Page 55 of Unexpected Forever
She finally turns away and starts up the sidewalk. This time I keep my gaze on the ground and far away from the sway of her hips.
She walks in, calling out for her mom.
“In the kitchen!” Stella calls back.
Charley sends me a hesitant smile before she leads us to the back of the house.
It’s a large home with gleaming hardwoods and warm, muted earth tones. Despite its high ceilings and large rooms, it’s homey.
Nothing like the house I grew up in, which was never a home.
I shove the thought away as we draw closer to the kitchen where feminine voices fill the room.
“Hey, guys,” Charley says when we enter the room.
Stella, Amelia, Grace, and Megan sit at a large island in the middle of a massive state-of-the-art kitchen. A couple of notebooks, photos, and a laptop sit on the counter in front of them.
They turn to face us, and when they see me, there’s a mixture of surprise and curiosity on their faces.
Except for Megan. A knowing smile plays on her lips.
Time to put the game face on in spite of the fact I feel physically ill.
As I look at the Reynolds women, I’m momentarily stunned at how much they look alike. They all have dark hair and blue eyes. They’re all beautiful in different ways.
But there’s something about Charley that pulls at me in a way her sisters don’t.
“Hey, big brother,” Megan says, sliding off her stool and giving me a hug.
“Hey, Meg-Pie.”
She steps back and looks from Charley to me, her gaze questioning.Did she tell you?“When did you get here?”
I nod at her unspoken question. “Day before yesterday.”
“Hey, there,” Stella says, a smile on her face. Her brows lift slightly when she greets me, but she quickly recovers. “Nate, what a nice surprise.”
She comes around the island, greeting us with hugs and cheek kisses.
“Mrs. Reynolds, it’s good to see you again.”
I nod to Amelia and Grace. “Ladies, how are you?”
“Good,” they say in unison, still eyeing us.
Charley points to her sisters. “What are y’all doing here in the middle of the day?”
Grace shrugs. “School’s out, so I’m free as a bird for the next two months.”
“Maddie’s covering the bakery for me while I’m here,” Amelia says, then gives Charley a pointed look. “What about you?”
Charley glances at me briefly. “I’m off today.”
“Y’all need a drink?” Stella asks, shifting into hostess mode.
Like you wouldn’t believe.
“I’ll take some water, please,” Charley says.
