Page 55 of Written in the Stars
The front door opened, stopping Elle from finishing what she’d been trying to say. “Elle, you made it.”
This must have been Elle’s mom. The woman opening the door had the same blue eyes, the same tiny cleft in her chin. Fine lines appeared beside the corners of her eyes when she smiled and reached for Elle, hands curling around her shoulders, tugging her in for a brief hug before drawing back, her eyes darting over Elle’s face, before she caught sight of Darcy over her shoulder. “You must be Darcy. It’s so good to meet you. Call me Linda.”
Darcy slid the strap of her brown leather hobo bag down herarm and withdrew the bottle of wine she’d packed as a hostess gift. “Likewise. Thank you so much for having me. I wasn’t sure what kind of wine you like, so I brought my favorite.”
Linda’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead. “Why don’t I take this to the kitchen and open it up?”
Elle goggled. “Mom, it’s barely after noon.”
“And?” Linda waved for them to follow as she slipped inside the house.
“How come when I day drink on holidays, it’s all ‘Elle, be reasonable. Tequila’s not a breakfast food.’ Or, ‘Elle, take that onesie off. You’re scaring the kids.’ But now you’re all,it’s five o’clock somewhere. What gives?”
Linda ignored her.
“Mom.”
“I’m sorry.” Linda didn’t even look over her shoulder. “I thought that was rhetorical.”
Elle frowned sharply as Linda disappeared around the corner, a dismissal if Darcy had ever seen one.
She snagged Elle by the elbow. “You own a onesie?”
“A unicorn onesie, yes. What’s your point?”
Darcy tried not to wince when the itchy polyblend of her sweater scratched her shoulders. “Sounds cute.”
Laughter drifted down the hall.
“Come on. Let’s go meet my family.” Fingers tangling with hers, Elle tugged her down the hall, stopping in the entry of a spacious living room, the walls painted a soothing shade of pale olive. The conversation cut off, all eyes on them.
Lifting a hand, Elle was nearly bowled over by the force of a tiny shouting boy. “Aunt Elle!”
Voices blended together into one synchronous, “Hey, Elle,” and six sets of eyes quickly turned to Darcy, studying her with looks ranging from openly curious to shrewd.
Elle coughed lightly, hand drifting down to rest on her nephew’s head. “Everyone, this is Darcy. Darcy, this is... well, everyone.”
“I’m Ryland.” Elle’s nephew peeked up from where he was hugging Elle’s knees. He lifted a hand, thumb and pinky folded against his palm. “I’m three.”
Darcy dropped to a crouch and grinned. “My name’s Darcy. I’m almostthirty.”
Ryland’s eyes rounded comically.
Chuckles came from the couch. “Come on, Rye. Give your aunt some space.”
Elle’s nephew scampered off toward where a mess of Legos lay scattered by the dining room table.
“I’m Jane, and this is my husband, Gabe.” Elle’s oldest sister waved, her other hand resting atop a noticeable baby bump stretching the limits of her garish red-and-green sweater that matched her husband’s.
“Daniel.” Elle’s brother stood and offered his hand and a warm smile. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to the guy holding a chubby dachshund. “That’s the love of my life. And then there’s my husband, Mike.”
Mike rolled his eyes. “Always good to know where I stand. The dog’s Penny, by the way.”
Darcy shook his hand and nodded. “Nice to meet you both. And Penny.”
From the far end of the sofa, dressed in a blue-and-creamsnowflake-embroidered sweater that was festive but notugly, waved a girl who had the same chin but darker hair than Elle. “I’m Lydia. And this is my—” She glanced up adoringly at the guy with a blond high fade wearing a basic gray crewneck sweater whose side she was tucked against. He returned her smile, tapping her on the tip of the nose. “Marcus.”
He tipped his chin in a greeting before addressing Elle. “Lyds has told me a lot about you.”
