immediately making my way toward the fridge to get a glass of wine for myself. I held the bottle up for Aspen, but she declined.
The rest of the people gathered in the house had yet to notice my arrival. Surprisingly, Mom wasn’t in the kitchen, which was where I could usually find her. With my glass filled with a sweet Moscato, I snuck a peek in the large pot and groaned. Mom was making her seafood scampi. It was legendary in this house, and she only made it for special occasions.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Mom shouted as she caught me red-handed trying to sneak a spoonful of the sauce.
“Nothing,” I explained, tucking the arm of the empty spoon into the back pocket of my denim shorts. She knew better though. Mom marched around the large kitchen island and tried to grab what she suspected. I twisted out of her grasp twice, but she caught me by the underside of my arm when I wasn’t looking.
My yelp alerted the rest of the house of my arrival, and a gathering quickly formed in the room. Mom confiscated the spoon and promptly smacked my backside with it like she had when I was younger.
“What’s going on here?”
“Hi, Dad,” I said as I slunk away from my mother in the hopes of avoiding another reprimand and tucked myself under my dad’s waiting arm.
“Rory thought it was a good idea to try to have a taste of my sauce before it was ready.”
“Ah, Rory. You know better,” Dad scolded with his signature grin.
“I know, but it smelled so good. I couldn’t help it. Sorry, Mom.”
After my half-hearted apology, everyone, including the twins, welcomed me home, then left the kitchen and took their seats at the dining table. Mom prepared a large garden salad as an appetizer, and the starter was always so much better when it was all locally grown.
I tried to keep my head down and only participate in the conversations when called upon, but I could sense everyone’s eyes on me. It was… nerve-wracking. All I wanted was to eat a delicious meal. Mom’s cooking could rival the Wilder Hotel’s.
Finally, I had enough and released my fork, letting it fall onto my plate with a clank. “What?”
My eyes met Alex’s, who was seated directly across from me.
“It’s nothing.”
“Then stop staring at me,” I demanded, picking up my fork and stabbing a piece of lettuce.
“Alex,” Mom began. “Leave your sister alone.”
“Doesn’t she look different to y’all? There’s something…. She’s like, glowing. I can’t put my finger on it.” Alex tilted her head as if to get a better look at me.
Autumn quickly joined in, slanting her head in the same direction as Alex’s. “Yeah. It’s like she just had—”
My mouth dropped open to cut her off, but Dad beat me to the punch.
“I do not want to hear about my daughters… and… that. If you please.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He nodded, but his eyes moved over my face, like he was examining me for something. “Thereissomething different about you. Did you spend some time at the beach?”
Knowing I needed to end this discussion, I dipped my head and lied. “I liked to eat my meals out on the patio, then take a walk on the beach. It was beautiful.”
Ending the conversation, Mom chimed in, “Well, that sounds lovely. Maybe your father and I can go on vacation there when he finally decides to retire next year.”
My dad retiring was less likely than pigs flying over an exploding Yellowstone.
“Now, let me go grab the meal,” she added.
As she started setting dinner on the table with both Molly and Eloise’s help, my nosiness grew by the second.
