Page 84 of So in Love
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As she stepped into Hogwild, Crystal decided going from one small town disaster to another small town potential disaster was perhaps not her best play.And yet here she was, home in Blueville, for her big brother’s fortieth birthday party.
Hogwild, Blueville’s nicest restaurant and famous for its pulled pork, was crammed to the gills with what seemed to be the entire town.Not theentiretown.Crystal would know just about everyone here, and they were all safe.Meaning they weren’t people who still called her Crazy Crystal.
“Is that my baby sister?”Trent’s voice thundered through the restaurant as he stalked toward the door.
Trent was massive—six-three with a barrel chest and arms as big as tree trunks.His light brown hair had a few gray streaks here and there, but he still looked incredibly young and robust despite the efforts of his four children to make him otherwise.
She smiled as he approached, bracing herself for the inevitable bear hug.“Happy birthday, Trent.”
He swept her up against his chest and squeezed her until she couldn’t breathe.Then he set her down and grinned.“This is a surprise.”
“I like to surprise.”She handed him the bag with the bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.“Brought your favorite.”
He peered inside, and his face lit with rapture.“You shouldn’t have.I mean, of course you should have.Thank you.”He gave her another quick hug and then she was assaulted by the rest of her family—her parents, Trent’s wife Delia, Crystal’s other brothers and their wives, and a passel of nieces and nephews.
After a few minutes, her mother ushered her to the table where the family was sitting.“I’m so glad you came.Surprised, but glad.”Mom smiled as she gave her a side hug.“So what changed that you could come?”
Changed?“Nothing really.”Her life was just a major disaster.
She’d driven back to the guesthouse knowing that Alaina would show up at some point.But Crystal hadn’t wanted to face her, so she’d repacked the few things she’d unpacked and called a car to go back to the airport.She hadn’t been able to get a flight out until the next morning and when one of her options was flying to North Carolina instead of LA, she’d decided that celebrating her brother’s birthday was probably the best thing she could do.
So here she was.
She’d texted Alaina to tell her where she’d gone, and Alaina had responded with a simple “Okay.I love you.”Tears had clogged Crystal’s throat, and even thinking about it now threatened to send her into an emotional spiral.She glanced around for a drink or a bottle of beer.
“Is something wrong, dear?”Mom asked.“You look a little pale.”
“Just a long day of travel.And I’m thirsty.”
Mom waved a hand at one of the servers and ordered Crystal a Long Island iced tea.Hogwild was famous for them; they were truly one of the best things about coming home.
It felt good to be taken care of.Maybe that was why Crystal had come.“Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course.Will this be another short trip?”
Crystal hadn’t booked a return flight to LA.“I don’t know actually.”
Mom’s eyes widened.“Really?”
“You don’t have to look so shocked.”
“Are you going to try to tell me this isn’t shocking?”She waved her hand.“Pshaw.I just wish I’d known so I’d made your bed up.Not to worry, I’ll take care of that when we get home.”She patted Crystal’s knee.
Again, Crystal basked in her mother’s care.“Thanks.”
Mom had converted the boys’ rooms into a guest room, an office, and a sewing room, but Crystal’s was still frozen in her teenage years.Mom’s policy was to keep their rooms intact until they were married—in case they needed a landing pad.After they got married, they were on their own.
She looked at her brothers, sitting around the table, and their wives and children.She realized she took it all for granted—that her family was so close-knit and supportive.She missed most of it living across the country.Her oldest nephew, Trent’s son Ryan, was fourteen.He looked like he’d shot up a couple of inches since she’d seen him last.Geez, that had just been at Christmas.
“Hey, Ryan, you ready for high school next year?”He’d go to the same high school that Crystal had barely graduated from.Only he’d do far better.Ryan made the honor roll every semester and was class president.
“Just about.When are you arranging for Justin and me to go to a movie premier?”Justin was his younger brother—twelve.They had twin sisters who were nine.
“I’m waiting for the right one,” Crystal said.“Maybe the next Marvel movie.”
Ryan’s mouth formed an O for a second.“Yes.That would beawesome.”
