Page 98 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
“Sade, this is my friend Naomi,” I said once I’d reeled in my laughter.
Sade turned her attention to Naomi with intense scrutiny. “You’re pretty.”
“Thank you. So are you.”
“Daddy says you’re Uncle Christian’s girlfriend.”
I shot a look at Xander, who was approaching with a beer in his hand and a completely unrepentant expression on his face.
“Sade has no filter,” he said, extending his hand to Naomi. “Xander Valentine. Nice to meet the woman my brother’s been hiding from us.”
“I haven’t been hiding her.”
“Then why is this the first time we’re meeting her?”
Sade continued to study Naomi with fascination. “Can you sit next to me at dinner? Please?”
“If that’s okay with everyone else,” Naomi said.
“It’s okay! Daddy, tell her it’s okay!”
“It’s more than okay,” Xander said. “Sade rarely takes to new people this quickly.”
“She has good taste,” I said, setting Sade down.
“I get it from my daddy,” Sade announced, then grabbed Naomi’s hand. “Come meet everyone else!”
Before I could intervene, Sade was dragging Naomi toward the kitchen, where the rest of the family had gathered. I followed, watching as my six-year-old niece introduced Naomi to aunts, uncles, and cousins.
“This is Naomi! She’s Uncle Christian’s girlfriend, and she’s beautiful, and she’s going to sit next to me at dinner!”
The kitchen erupted in greetings, everyone talking at once as they welcomed Naomi. My Aunt Cherry immediately pulled her into a hug, while Aunt Bernice started peppering her with questions about whether she was hungry and what she liked to eat.
“Christian never brings anyone to family dinner,” Cousin Paris said, appearing at my elbow. “This must be serious.”
“It is.”
“Good. It’s about time.”
The front door opened again, and I heard my mother’s voice in the hallway. Ella Mackleberry walked into the kitchen as if she owned the place, which, in many ways, she did. She was elegant as always, with silver hair styled in a bob, wearing a pink dress.
Behind her was Brent, her husband of two years, looking slightly overwhelmed by the noise and chaos but smiling.
“Christian, honey.” My mother kissed my cheek, then turned to Naomi with interest. “And you must be Naomi. It’s nice to put a face to the mystery my son thinks he’s been keeping to himself.”
Naomi blushed. “Mrs. Mackleberry. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Please, call me Ella. And this is my husband, Brent.”
Brent shook Naomi’s hand. “Ella’s told me so much about you.”
“She has?”
My mother smiled. “A mother knows when her son is in love, even when he’s trying to be secretive about it.”
“Mom.”
“What? It’s true. You’ve been different for months. Happier. More complete.” She turned back to Naomi. “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. I haven’t seen him this content since he was a child.”
