He kissed the back of her neck. “Of course you will. I remember how terrified I felt. It gets easier, trust me.”
She might share a bond of southern culture with Thomas, but feeling like a stranger tightly melded her to Tyler.
“Let’s get up before you get me up and I want to play.”
She started to say something and he kissed her before she could utter it. “And,” he growled warningly, “no slave girl voice. Please. You can torture us on the way home.”
“How’d you know?”
“You always get that evil, cheeky gleam in your eye. You know it gives us both instant erections. Please, play nice this weekend.”
“All right. I will.”
He kissed her one more time. “That’s my good girl.” He stood, offering his hand. “Come along, love.” Once on her feet he pulled her to him and whispered in her ear. “If it’s too much, look to me, right?”
She nodded, reluctant to let him go. This was how she needed Tyler. She could always lean on Thomas, but in this way Tyler was her steady rock.
Nevvie pulled on her robe and followed Tyler. The kitchen smelled warm and inviting, cinnamon and caramel and coffee. The rolls were hand-made, not from a can. Thomas leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee.
“Morning.” Peggy smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
Tyler guided Nevvie to a chair at the table and prepared their coffee. “Yes, like a rock, thank you,” Nevvie said.
“I’m guessing you didn’t need an extra quilt on the bed last night, Nevvie?”
Nevvie blushed, but Peggy’s smile reassured her. “I was out-voted.” She accepted a mug from Tyler, then he made his own. “What’s the plan for today?”
“We need to start the turkey and get things cooking. Everyone will show up throughout the afternoon, but supper’s set for five. Karen said she’ll be here this morning by eight.”
“If she’s not too hung-over,” Thomas snarked.
Tyler laughed. “She was rather soused last night.”
“Let’s eat. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
* * * *
They were showered and ready by the time Karen arrived, not looking too worse for wear. The boys were outside retrieving a folding table and chairs from the storage shed when Karen walked into the kitchen. Nevvie tensed, hoping Karen still accepted the situation.
Nevvie’s hands were buried in a pan of dressing. Karen put an arm around her and hugged her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at my best last night.”
“It’s okay. I totally understand.”
Karen looked her in the eye. “You’re planning on staying around for the long haul, right?”
Nevvie nodded. “I love them.”
Karen patted her on the shoulder. “Okay then.” She leaned in and dropped her voice so Peggy couldn’t hear. “You can’t expect me to quit drooling over Tyler.”
Nevvie smiled. “I understand.”
“Good. No problem with that, right?”
“No.”
Having at least one sister on her side, Nevvie relaxed and enjoyed the morning. With similar personalities, Karen and Thomas kept everyone in stitches. A house full of laughter wasn’t something Nevvie experienced growing up. At one point she slipped away to the bathroom to be alone.
She opened the door and jumped. Tyler leaned against the doorframe, his blue eyes full of concern. “Everything all right, sweetheart?”
Nevvie nodded. He pushed her into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, locked it, and pulled her into his arms.
“Don’t try to hold it in, it makes it worse.”
She relaxed in his arms. “How’d you know?”
“I nearly hyperventilated my first weekend.”
She pulled herself together and washed her face. He met her eyes in the mirror, searching.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you, love?”
“I will be. I’m just overwhelmed.”
He stood behind her, his arms around her waist, still looking at her in the mirror. “Remember, lean on me. Or Thomas.”
“He won’t understand.”
“I know. They’re his family.” He kissed her neck and opened the door. “Deep breaths. You’re doing fine. I love you.”
Nevvie mustered a smile. “I love you, too.”
* * * *
April arrived next, around ten-thirty. Single and currently without a boyfriend, she drove up alone. Thomas was outside and broke the news. Nevvie watched from the kitchen window, where she washed pots in the sink. She froze, holding her breath and praying, when April’s face dropped in stunned disbelief. Nevvie jumped at the feel of Tyler’s hand on her back.
“What is it?” he murmured.
She pointed with a soapy hand. Tyler frowned, watching the scene play out in the yard.
Thomas talked. April sat on the picnic table bench, obviously digesting the information as Thomas knelt in front of her, still talking. Tyler slipped an arm around Nevvie’s waist and kissed her neck.
“He’s persuasive, love. Just wait.”
“What’s going on?” Peggy walked over.
Tyler nodded at the window. Peggy stood on Nevvie’s other side and joined their vigil. After a few minutes April nodded and stood, then hugged Thomas. Hopefully all was well.
Peggy let out a long breath. “Two down.”
A few nervous minutes later, Thomas returned to the kitchen, followed by April. Nevvie turned from the sink. She dried her hands and forced another anxious smile.
“April, this is Nevvie. Nevvie, my sister, April.”
“Nice to meet you, April. Thomas has told me a lot about you.”
April’s cautious, cool smile was expected. “Hi. Uh, welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.”
“Hello, Tyler.”
He still stood firmly planted at Nevvie’s side. “Nice to see you again, April.”
Karen looked up from where she sat peeling apples at the table. “Jesus, April, it’s fine. Chill out.” Karen had added a splash of bourbon to her coffee. “It’s not like they’re going to have sex in the middle of the living room before dessert.”
Nevvie nearly choked, while Tyler and Thomas roared with laughter. Peggy shook her head. “I can see I’m gonna have to lock that cabinet, you keep that up, missy.”
But the comment put a smile on April’s face and she relaxed, walking over to hug Nevvie, then Tyler. “I’m sorry. I’m just—”
“In shock?” Tyler suggested.
“Yeah.”
Karen wasn’t through. “Maybe we can get her drunk later and get details about Tyler.”
Thomas grinned. “Now you listen, he’s taken times two. You can stop trying to steal him.”
“Says who, baby brother?” Karen stuck her tongue out at him.
* * * *
It took a little longer, but the undercurrent of tension dissipated as Nevvie and April both relaxed. Cheryl and her husband didn’t have any children. Katie’s two sons were spending the day with her ex-husband, and she was bringing her boyfriend to dinner. Emily’s twins, a boy and girl, were in college and spending the weekend skiing in Colorado with friends from school.
In other words, no children to worry about explaining the situation to. Thomas decided to wait until after dinner to tell the others. Tyler disagreed, wanting it out in the open, but Thomas thought it would be easier for the others to take the news after spending the day getting to know Nevvie.
Peggy and the other sisters stayed out of it. Tyler left the decision up to Thomas.
Thomas stubbornly shook his head. “After dinner.” He looked at Peggy. “I mean, if I tell her before dinner you know Em’ll pitch a fit and ruin the day.”
Peggy held up her hands. “I told you, I’m staying out of it, Tommy. It’s your call.” She patted Nevvie’s shoulder.
Nevvie struggled not to throw up from her nerves, and refused to let anyone else take a turn washing dishes. It was the only thing she could do to keep hersel
f remotely calm and distracted.
Cheryl and Pete arrived after noon. Tyler caught Nevvie longingly eyeing the incredible shrinking bourbon bottle and shook his head, a half-smile caressing his face.
No, he silently mouthed, then winked.
Nevvie tried to spend her time with Peggy, mostly in the kitchen, practically glued to her. Nevvie felt relatively secure with her new “mother-in-law” and didn’t want to do anything to screw up around the rest of the family. When Emily and her husband, Clay, arrived a short while later, Thomas made the introductions. Nevvie didn’t miss the suspicious glance the eldest Kinsey girl shot her way.
Trouble.
Katie and Shaun drove up a little after three. The men took over the living room and tuned the TV to football. Tyler made several trips to the kitchen to “help” and made eye-contact with Nevvie, trying to calm her.
It didn’t help.
The chill in the air around Emily didn’t go unnoticed. Ever helpful, Karen had stopped drinking but her snark remained fully intact. “Em, sheesh, what the hell is wrong with you today? Someone jam a stick up your ass?”
Nevvie, at the sink washing dishes, clamped her lips together and tried to calm her rolling stomach. At least when washing dishes she didn’t have to face as many people and it gave her an excuse to hide out in the kitchen.
“Nothing’s wrong.” Nevvie glanced at the window and the glass reflected Emily’s blue eyes glaring at her back.
Tyler unfortunately chose that moment to reappear. “How is everything? Need any help?”
Peggy sensed the impending storm. “Everything’s fine, Tyler. Go sit and watch football with the boys and stay out of trouble.”
Nevvie slowed her hands, submerging the baking dish and scrubbing at non-existent grime, biding her time. In the window she watched Tyler’s reflection hesitate, then finally retreat down the hallway.
April put the finishing touches on a casserole and gently nudged into the sink next to Nevvie to wash her hands. “Why don’t you come help me set the table?” she whispered.
Nevvie anxiously nodded and finished with the last pot, rushing to follow April.
In the dining room, April caught Nevvie’s eye across the table and smiled as they spread one of the table cloths.
“It’s okay,” April whispered. “It’ll be fine.”
Nevvie nodded, fighting yet another bout of nervous tears. Ever vigilant, Tyler appeared in the dining room and took one look at Nevvie.
“April, may I borrow my girl for a moment?”
“See if you can calm her down, Ty.”
Tyler took Nevvie’s hand and quickly led her down the hall, away from the kitchen to the back door, onto the porch. Out of sight of the others, Tyler wrapped his arms around Nevvie, whispering to her, kissing her, trying to soothe her.
“Emily hates me already. I can feel it.”
“It doesn’t matter, love. Truly.”
“It matters to me. I wish he’d tell her and get it over with—”
“What’s going on?” Nevvie jumped at the sound of Emily’s strident voice, ripping herself out of Tyler’s arms and turning to wipe her face.
Tyler faced Emily and headed her off. “Nothing, everything’s fine, Em. Holidays are rough on her…”
Nevvie lost their voices as Tyler wrangled Emily into the house. Spying the back steps, Nevvie raced off the porch, down the hill to the pond, losing sight of the house. Wearing only jeans and a T-shirt in the chilly air, she shivered. She sat on an upturned canoe and drew her legs to her chest. With her arms wrapped around her knees she rocked, trying to comfort herself.
This was a mistake. A huge mistake.
She didn’t know how long she sat there when she heard footsteps in the dried grass behind her. Sensing it was one of her boys she didn’t turn to see who. He stood behind her—Thomas—and she closed her eyes as he draped his jacket over her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her.
“You okay, sugar?”
“No.”
“Don’t worry about Emily.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“It’s all right. Come back to the house. Please? Look, I promise, as soon as we finish dinner, I’ll tell them.”
She looked at him. “You’re scared of Em, aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “Not scared. But I remember how she reacted when I broke the news about Tyler.” He hesitated. “I’m hoping at least we can have a nice dinner before she goes storming out in a holy huff.”
She let him take her hand and lead her to the house. On the back porch he put his arms around her.
“Just breathe. It’s only a weekend. We’ll get it out in the open and go home Monday.”
“Okay.”
She stopped by the bathroom to wash her face. Again Tyler startled her when she opened the door.
“Will you quit doing that!” she angrily hissed, pushing past him.
“I’m sorry, love, but I’m concerned.”
She took a deep breath. This wasn’t his fault. “I’m sorry.”
He brushed the hair from her face. “It’s all right.” Then he kissed her forehead. “Relax.”
Nevvie gave Emily a wide berth. Katie’s previously welcoming air soon chilled after Emily had a private word with her in the dining room.
Apparently Cheryl was out of the loop because she still chatted with Nevvie.
At dinner, Thomas and Tyler flanked Nevvie, occasionally patting her leg under the table to reassure her. The other men were oblivious to any problems, chatting and joking with everyone. Emily and Katie made a point of ignoring Nevvie, other than shooting her evil looks from across the table. After everyone ate their fill, Peggy stood to clear the table and Nevvie jumped to help.
Nevvie automatically took up her secure position at the sink to wash while Peggy went back for more dishes. Nevvie heard someone walk into the kitchen. In the window reflection she spied Emily and Katie.
They walked to the sink to dump their dishes and Nevvie tried to calm her stomach as the women glared at her.
Emily finally broke the uncomfortable silence. Keeping her voice low she said, “I don’t know who the hell you are, but if you think I’m going to let you go screw up his relationship with Tyler, think again.”
Katie tag-teamed her from the other side. “Maybe you see them as a meal ticket, but he loves Tyler. They’ve had a good thing for a lot of years now. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave them the fuck alone.”
Nevvie’s heart raced, panic threatening. “What?”
“I saw you,” Emily snarled. “I saw you with Tyler on the porch, and the way he’s been watching you all afternoon. Now I don’t agree with my brother’s lifestyle, but I damn sure won’t let some skank come in and—”
“What’s going on?” Cheryl carried two serving bowls.
Katie looked at her. “We’re putting an end to something.”
“What?”
Emily pointed at Nevvie. “This little witch is trying something with Tyler.”
April and Karen entered, carrying dishes. “What’s going on?” Karen asked. April looked worried.
Cheryl shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Emily said. “We’re going to show this little tramp she can’t screw with our baby brother.”
Karen pushed in, trying to separate Emily from Nevvie. “What the hell is your problem? You leave her alone.”
“Leave her alone? She’s trying get something on with Tyler!”
April added her two cents, taking Nevvie’s other side. “You girls have the wrong end of the stick on this one, and I strongly suggest you let it go.”
Cheryl, still confused, watched them like a tennis match. “Would someone please explain what the hell is going on?”
Nevvie panicked, unable to deal with the rising voices and angry words as the women faced off. She bolted for the kitchen doorway and ran smack into Thomas, coming to investigate the fuss.
Seeing Nevvi
e’s state he pulled her to him. “What the hell is going on?” he yelled.
All the women quieted except Nevvie, who cried against him.
Emily glared at Nevvie. “That little tramp—”
“Don’t you dare call her that!” he yelled. Tyler rushed into the kitchen. “Take her,” Thomas said, handing Nevvie off. Tyler pulled her to him, trying to soothe her.
Thomas advanced on his sisters, pointing at Emily. “Don’t you ever talk to or about her like that again, do you hear me?”
Katie found her voice first. “Tommy, you don’t understand, Em saw her! That little bitch—”
“Belt up, both of you! Just shut your bloody gobs!” Tyler’s uncharacteristically enraged outburst brought Peggy and the others to the kitchen doorway and shocked the other women into silence. Peggy stood firm, not allowing anyone else in, hushing them.
“If anyone doesn’t understand,” Thomas growled, “it’s the two of you.”
Emily tried again. “Tom, I saw her and Tyler kissing on the porch!”
“Yeah,” he turned on her, “because she’s our wife.”
“Son of a bitch!” one of the men in the hall uttered. Peggy shushed him.
“I wanted to put off doing this, but let’s get it over with.” Thomas continued. “Tyler has every right to kiss her.” He put his arm around Tyler and Nevvie. “It’s the three of us. Do you understand me? Tyler and I asked her to be our wife. No, we can’t legally marry her, but she’s our wife.”
Emily’s face reddened. “You can’t do that! That’s not right!”
“You said the same thing when I brought Tyler home and you’ve accepted him.”
“That’s different!”
“No, it’s not different, Em. I love her as much as I love him. You don’t decide who I can and can’t love.”
Cheryl was slow on the uptake. “What the hell are you talking about, Tommy? You mean the two of you share her?”
“You asking for details or generalities, Cher?” Thomas shot back.
“No, I mean…Wow.” She sat, stunned.
Emily tried to enlist help and turned on April and Karen. “Are you two going to just stand there or say something?”