Page 36 of Reuniting with Lucy

“Yeah. He looks tired. I think Nick and I will have to address it soon.”

She nodded. “Families. What are ya gonna do? This is your first Sunday dinner with mine. I know you’ve hung out with them before, but things can get crazy. Maybe we should pick a safe word in case you get overwhelmed and need to escape.”

He laughed. “I can handle your family.” He pulled into the driveway and parked.

“Suit yourself,” she said, getting out of the car. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Seated around the dinner table, Jack did his best to keep up with all the conversations and side chatter.

“Oh, I just saw Dad yesterday,” Emma said.

“Spider?” Kate asked.

“Ahugeone.” Emma spread her hands a foot apart. “Dirk was in Raleigh.”

“I didn’t realize I’d be leaving you in such peril,” Dirk said with an eye roll.

“Hold on. Back up,” Adam said. “Edward. You went to Emma’s for the sole purpose of killing a spider? How long have you been doing that?”

Edward waved a hand. “Pretty much forever. I hardly ever see Katie and Emma anymore. You boys must be stealing my thunder.”

Adam looked at Kate. “You never told me you had your dad come to kill your spiders.”

Kate shrugged. “It’s never come up. You just slid naturally into the role, and you’re so good at it. All those rippling muscles, whacking away.” Kate smiled.

“Ooh. Kaaay,” Adam said. “No need to lay it on so thick. I’ll keep killing the damn spiders. I can’t believe your dad goes so far out of his way to help you wusses.”

“It’s nice to feel needed sometimes,” Edward said. “Ten years ago, they only called for money. Killing spiders doesn’t cost me a dime, and I usually end up with a free glass of lemonade and a hug out of it.”

Jack chuckled. Under all the bluster and bravado, Lucy’s dad was a big mush ball.

Everyone was involved in side conversations that Jack caught bits and pieces of. Daisy, who had come home for Thanksgiving, was telling Emma that she’d decided to take her advice and start a YouTube channel. Nana was asking Adam if he’d be okay coming to kill her spiders. And Dirk and Edward were debating the best place to fish on the river. Jack focused in on Lizzie and Lucy.

“I accidentally ordered triple the amount of paper towels I need,” Lizzie said. “You wanna buy some off me once they come in?”

“How’d you do that?” Lucy asked.

Lizzie raised a shoulder and let it drop. “No idea.”

“Your friend Jack have anything to do with it?” Lucy raised a brow.

“Are you talking about me?” Jack interrupted.

“Oh, no. I meant Lizzie’s friend Mr. Daniels. He sometimes gets her into trouble.”

“Sisters don’t let sisters drink and order inventory,” Lizzie said. “Where were you?”

“All right,” Sophie said, getting everyone’s attention. Topics changed in the blink of an eye, but no one was ever fazed. “Between Emma’s wedding and the holidays, we’ve got a lot going on the next four weeks.”

Lizzie and Nana moaned.

“Daisy has extended her plane ticket to stay through the new year. I’m hosting a bridal shower on Tuesday. We’re doing a family portrait on Friday. You girls are combining dress shopping and the bachelorette party on Saturday. Dad’s birthday is next Sunday, and Emma and Dirk’s wedding, the following Saturday.” She paused to take a breath, then continued. “Then we get into the holiday stuff. We’ll do our big annual Christmas party here with friends on the eighteenth, and then, of course, all the family events, cookie baking, decorating, etcetera. Times to be determined on those.”

“What day did you say the bachelorette party was?” Lizzie said, writing on her napkin.

“That wasfiveevents ago,” Sophie exclaimed. “Never mind. I’ll send an email and daily reminder texts in the family group chat.”

“You got the whiteboard out, didn’t you?” Kate said. “I love it.”

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