Operation Bailey Birthday

Piper Rayne

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

© 2020 by Piper Rayne

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography

Cover Design: Okay Creations

1st Line Editor: Joy Editing

2nd Line Editor: My Brother’s Editor

Proofreader: Shawna Gavas, Behind The Writer

LAKE STARLIGHT BUZZ WHEEL

PRESS RELEASE: Rumor around town is a certain matriarch of the Bailey family is having a BIG BIRTHDAY! It’s even spurred a few of the Bailey kids to return home to celebrate with their beloved great-grandmother, Dori. In fact, now that there are twenty-six Bailey great-grandchildren the event is going to be overflowing with laughter and love. Also… I heard that Piper & Rayne have been speaking to some of the kids (i.e. Calista, Maverick, Easton, Brinley and Palmer) and so we’re getting some special POV’s. I can’t wait to report my findings the day after the party!

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Cockamamie Unicorn Ramblings

About the Author

Also by Piper Rayne

1

Easton Bailey

(Fifteen and a half years old)

Austin and Holly’s Son

I’m not sure what’s worse. The fact that my dad saved his old-ass Jeep for me to drive when I turn sixteen or the fact that he makes me drive our entire family to school every morning as part of my “learning to drive” experience.

“You have to stop before you turn right,” he dictates from the passenger seat.

“You don’t want Sheriff Miller Jr. to pull you over,” Mom chimes in from the back. At least she doesn’t watch my every move, waiting to correct me like Dad. “Harper, you gotta eat something.”

“Kind of crazy when you think of Sheriff Miller…” Dad glances at the back seat, and he and my mom exchange creepy smiles that say they’re remembering a time before my sister and I were around.

“If it wasn’t for the retired Sheriff Miller’s daughter we might not all be here,” my mom says and runs her hand down my dad’s arm.

Harper huffs. At least she’ll get out of the Jeep first since she’s still in middle school. “Please stop.”

“It’s a great story. Are you sure you don’t want to hear it again?” my mom jokes. I watch in the rearview mirror as she picks up the granola bar Harper put down on her backpack and hands it back to my sister with the look of “eat the damn thing.”

Having a thirteen-year-old sister has taught me that girls her age are temperamental—you never know what mood she’ll be in every morning.

“If Sheriff Miller Jr. wasn’t born and his mom didn’t take maternity leave from the school, your mom—”

“Wouldn’t have come to Alaska and been your boss,” I say. “We know.”

“Principal.” My dad winks at my mom behind us.

I pull into the middle school to drop off Harper. She’s already unbuckling her seat belt and grabbing her bag.

“Yeah, yeah, and you two fell in love.” I pull the Jeep beside the curb.

“And you should both be thankful, otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.” My mom sounds annoyed that we’re not going gaga over their love story, but seriously, they’ve told it a million times.

“Here you go, brat,” I say, putting the Jeep into park.

My mom says my name as if it’s a scolding, but we all know she’d like to call Harper that on the daily.

“Yeah, I’m so sorry I can’t drive the entire way with you, East. I mean, being Mom and Dad’s chauffeur and having Mom as your principal and Dad as your science teacher. I’m super jelly.” She gets out, and slams the door shut.

I ignore her and roll my eyes, putting the Jeep into drive. She’ll feel my pain next year when she starts high school.

“Damn her.”

I look through the rearview mirror as my dad turns to face Mom. She’s holding up the granola bar. Dad snatches it from her hand and opens his door. I satisfyingly put the Jeep into park again and roll down the passenger window, so I don’t miss a minute of what’s gonna happen. This will be good.

“Harp!” my dad yells. He jogs down the pathway a few feet, holding up the granola bar.

A honk blares from behind us and I look in the rearview mirror to see Uncle Denver in his truck. My cousins Ryder and Rohan file out, heads tucked into their coats as if they didn’t just emerge from the truck.

I shift my attention back to my dad, who’s waving at my sister to leave her friend group and come over to where he’s standing, but a pounding on my window startles me and I look away.

“Son, you’re holding up the line.” Uncle Denver tries to sound like a police officer.

Sometimes I wish Uncle Denver were my dad. He’s so fun and he’s always doing crazy shit. But right now, he looks tired with bags under his eyes.

My mom rolls down her window. “How are the twins?”

Aunt Cleo just had another set of twins—girls this time—and Mom and every one of my aunts can’t get enough of them. Maybe because they’re the youngest of the Bailey brood by five years.

“They’re good. Sleep, eat, shit, repeat.”

“I bet they fall asleep in your arms and their little hands wrap around your fingers. The quiet nighttime feedings when it’s just you and them…” My mom’s eyes roll back in her head as if she’d do anything to relive that experience.

“Amazing how warped your memory can become over time. Cleo was like you until the reality of being woken by screams and never leaving the house without a stain on her clothes set in. I will say though that the betting is fun.”

“The betting?” Mom asks.

“Yeah. I grabbed Abby, and Cleo put her money on Allie.”

“On what?” My mom sounds as confused as I am.

“Who will walk first. Abby is so close, and the minute she walks, Cleo owes me a—” His gaze trails back to me in the driver’s seat. “Well, let’s just say I win.”

Mom drops the subject, but I’m not some naïve little boy. Is that what marriage is like? Having to make bets to get blow jobs?

“Denver,” my dad says, climbing into the car. “Did you order the balloon bouquets?”

Uncle Denver laughs. “Relax, I got it covered.”

My great-grandma’s ninetieth birthday party is this weekend and we’ve had about a million family get-togethers to talk logistics. Great-Grandma Dori is pretty much planning the entire thing while acting as though she has no idea we’re throwing the party.

“I gotta get to school,” I say.

Denver laughs. “Shit, East, you got the principal wrapped around your finger. Take advantage.” He laughs. “See you all later.” He waves and heads back to his truck, where he climbs in and speeds off around me.

“How is it that he just never grew up?” my dad says—more to himself than us, I think.

I love my dad, but he’s so serious most of the time. My mom harps on my grades and about college, and my dad keeps asking me how serious I am about baseball. It’s easy to tell he doesn’t want to push me too hard, but I’m sure he’d be ecstatic if I chose to pursue baseball. His shot was thrown when my grandparents died, and he returned home. Although he’s adamant he regrets nothing because he has my mom and my sister and me.

I drive five more minutes and park in the back of the lot of the high school because I’m pulling up with my parents—the school’s principal and science teacher, who have been found way too many times making out in closets or my dad’s classroom. I get razzed about them all the damn time.

I toss the keys to my dad and bolt across the parking lot.

“Have a great day, East,” Mom calls.

I lift my hand in a wave without turning around. As I’m approaching the curb, Lance pulls up in his dad’s truck. Uncle Wyatt files out of the passenger side to round the truck.

“Easton!” Uncle Wyatt high fives me and luckily stops my parents from breaking the distance between us.

“The Jeep?” Lance asks, cringing.

I nod as we fall into step with each other.

“My grandma called last night,” Lance says. “She’s buying me a new car for my sixteenth birthday.”

“Lucky bastard.”

We walk into the school and I nod at a few friends. Lance’s dad, my uncle Wyatt, comes from a wealthy family in Manhattan, and Lance always gets extravagant gifts for holidays and his birthday.

“Once I get my license, I’ll pick you up in the morning so you don’t have to drive the Jeep,” he says.

He’d be easy to hate if he didn’t say shit like that. I remember the time he got the new game console we’d been begging for, and he let me play first. I couldn’t ask for a better cousin.

“Check out Brinley,” I say nodding to our cousin putting on lip gloss at her locker mirror.

Her best friend, Kenzie, is next to her, rambling on about something.

“You think she’s bringing Kenzie to Grandma’s party?” Lance asks.

I punch his shoulder. “I knew you had a thing for her.”

He rubs his arm as if I actually inflicted pain. Lance isn’t athletic. He’s more into being the school president or editor of the newspaper.

“I don’t, but…”

“Not many options in a school full of our damn cousins,” I say what I know he was thinking.

We go to high school with six of our cousins. Three of us are referred to as the Bailey Triplets, since we were all born within a day of each other. Although Lance’s last name is actually Whitmore and Brinley’s is Kelly, we’re all Baileys—especially in Great-Grandma Dori’s eyes.

“Hey, Phoebe.” I nod at our oldest cousin who attends Lake Starlight High.

Her boyfriend, Coulter, is at her side with his arm slung over her shoulder. Uncle Rome hates Coulter, but I don’t know the details of why.

The bell rings, and Lance and I say goodbye and head in different directions.

I sit in my homeroom class as Kenzie sits down next to me.

“Hey, East,” she coos.

I can’t tell Lance that Kenzie’s been flirting with me since the start of the school year. Everyone knows he likes her—that’s been clear since we were kids, and she and Brinley became best friends. So I try my best not to notice her. Not notice her long dark hair and her glossy pink lips. Not notice the way her eyes fall over my body as if she’d love to jump my bones. Not notice my body’s physical reaction to her. Hell, I’m fifteen, I have no control of my body, right?

“Hey, Kenzie,” I say.

“Brinley invited me to your great-grandma’s party. I hope that’s okay?”

I glance at her to be polite and she’s smiling. “My great-grandma wants the entire town there, so I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

“And what about you? Will you be thrilled if I come?”

I groan inwardly. Lance is my cousin. Lance is my cousin. Lance is my cousin.

I repeat the mantra to ward off the temptation of acknowledging Kenzie’s attention. It works for the moment.

2

Calista Bailey

(Twenty-one years old)

Rome and Harley’s Eldest Daughter

After the long plane ride, my legs thank me when I stand and allow them to stretch. Coming home for a week during my senior year isn’t ideal, but it’s Great-Grandma Dori’s ninetieth birthday. If we’re not all present and accounted for, she’s sure to put out a search party for any missing family member.

I take my phone off airplane mode and wait for the texts from my mom or dad to say they’re waiting outside baggage claim for Dion and me. As I follow the signs to baggage claim, my phone vibrates in my pocket, but I figure I’ll wait until I’m down there to check it. If I’m lucky, Dion’s plane came in before mine and he’s waiting at my carousel already.

I step on the escalator, rolling my head to crack my neck. Missing class while I’m back in Alaska forced me to do extra work these past couple weeks, which meant long nights of drinking a lot of coffee and getting no sleep, so it takes me a minute to process that someone is calling my name.

“Calista Bailey,” the male voice says from behind me.

My head whips around. Why would he be here? No way he got an invite to the party. He’s not family. He’s not anything other than Ethel’s grandson. I slowly take in his smug expression.

“Rylan Greene, how peachy to see you.” I inject as much sarcasm as I can into my voice.

He’s got a duffle bag over his shoulder, and he’s in track pants and a sweatshirt with Stanford University stamped on it. Smug prick. Got a full ride to play soccer when I know his grades weren’t nearly as good as they should have been to attend there.

“How’s UCLA?” he asks.

“Fine.” I hide my bitterness that I didn’t get into my first choice of Stanford. It’s none of his business.

“I heard you have a pretty awesome place. Your aunt’s?”

I step off the escalator. “Yeah, it’s nice. I gotta go. See you around.”

Searching the numbers on the baggage carousels, I spot five and head that way. Dion is nowhere to be seen, which means I’ll be waiting for him. My phone dings again, so I check my messages. One is from my mom in a group chat to Dion and me.

Mom: Sorry guys, I had to volunteer for Rhea’s fall party. Something came up at the restaurant for your dad. Your Great-Grandma Dori arranged a ride for you and Dion. Can’t wait to see you both. Kisses.

I sigh and see two other messages.

Dion: I’m waiting outside. Ready to snap a picture when you see the ride Great-Grandma arranged for us. :P

Great-Grandma Dori: Let’s go, girly. Earl’s narcolepsy gets worse as the day goes on.

I exit my texts because I probably won’t figure out what my great-grandma is up to anyway. Everyone knows when it comes to Great-Grandma Dori, don’t even bother. It’s usually more absurd than you’d think.

Scrolling through my emails, I slide past all the clothing store promotions and sales emails and stop on one from my econ professor. Ask me again why I chose business as a degree to pursue? She wants me to check in with her when I return to talk over my assignments and grades.

Great. I’m pretty sure I’m failing the class.

Finally, the carousel moves, and luck must be on my side because my suitcase is the second one to come out. I slide between a few bodies and yank it off, checking the name to make sure the generic black suitcase is actually mine.

Rolling it behind me, I walk out the sliding doors to the pick-up area, but I don’t spot any familiar cars. I reach back to grab my cell phone out of my pocket, but my hand pauses when I spot a van with Northern Lights Retirement Center on the side.

No way. When she said Earl, I assumed she meant an Uber. Dion isn’t standing outside of the van, ready to take a picture, so I’m hoping it’s a coincidence. Then my blue-haired great-grandma peeks her head out of the van. Once again, I was naïve about the level of embarrassment she can conjure.

“Calista!” she hollers, waving.

Sure enough, a man, Earl, I presume, is slumped over the steering wheel.

I close my eyes and say a prayer that we arrive safely in Lake Starlight. “Happy early birthday.” I wheel my suitcase to the van. “Is Dion here?”

“He’s already snug and secure inside.” Great-Grandma Dori takes care stepping out of the van and holds my upper arms—for balance, I think, as much as a hello. Her gaze falls down my body in examination. “You’re so grown up. My first great-grandchild.” Then she pulls me into her arms, her red-lipsticked lips pressing to my cheeks. “Come. Come.”

I help her back into the van, lifting my suitcase behind me.

Grandma Dori nudges Earl with her fist. “Wake up. We’re all here.”

I finish climbing the short steps with my suitcase at my side.

“Dear, you really should put a ribbon on your bag. That’s how you know which suitcase is yours,” Ethel says.

I shouldn’t be surprised she’s here. She’s Great-Grandma’s sidekick. I smile politely and look at the rest of the van. My jaw tics at who I find sitting two rows down by the window. Rylan’s arrogance oozes around his smirk.

A flash blinds me for a second, Dion’s laugh barreling out of him a millisecond later.

“Perfect. I’m sending it to Buzz Wheel right now.” Dion’s happy-with-himself smile shines as he steps into the aisle with his arms wide open for me. “Sis. I missed you.”

I have no time to prepare or ask questions before his big body swamps me in a bear hug. Dion got my dad’s height and build, where I ended up a few inches taller than my mom but not nearly as tall as I would prefer. Height that would’ve made me a better soccer player and gotten me into Stanford. Good thing I’m not bitter about it.

“You could have warned me,” I bite out in a whisper.

“What fun would that be?” He squeezes me tighter, lifting my feet off the floor before depositing me back down.

“Sit! Earl is on a tight schedule,” Great-Grandma yells.

Dion sits down in the front row with his legs stretched out, entertaining Grandma by asking if she’d like a stripper for her birthday. She shoos him away as if she has no idea there’s a party. I slide into the seat behind Dion and quickly realize my mistake when Rylan’s staring at me from across the aisle.

“How come I don’t get a welcome like that?” he asks.

I flip him off and he laughs.

We’ve been competitors for as long as I can remember. When Uncle Jamie took Rylan under his wing, jealousy hit hard. I had no trouble keeping up when Uncle Jamie pitted us against one another when we were young. But as we grew older, Rylan grew stronger and faster. My workouts felt as though they capped out and I’d reached my limit.

But not Rylan. Every time he’d come into my uncles’ rec place, he was bigger, gaining inches on me like he took growth hormones. Then we both applied to Stanford and the bastard got accepted even though his grades weren’t even close to as good as mine. But when you have the speed, skills, and a dick, like Rylan Greene, somehow the world opens up for you.

Staring out the window, I’m struck by the fact that they’ve already had a snowstorm here when it’s all sunshine and tans in Los Angeles. I live in my aunt’s place with my cousin Maverick. Uncle Grif, Aunt Phoenix, and Jack come down sometimes, but not nearly as often now that Jack is getting older.

“Ry, sweetie, tell Dori about your girl,” Ethel says.

My gut twists and I stare out the window as though I don’t care.

I feel Rylan’s gaze on me, watching for a reaction, before he answers his grandma. “She’s nice.”

Guess that confirms he does have a girlfriend. I shouldn’t care. It’s not as though I like him or even find him remotely attractive.

“Nice?” Great-Grandma Dori says as if he said she was a serial killer. “Nice is boring.” She rolls her eyes and gives Ethel a look like good luck with that.

Dion peeks over the edge of the seat and I punch the back of it, making him lose his balance. He almost falls off the edge, but the bastard catches himself.

“What about you, Dion?” Ethel asks.

He glances up from his phone.

“Girlfriend?”

Dion laughs and clears his throat. “No.”

“Why not? I’m sure the girls are crazy about you in North Carolina?” Great-Grandma Dori pets his ego, and I roll my eyes internally.

“Well, yeah, but I’m not settling down.”

“Dating one girl isn’t a marriage license,” I say.

He sits up and looks over the edge of his seat. “How about you, sis? Any guys?”

I narrow my eyes at him, and he laughs, sliding back down in his seat.

Ethel smiles warmly at me. “Yeah, Calista, what about you? I’m sure the boys must be circling you.”

“More like trying to escape before she devours them like chum in the water,” Rylan chimes in from across the aisle.

“Ry,” Ethel scolds.

“I’m concentrating on my studies this year.” I don’t mention that last year was horrible for my love life. I had three boyfriends, each one worse than the last. A cheater, a thief, and a druggie-turned-dropout. “Plus, soccer takes up a lot of time.”

Rylan chuckles and I whip my head in his direction, waiting for him to continue. He holds up his hands. “Relax.”

“What’s so funny?”

He chuckles some more. “I just wonder how high your expectations are.”

“There’s nothing wrong with high expectations. Does your ‘nice’ girlfriend meet your expectations? Does she cater to you? Give you massages after every game? Or perform other duties that you probably don’t reciprocate?”

“Gross. Do not make me picture that about Rylan. Unless we’re gonna talk about a girl going down on me—” Dion stops talking when Great-Grandma Dori smacks him across the back of the head.

“Behave, both of you.”

We all stare out the windows, and I catch Rylan texting. Probably his perfectly nice girlfriend. I can’t get off this bus soon enough, so as soon as we reach Lake Starlight, I step into the aisle. Great-Grandma Dori and Ethel are talking to Earl about heading to Sunrise Bay to drop off Rylan, so he takes the opportunity to ambush me in the aisle.

“Just so you know, I am a reciprocator and I’m usually rewarded with my name being shouted like a plea from her lips.” He winks as his hard body slides by mine.

An electric current zaps my body, concentrating between my thighs. Okay, so the guy is a little attractive, I’ll give him that. But attitude changes everything, and he’s got it in spades.

“Thanks, Grandma, I’ll catch an Uber from here.” Rylan says his goodbyes to Ethel.

Grandma Dori stops me before I can get my suitcase. She looks behind her then back at me. “Just in case there is a party for me, I don’t want a stripper. Your great-grandfather would roll over in his grave having some man’s thing swinging in my face.”

Mayday. Mayday. I have to stop my mind from forming a visual. But nope. It’s right there. Great-Grandma Dori in a chair while some stripper’s dick bounces to the beat of “Pony” by Ginuwine.

“I should mention though.” She looks behind her again. Dion’s already off the bus and I see Dad hugging him on the sidewalk. “I like strawberry cake, but marble is my favorite. With the whipped frosting, not buttercream. And definitely none of that fondant stuff.”

“Noted.” I nod. “No strippers and a marble cake with whipped frosting. You know… if there’s a party for you.”

“Yes, don’t go planning one or anything. I don’t want to be any trouble.”

I have no idea how she keeps a straight face.

“Okay, I’m going to say hi to Dad. Thanks for the ride.”

I step off the van, and my dad smiles at me. “There’s my girl.”

He opens his arms for me to fall into. If only I could suck back the tears that build up the instant he’s holding me, as though he’s ready to take on my problems. But as I clutch the back of his jacket and he runs his hands down my back, I open my eyes.

Rylan Greene is staring at me while two tears run down my cheeks. There’s no smugness or arrogance, just general concern as our eyes meet.

Damn it.

I step back and wipe my tears away. The last person I’d ever want to see me at my weakest is Rylan.

My dad takes my bag. “Come on. I made a special meal for you guys.”

We follow Dad down the sidewalk to his restaurant, Terra and Mare. At the doors, I give one fleeting look over my shoulder. Sure enough, Rylan is stepping into an Uber without a look back. I stop myself from caring what he thinks because I’m clearly the furthest thing from his mind.

3

Evie Stone

(Nine Years Old)

Juno and Colton’s Eldest Daughter

“Great-Grandma is taking me to get a new dress!” I tell my brother, Mason.

“You’re gonna make me die!” he yells into his microphone.

“Die? Just because I’m getting a dress?” I sit on the couch in my mom’s office. It’s where the video game console is because Mason is addicted. At least that’s what my mom says and keeping the games in here keeps him from being able to play for too long.

“Conor!” he yells at our cousin into his microphone, and I realize he’s not even listening to me.

I get up and head into the kitchen. Mom’s making dinner.

“When is she gonna come?” I ask, sliding up to the breakfast bar.

Mom chops up some lettuce and puts it in a bowl. Taco Tuesday is my favorite, but I’d rather have a night alone with Great-Grandma Dori.

“She said soon. But I’d really prefer it if you two ate here and then went shopping.” My mom raises her eyebrows and I think she might be asking my opinion.

I never get a choice around here. “Great-Grandma promised me Lard Have Mercy pie.”

My mom walks over to the fridge and grabs the cheese while meat sizzles in the pan. “I think I should go with you. I mean, now that she’s using the retirement van as her mode of transportation since Ethel lost her driver’s license, I’m not sure it’s safe. I could drive you two and drop you off?”

“Mom. This is special. I never get Great-Grandma all to myself.”

Her shoulders fall and she blows out a breath. Her red hair, which is the same as mine, is falling loose from her ponytail. “I know. We’re a big family and you never get as much attention as you want.”

The garage door opens and Dad walks in before petting Goldie on the head and taking off his coat. He’s got the best job in the world. He’s a vet and spends his whole day around animals. I want to be like him one day.

“Daddy!” I jump off the stool and run to hug him.

He hugs me tightly and kisses the top of my head. “Hey, kiddo, I heard tonight’s a special night?”

He eyes my mom with a look I don’t like. It’s like the time he asked me about a sleepover at my cousin Maven’s, but my mom had to tell me she’d gotten sick and it was canceled. This time better not be like that.

“Yep. I’m getting a new dress for her birthday.”

He crouches in front of me because my dad is tall. He towers over my mom so much he complains about his neck every time they kiss. But he still kisses her all the time. It’s so gross.

“Don’t mention the party. It’s supposed to be a surprise.” He tilts his head.

I nod.

“I’m not sure it’s much of a surprise,” Mom says.

“Where’s Mas?” Dad asks me.

I point down the hall as though we can’t all hear him screaming about his video game. Dad heads down there. A second later, Mason screams as if someone is murdering him. Dad walks out with the controller and the headset, Mason following.

“Dad, I was playing Conor! He’s going to brag that he beat me,” my brother whines.

“That’s it for today. I had a horrible day and the last thing I want to listen to is your Bailey temper.”

“I’m a Stone,” Mason says.

“And a Bailey,” Mom says, smiling sweetly at my dad.

“More like he’s a Stone with the Bailey temper,” I say and smile when Dad ruffles my hair. I reposition my headband.

“I can’t believe our son gets Savannah’s temper and she’s got sweet Asher who helps out at the Northern Lights Retirement Center every Sunday.” Dad shakes his head. “Genetics make no sense.”

“If it helps, I’m not sure Savannah understands it either. I’m thinking Asher got Liam’s temperament and Brinley, well, she’s all—”

“Savannah,” all four of us say in unison and laugh.

Brinley is nice to me. She’s really pretty and always wears awesome clothes, and her lip gloss is the perfect shade. But I’ve heard her talk to her parents. Once, she and Aunt Savannah screamed at one another for ten minutes straight until Uncle Liam went in there. I can’t imagine yelling at my mom.

The front door opens and Great-Grandma Dori walks in. “I’m here!”

Mason and I run down the hallway and attach ourselves to her legs. But not too hard because my mom warned us that Great-Grandma is pretty old now and we have to be careful not to knock her off balance.

“I see you still have a key,” my dad says, gaze shifting to my mom.

“Oh, Colton, you should feel lucky. In case anything should happen, I can get inside and help where I’m needed.”

My dad kisses my great-grandma on the cheek. “I know. You’re always looking out for us.”

Mom places the spatula down and my dad ventures into the kitchen to watch over dinner while Mom hugs Grandma hello.

“Funny how I always find you two in the kitchen,” Great-Grandma says.

“I’m thinking about coming with you guys,” Mom says. “I could get some work done at Brewed Awakenings while you guys shop.”

My great-grandma’s smile turns into a frown. I’m with her. This is our time.

She pats my mom on the shoulder. “No, we’re good. I got Earl, and don’t worry, I just saw the nurse give him his narcolepsy medicine.”

A gurgle or some weird sound comes out of my mom and she looks over at Dad.

He says, “To be honest, Dori, we don’t feel entirely comfortable with the two of you going out on your own.”

“Colton Stone!” Great-Grandma says.

Mason and I step back and find chairs at the kitchen table because Great-Grandma used our dad’s full name and she’s got that look in her eye. The same one she used on Uncle Denver when she was holding my baby cousin Abby and he tried to tell her how to do it safely.

“I might be turning ninety, but I am not delusional. I am not senile. I am not losing my mind. I would never put your daughter, my great-granddaughter, in harm’s way.”

My dad’s not afraid of my great-grandma normally, but he looks as though he might be now. He always says he’s known her his entire life, and she’s helped him succeed. That she even helped him get Mom to marry him. I can’t imagine why Mom wouldn’t have wanted to marry my dad. He’s the best.

“With all due respect, you just said the man who will be driving you suffers from a condition where he falls asleep without warning. What do you expect us to think?” Dad asks.

Great-Grandma puts her hands on her hips. “I expect you to know that I’m handling the situation. I just told you he took his medicine. He’s fine.”

“Fine.” My dad nods to my mom, and she disappears into her office down the hall.

“Glad we’re all in agreement,” Great-Grandma says and looks at me. “Get your coat so we can blow this pop stand.”

I rush to the front door before anyone changes their mind.

“Pop stand?” Mason asks, sitting at the table and waiting to eat. He’s probably excited to have a night with just Mom and Dad. I like those nights too.

“It’s a term from way back when…” Dad doesn’t finish after Great-Grandma’s eyes go wide. “Hey, it’s taco night.” He does a little dance on his way to the table. Maybe he is afraid of Grandma.

I hop after I put on my shoes and zip up my coat. “Let’s go.”

Mom comes down the hallway and hands me a small purse. “We got this for you. I thought you’d love to take it with you. It’s like Brinley’s, right?”

“OMG, Mom!” The small navy purse lays crosswise and it’s just like Brinley’s. “I love it!”

“Cute,” Great-Grandma says.

“Why are you getting a dress, Evie?” Mason asks from the table.

“What do you care?” He wasn’t interested when I was talking about it before. Why does he care now?

“Just in case there’s a party, Evie should be prepared with a very pretty dress,” Great-Grandma says.

“But there—” Dad’s hand covers Mason’s mouth.

“Evie,” Mom says and squats, opening her arms. “Have fun.” She squeezes me tightly and whispers in my ear, “And if anything happens, find someone you know.”

“Okay.”

“You two have fun.” My dad hugs Great-Grandma then me.

We walk out toward the big van and I spot Earl reading a magazine in the driver’s seat. He sees us and perks up, shutting the magazine. Once we’re in the van, Earl lets me decide what station to listen to as he backs up out of our driveway. I wave to my mom and dad from the window. My mom looks like she did the day I went to kindergarten.

“Can I see your purse, sweetie?” Great-Grandma asks.

I hand it to her. “It’s just like Brinley’s. I love it so much.”

She smiles and opens it as my head bobs to the music.

“I knew it.” Great-Grandma takes out a cell phone. Great-Grandma struggles a bit but opens the sliding door and throws the phone into a snow bank. “Trust me, my a… butt.” She smiles at me and hands me back the purse.

My eyes are wide with confusion. If Mom and Dad got me a phone, why didn’t they tell me? And why would Great-Grandma throw it away? “They got me a phone?”

“No, they put it in there to track us.”

“You just threw away my phone?” Why would Great-Grandma do that?

She smiles at me. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t a phone for you. Besides, we don’t need to be tracked, do we? We’re two girls out on the town.”

“Two girls and Earl,” I say.

“Two girls and Earl out looking for some fun.” Great-Grandma puts her arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple.

Best night this week.

4

Palmer Ferguson

(Fourteen and a half years old)

Sedona and Jamison’s Oldest Child

I walk into Lard Have Mercy to find my cousin Linus already in the booth in the back. He sent me a text to meet him here, so I think something happened at school today.

When I slide into the booth across from him, he peeks up from his fries. Oh, his eyes look red-rimmed and sad. Shit, I don’t know that I’m the person to make him feel better. Didn’t Calista and Dion return today? Why didn’t he go to them?

But I know the answer. There are so many Bailey cousins—twenty-six in all—we tend to cluster with the ones we’re closest in age to. Linus and I grew up together. Although the Bailey Triplets are only a year older, right now they’re sophomores and we’re freshmen. Somehow, that difference feels greater this year.

He lifts his hands and signs, Thanks for coming.

I can read lips for the most part, but in my family, it’s become second nature to sign when they’re around me. I’m so grateful I have a family willing to learn sign language, especially since our family is so big. I’m the only deaf Bailey, but everyone makes an effort.

I nod. Sure. What’s up?

She broke up with me.

I wish I were surprised, but the other thing about having twenty-six cousins is that sometimes people befriend you to get closer to one of them. It could be that Linus’s ex-girlfriend, Callie, really wanted Lance or Easton. Since I don’t attend Lake Starlight High, I can only guess based on what Brinley and Phoebe say.

I’m sorry. I frown so he knows I mean it.

He nods and splashes malt vinegar onto his fries. I steal one from his plate. Linus slides the plate into the middle for us to share.

Did she say why? I sign, chewing my fry.

He shrugs. She likes me as a friend.

I frown and he nods as though he knows what I’m thinking. Linus is tall and lanky. He’s slightly awkward, although I mean that in the most loving way. It’s all just hormones and puberty kicking in. Callie will surely regret this decision next year once Linus has filled out.

You don’t want her anyway. She doesn’t appreciate you.

His hands lift. I knew you’d say that.

I laugh. Isn’t that why you called me here?

At least he smiles at that. It eases my own heartache for him.

I’m not looking for an ego boost.

Are you sure? I could tell you how hot and hunky you are.

He laughs. You’re my cousin, so you don’t really count.

Hey, I’m still a girl. And I have eyes.

He picks up another fry. I don’t know why I care, other than it’s embarrassing. I have to tell the family now because I asked her to come to Great-Grandma’s party.

You did? I open my eyes wide.

He nods. She was my girlfriend.

This is so much more serious than I thought. Linus is the romantic one out of us. He believes in soul mates and finding “the one,” whereas I’m still not sure about any of that. There’s so much I want to do. I want to travel and experience living by myself. Mom is always saying I should be able to stand on my own feet before settling down. Dad jokes with her that she’s trying to make sure I don’t make what she always felt was a mistake in her own life. Then Mom shakes her head and Dad kisses her until she’s nodding.

I thought my mom and dad were great examples of young working, but I know now about all the bumps they had along the way. Because my dad was a famous soccer star for a brief moment in time, Google isn’t my friend. It helped me find out a lot that I don’t think they were ready for me to know.

You’re only fourteen, I sign.

Exactly. Don’t you want to have your first kiss?

Did you kiss her? I cringe and I wish my dislike for her wasn’t so obvious. I only met Callie once, when the weather was nice by the lake. I took Isla down there to feed the ducks and Linus and Callie were lying on a blanket like two fifty-year-olds, having a picnic. Maybe if he wanted a kiss, he should’ve taken her there at twilight.

He answers my question with a nod.

What was it like?

I’ve never kissed a boy. There’s this guy, Zane, at my school for the deaf in Anchorage. He just transferred in this year from the mainstream public. But I’m not ready to share anything about him with Linus yet.

I was too scared and nervous to know. It’s a blur. Maybe that’s why she broke up with me.

I squeeze his forearm. No way. How many guys could she have kissed?

I don’t even want to know. If it’s a lot, then I hate to say it, but she’s definitely not the girl for Linus. I always pictured him with a sweet girl. An inexperienced girl. A girl who fell for his gentle nature, because Linus is going to treat his girlfriend like a prized possession.

Anyway, I got the pictures. He slides out the packages of pictures. Took me forever to print them.

Linus and I are in charge of arranging the pictures in the shape of a nine and a zero for the party. We spent all last weekend scouring pictures of Great-Grandma’s life.

I lean back in the booth and flip through them. I find one of her and our great-grandpa, who we never met. It’s actually a picture of her ice skating and my great-grandpa watching her from afar. It’s the look on his face that makes me think true love might exist.

I’m not even sure why I’m so cynical about love. Everyone I know is married to who they say is their true love. And Zane makes my stomach all fluttery like movies and books say should happen. But then I think of Great-Grandma Dori and how she’s spent so much of her life without my great-grandpa, and I wonder if she prefers it that way. She’s in charge of her life and doesn’t let anyone tell her how she should live it.

Linus taps my hand. Stop.

What?

Stop thinking about how you never want to be tied down to someone.

Yep, that’s why Linus is like no other boy. He remembers conversations we had that didn’t revolve around sports, video games, or girls. He was there when I Googled my dad for the first time. When I found all the rumors and the truth they hadn’t told me. My dad was arrested for drunk driving on the same day I was born—but not in Lake Starlight. He was in Scotland. Linus stood by my side when I confronted my parents. He was there when they told me everything that happened. And he sat in my room as I stared out my bedroom window, wrapping my head around the news.

He bends down so I look at him. It exists. Look where they are now.

I know he’s right, but it doesn’t change how I feel about being lied to. Let’s just do this. We have to complete this and… I stop mid-sentence because Linus is waving his hands at me.

When I turn, I find Great-Grandma walking in with Evie. I slyly gather the pictures and put them in envelopes without them seeing.

“Linus! Palmer!” I read Great-Grandma’s lips. I think she might be yelling because I see Linus cringe.

We each file out of the booth because we know what to expect. She shuffles over and hugs us into her over-perfumed blouse. At least we’re both taller than her now, so our heads no longer get smashed into her chest. After she releases us, I look at a very unhappy Evie.

What’s wrong? I sign.

She grabs Great-Grandma’s hand and holds it tightly. “It’s my night with her.”

I stifle a laugh.

“We were about to go anyway,” Linus says to her, still signing for me.

He shoves the pictures into his backpack and digs out his wallet to pay for the fries. Damn, I really wanted to get a pie while we were here, but I get Evie’s reaction. I understand how lost you can feel in a family our size. There’s only one Great-Grandma.

I kiss Great-Grandma’s cheek. See you on—see you later.

Linus kisses our grandma’s cheek. After we each say goodbye to a now-happy Evie, we walk toward the exit.

I sign to Linus, I feel like an ass.

He shakes his head. We all know she knows.

Just then, Great-Grandma must call Linus’s name because he touches my forearm to stop us. He nods toward her and we turn.

She signs, Black and white is so much nicer than color.

I realize Linus is right, so I decide to play with her a little. For what?

She narrows her eyes at us, and I laugh, linking my arm through Linus’s and turning us to leave before Great-Grandma throws a pie in my face. As we open the door, I plow right into a hard chest. I look up and sigh when I discover it’s my dad.

He lifts his hands and I wish I could put them in cement. Linus, give us a minute.

Linus nods and heads around the corner to the gazebo.

Can we talk?

I shrug.

Your mother is worried. She thinks we waited too long and now you’re somehow scarred for life. You’re too young to realize it, but love is complicated. I handled everything wrong and I’ve made my amends.

I look away, but Dad takes my chin in his thumb and his forefinger, pulling my face back to meet his gaze.

It’s enough, Palmer. You were eighteen months old when all this went down. I’m not sure why you think your entire life is a lie. The fact that your mother and I love one another, that we raised you in a loving home, gave you everything you wanted, seems to count for nothing to you now.

His hands move faster the madder he gets, but I’m reading his lips too.

I sign, You guys lied.

We lied by omission, and we always planned to tell you. You just beat us to it. Yeah, we probably waited too long and should have realized you’d Google me at some point, but your mother is broken, and I will not have it. Be mad at me. I’m the one who allowed her to leave.

I place my hands on his to stop him from signing. She left you when you needed help. You let her leave when she was pregnant. What does that say about love?

He’s already shaking his head. Love is complicated. But I will not allow your mother to be upset over this. We forgave one another a long time ago. End of story.

I have to go work on the project for Grandma’s party. I huff and cross my arms. I turn to leave, but he lightly grabs my elbow.

You need to process this and flush it. Do you hear me? I will give you until Saturday. He has his “mad Dad” face.

I say nothing, and he heads into the diner. As predicted, he’s buying a pie for my mom because she’s upset.

I get that this whole thing has upset her, but I’m upset too. I have no idea how to process the fact that my dad was a drunk and my mom left when she was pregnant with me. The first eighteen months of my life were spent without my father. How am I supposed to get over that?

5

Brinley Kelly

(Fifteen and a half years old)

Savannah and Liam’s Daughter

“I was a cute baby.” I’m sitting on the couch with a takeout container of orange chicken from Wok 4 You. “Maybe the slide show should be only of me.”

My mom glances over from her spot on the floor, and her gaze shifts to my dad, who’s on the other side of the couch by me. They share a look that says, “listen to your daughter.’”

“It’ll be equal between all families,” my mom says.

My dad presses Play on the slide show again and exchanges his chow fun for fried rice. Asher, my younger brother, takes the chow fun and fights with his chopsticks to get a noodle.

I do love my family. My mom is a tad too protective and demanding at times, but she makes up for it during our shopping sprees. My dad is totally laid back. Although I used to be embarrassed that he runs the only tattoo parlor in Lake Starlight, I realized as I got older that most of my friends’ parents hold him in high regard. He even said he might allow me to get a tattoo before I turn eighteen, but I better be sold on the design.

Asher takes after my dad in the fact they’re always doing something for someone else. Fundraisers, charity auctions, Dad letting someone use his truck. Asher likes to hang out at Great-Grandma Dori’s old folks’ home on Sundays, reading to the residents, playing chess, or just talking. Not sure what he could possibly have in common with an eighty-five-year-old war veteran, but he finds common ground. I love him, but I never tell him that because hello… he’s my brother.

“Oh!” I hold out my chopsticks toward the screen to get my dad to stop on the picture of my grandparents, Tim and Beth Bailey, who died well before I was born. Grandma is holding one of her nine kids and Grandpa is peering over her shoulder, staring into the camera, his hands lovingly resting on his wife’s shoulders.

Mom looks at my dad and they share a sad smile of sorts.

My phone vibrates in the pocket of my sweatshirt, and Mom’s attention quickly shifts in my direction, her usual scowl in place when my phone rings while we’re eating. I’m not sure why she’s so adamant about it—she’s taken multiple business calls during dinners. She just says she’s running a huge company and if someone is calling her, there must be a problem that needs fixing immediately.

I silence my phone without checking the screen, although I’m ninety percent sure it’s Kenzie. She wants to talk about what we’re wearing to my great-grandma’s ninetieth birthday party. Of course I care, but she’s a little too worried. Even mentioned having someone else do our hair and makeup. I said half the people in attendance won’t even see us through their cataracts.

She doesn’t think I know, but I do. She likes my cousin Easton. Officially he’s my cousin, but he’s really more like a brother to me. He, Lance, and I have done everything together since we were born.

First day of pre-school. All three of us in attendance.

First day of kindergarten. All three of us in the same class because it was easier on our parents.

First soccer practice. We were all there for about five minutes. Until Easton kicked the ball, hit Lance in the head, and Lance went to sit on Aunt Brooklyn’s lap. I sat down in the grass and took off my new cleats. In the end, Easton kept with soccer only until T-ball started.

Easton and Lance are close and both of them like Kenzie, which is a problem. I’m hoping Easton acts like a grown-up and doesn’t act on it because it would crush Lance. In truth, Lance is too good for Kenzie. Not that Easton isn’t or that Kenzie is unworthy of either of my cousins. But the girl was in love with Dion for the longest time too. She likes Easton for his reputation and the fact that he’s going to be the starting pitcher and he’s only a sophomore. If she knew that Lance has a trust of millions coming his way once he turns twenty-one, she’d probably like him best. But we’ve all been sworn to secrecy with life-threatening consequences should that info leak.

While Mom goes into the kitchen, Dad restarts the slide show. She stands in the kitchen doorway and says, “I look so young. What happened?” She looks into the mirror, pulling at the sides of her face to make the skin taut.

“You’re beautiful. Stop it.” My dad hands me his fried rice and I pass him the chicken. “You know I’m way too hot to be with anyone who’s not a ten.”

“Ten?” Asher asks.

“You know one through ten, ten being the best,” Dad says.

Mom rolls her eyes. “Seriously, let’s not teach him how to rate girls.”

“I think Mom’s as high as infinity. Infinity plus infinity.” Asher smiles his huge kiss-ass grin at my mom.

She eats it up by leaning over the table and kissing his forehead. “Thank you, Ash, but we don’t rate women. Women are equal to men.”

Dad lets out a playful annoyed growl like “here we go again,” but I know he believes it because he’s always making sure I know how to take care of myself and handle myself in any situation that might come up. He’s even taken me out on his bike a few times. Well, in the parking lot of Northern Lights Retirement, but it still counts.

“Oh, stop it,” Mom says and swats Dad’s leg, only for him to lean forward and pucker his lips.

Oh God, they’re going to kiss.

“Close your eyes, Asher,” I say, shutting mine.

Since I refuse to look, all I hear are Mom’s giggles and Dad’s soft voice—that I thankfully cannot hear because… ew.

“You can open them,” Dad says.

When I do, Mom is on his lap and his face is nuzzled into her neck as if he’s going to suck her blood. I sigh and place my fried rice on the table, going to the kitchen to grab more water.

On my way back, a set of headlights shine through the front window. We all look at one another as though one of us must know who’s here.

Since no one else gets up, I peek through the window and see the Northern Lights Retirement Center van. Great-Grandma eases out and shuffles to the front door. The van pulls away, which means she’ll need a ride home. Excitement fills me because maybe my dad will let me drive her home with him in the car.

I open the door and she strolls past me without even a hello.

“Hello, Great-Grandma,” I say, but all she does is raise her hand with her back to me.

“Where’s Ethel?” my dad asks her.

She sits in my spot on the sofa and I sit in my mom’s spot on the floor. Great-Grandma’s gaze stops on the screen. Asher purses his lips at me from across the coffee table like “what do we say or do?”

“Looking at old pictures?” Great-Grandma asks.

Mom leans forward and presses some buttons on the laptop hooked up to the television. “Yes, the pictures you gave me when you suggested that maybe someone should make a slide show.” Mom stands off Dad’s lap and he groans.

As much as my parents’ lovey-dovey behavior annoys me—especially when my friends are over—I do hope that whoever I end up with looks at me like my dad looks at my mom. Like he never wants to be far away from her.

“I just meant because you never know when you’d need it and I’m only getting older.”

“Great-Grandma!” Asher shouts as if he’s wondering how she could say that.

She pats his hand. “Don’t worry, I was just at the doctor and the ticker is good.” She pats her chest and we all sigh with relief.

“Are you hungry?” Mom brings Great-Grandma a plate and a fork.

“I could eat.” She assesses all the chopsticks in the containers, no plates to be found.

I’m not sure why my family eats Chinese food like this, but it’s always been the way. Dad says it saves on dishes. It’s one of those weird things you wouldn’t think my mom would go along with, but she does. Sometimes my family makes comments about how my dad changed Mom, but he always says he didn’t change her, he found her hidden deep down under who she thought she was supposed to be.

“I’ll use chopsticks,” Great-Grandma says.

“Are you sure? Do you know how?” my mom asks.

“Savannah, pass me a pair,” Great-Grandma says with no patience.

Mom hands her a set that came with the food and she pulls them apart like a pro, positions them in her fingers, and brings a piece of orange chicken to her mouth. We all watch as if she’s an animal at the zoo, amazed she knows how to use chopsticks.

After she chews, she looks at each of us. “What? You all think I’m so ancient. Let me tell you about the time your grandfather took me to Hong Kong.”

My mom cuddles into Dad’s arms, and Asher and I focus our attention on her. For the next forty-five minutes, Great-Grandma tells us about their trip. Though I never met our great-grandfather, Great-Grandma has a way of making him so vivid that it feels as if we knew him. I wonder who will do that for her one day? Which one of my aunts or uncles will tell stories to the kids about Grandma Dori?

I quickly shake my head because just like Asher, I’d rather think she’ll live forever.

“I can’t believe I’ve never heard that story,” Mom says, swiping tears after she hears how when they came home, she was pregnant with my grandfather.

Great-Grandma shrugs. “He always had this way of knowing what I needed before I did.” Her jaw clenches as though she’s holding back tears. “Anyway, I should go.” She stands.

I get the feeling she would rather pop up off the couch, but I give her a hand to get up on her feet.

“I’ll drive you back.” My dad rises from the sofa and kisses my mom on the temple.

I bite my lip and stare at my dad until his attention shifts to me.

He laughs and shakes his head. “Ask your great-grandma. She might not feel safe.”

“Great-Grandma, can I drive you back to Northern Lights?” I fish out my shoes because one thing about Great-Grandma is she never denies us great-grandkids.

“Of course you can. I didn’t live to be almost ninety without taking any chances.” She winks as I slip into my shoes.

In Mom’s SUV, I drive with Great-Grandma in the front and my dad in the back. We walk her to the door of her apartment and say goodbye with hugs and kisses on the cheek.

On the way home, Dad tells me how much it feels as if she’s his own grandma and how great it is to feel close to Mom’s side of the family. And then he drops a bomb I’m not prepared for.

“So if Kenzie likes Easton or Lance and she’s upfront with telling you, speaking as someone who was in her position once upon a time, don’t tell her she can’t pursue something. Because you might be lucky enough to have your best friend be like your sister-in-law someday.”

His words shock me because hello, we’re fifteen, and Kenzie and I promised one another we’d go to college together.

“Okaaay.” But I know I won’t allow her to come between them. I park the SUV in the garage, and we exit the vehicle.

My dad puts his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve gotten too old, too fast.”

I roll my eyes though I like it when he says that. We walk in to find Asher and Mom tucked under a blanket with awe-stricken expressions.

“What did we miss?” Dad asks.

Mom points at the television. “She left a jump drive with the pictures from their Hong Kong trip.”

Dad and I sit and watch the slide show of pictures of a much younger Great-Grandma Dori and our great-grandfather. It’s weird to think of the life she lived before me. Great-Grandma was my age once.

I hope one day I’m in her position, having been blessed to watch my entire family grow around me. She’s been through some of the worst heartbreak anyone could imagine, but she never let it make her crumble. For that alone, I want to be like Great-Grandma Dori one day.

6

Maverick Thorne

(Twenty-five years old)

Griffin’s Son and Phoenix’s Stepson

“We’re going to begin our descent into Anchorage. Please find your seats and fasten your seat belts,” the pilot says over the intercom.

I move from the couch to one of the chairs in my dad’s private plane. Calista was supposed to be here with us. She was going to help me announce this to my family. Make sure Phoenix and dad are okay when they hear the news. All my family knows is that I’m bringing a plus-one to Great-Grandma Dori’s birthday party. They don’t know who that plus-one is. But Calista flew out early because she needed to get out of Los Angeles, which I get. It’s so different down there from Lake Starlight.

I’m not sure how Dad and Phoenix are able to go back and forth so easily. Of course, they spend the majority of their time in Lake Starlight since Jack reached school age and they decided they wanted to give him a “normal” childhood.

I enjoy it up here too, but the pressure to move to Silicon Valley is weighing on me. The game I’m developing is finally ready to pitch. But if I move, that means I leave Calista to stay in the LA house by herself, which I’m sure she’d manage, but I’d also have to leave Raelynn.

I smile at her sitting across from me. She’s nervous and probably wishes I would’ve dealt with this already instead of leaving her to walk into the lion’s den that will be my great-grandma’s birthday party.

Raelynn is Tyler Vaughn’s niece, and Tyler Vaughn is Phoenix’s arch-nemesis. He screwed over my dad years ago, but Dad doesn’t let that get under his skin. But Tyler and Phoenix have been at odds and pitted against each other since Phoenix came into the industry.

If I’d known who Raelynn was before I met her, maybe I wouldn’t have approached her at that party. No, I definitely still would have. Something about her just drew me to her.

It took until date five before she told me her connection to Tyler. She admitted that she knew who I was from pictures. Having a dad who’s a well-known music producer, a mom who’s a famous Hollywood actress, and a stepmom who’s a pop star, puts you in magazine pictures more often than I’d like. But I grew up in the spotlight, so I’m immune to it by now.

I squeeze Raelynn’s knee. She tears her eyes from looking out the window and offers me a soft smile. But we both know it’s bullshit. Right now, I just want to rip off the Band-Aid and let the words fall from my mouth, like, as soon as we meet Phoenix and Dad at the car.

The plane lands on the runway and the dusting of snow reminds me of how cold it probably is.

“So they’re going to meet us right now?” Raelynn unbuckles her seat belt and watches the flight attendant prepare for the stairway to lower.

I deny the urge to look out the window for fear that Phoenix will be there. A woman I love like a mother. A woman I might crush with this announcement.

“Should be.” I unbuckle my seat belt and grab her bag, handing it to her.

“It’s weird. I feel like I know them already when it’s all just from magazines and interviews they’ve done.” Raelynn puts on her coat, and I see her hands shake as she attempts to zip it up.

I cover her hands and do it for her. “Relax, Rae. I’m here. I won’t let them…” I shake my head from my mind going to places I know my parents wouldn’t go. “This is going to shock them, but that’s all. They’ll deal with it.”

“I wish you would’ve told them over the phone or FaceTime. I didn’t have to come.” Her head falls forward and her deep auburn hair falls like a curtain on both sides of her face.

I tuck the strands behind her ears and cup her cheeks. “It’s okay. It’s going to be fine. I love you.”

She nods and nibbles the inside of her cheek.

“Let’s just get this over with.” I take her clammy hand, wishing my palm was dry and confident so I could reassure her.

“Have a great visit, Mr. Thorne,” Aubrey, the flight attendant, says.

“Maverick,” I say. She called me Maverick until I turned twenty-one, then suddenly I was Mr. Thorne.

She smiles but doesn’t respond. “Have a great time in Lake Starlight.”

Aubrey smiles at Raelynn. She’d call her Miss Vaughn if she knew her last name, but she doesn’t.

We walk down the stairs, and there they are. Phoenix is holding up a huge sign that reads, Welcome Home, Maverick and Jack limply holds another one that says Plus-One. Phoenix elbows Jack to be more enthusiastic, but the kid’s twelve. I’m sure he’s mortified she’s making him do this.

Raelynn’s hand goes limp in mine, but I grip it tighter before she runs back up the stairs and begs the pilot to fly her home to Los Angeles.

My dad comes out of the SUV and tucks his phone into his pocket. The hair at his temples is grayer than when I saw him last, which was only a month ago. I’m thankful he’s opted not to do plastic surgery. The last thing I would want is for him to look younger than me.

When our feet hit the pavement, Phoenix jumps up and down, dropping the sign and hugging me.

“She’s so pretty,” she whispers in my ear. Hopefully, she hasn’t examined Raelynn closely enough to see her resemblance to Tyler.

I hug her tightly because although I saw my dad last month, it’s been a little longer since I saw Phoenix. “Yes, she is.”

“I’m Maverick’s dad, Griffin,” my dad introduces himself as if Raelynn’s a moron and doesn’t know who he is already.

“Hello, Mr. Thorne,” she says.

He chuckles. “Please call me Griffin.”

Hearing the introductions, Phoenix pulls away from me and puts out her hand to Raelynn. “And I’m Phoenix.”

Raelynn stares at Phoenix like a starstruck thirteen-year-old in front of her favorite boy band member. I half expect her to break out in tears. She never told me she was a fan of Phoenix’s, but then again, after the news about her uncle being Tyler Vaughn, we steered clear of any conversation about my stepmom.

Phoenix doesn’t give Raelynn a chance to respond before she wraps her in a hug as if I just announced we’re engaged or something. But I’ve never brought a woman home before.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Raelynn says.

I put my hand on the small of her back. “This is my girlfriend, Raelynn.”

Dad and Phoenix smile at us like creepy robots until I become uncomfortable. Now definitely isn’t the time to tell them. Maybe I’ll let them get to know her better first.

“Jack!” I shout and beeline over to him. I move to hug him, but I see he’d like me to do anything but that, so I fist bump him. “This is Raelynn.”

“Hey,” he says with a nod.

“Oh, he’s just pouty because he wants to go over to Ryder and Rohan’s.” Phoenix puts her arm around Jack, and he circles out of it.

“Go,” I say. “I was going to take Raelynn on a tour of Lake Starlight.”

“That’ll take all of five minutes,” Jack murmurs.

“Come on. We’ll drop you off on our way downtown,” my dad says.

Jack finally perks up.

“I wanted to give all three of you my game anyway. Get all of your perspectives.”

“What did you change?” Jack’s face lights up as we pile into the SUV.

Phoenix gives me a soft smile for being able to find a connection with my brother even though there’s a thirteen-year age difference.

“Let’s just pick up Ryder and Rohan and bring them over to our house so Cleo only has to worry about the twins,” Phoenix says to Dad once we’re pulling out of the airport.

“Are you sure? Let’s remember the broken television last time they came over.”

Phoenix waves off Dad’s concern.

I mouth, “Broken television?” to Jack.

He snickers. “Rohan. He’s got a temper.”

“The Bailey temper,” we all say in unison except for Raelynn, laughing right after.

“I should be thankful you’re a Thorne?” Raelynn asks, humor in her tone.

“He’s still a Bailey at heart.” Phoenix turns in her seat and pats my knee.

She’s right. It took time, but the Baileys are my family.

“So tell me about the party,” I say, putting my hand on Raelynn’s knee. I squeeze to say, “See, things are good.”

“You know Grandma Dori, acting like she has no idea what’s going on but still showing up and giving ideas to people.” Dad looks at me through the rearview mirror. I catch his vision shift to where my hand is on Raelynn.

We talk about the plans that have been made for the party and the fact that it’s going to be a surprise, but not really. We pull up at Uncle Denver and Aunt Cleo’s house to find the Northern Lights Retirement Center van parked along the curb.

“He didn’t tell me she was here,” Phoenix whispers.

Great-Grandma Dori and Uncle Denver are in the garage, white bags between them. Uncle Denver’s hands are up, and Great-Grandma Dori’s finger is pointed at him.

“Uh-oh,” Phoenix says and gets out of the SUV.

“I’m staying put for this one.” Dad sits idle in the driveway.

I climb out of the car, but Raelynn shakes her head. She’s shy, so I allow her the reprieve of meeting two of the Bailey’s most outgoing family members.

“I’m in charge of balloon bouquets. You want to talk decorations, you’re talking to the wrong person.” Uncle Denver pushes a hand through his hair while also pushing a stroller with his one-year-old twins, Abigail and Allison, back and forth. “And can we just admit you know?”

Grandma Dori says, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hello,” Phoenix says with a great big wave of both her hands.

Uncle Denver blows out a breath. “Thank you. G’Ma D just dropped off some decorations she says she found on clearance at the party store. You know, just in case one of us throws a big party one of these days.” He rolls his eyes but then notices me. “Mav!”

He’s one of the few people I stopped correcting when he called me Mav instead of Maverick. Over the years, it started to make me feel good rather than annoyed.

He stops moving the stroller to come to me and the girls whine. “Oh, hold up.” Uncle Denver brings the stroller to me, giving me a one-arm man hug while still pushing it back and forth. “They like movement, so I’ll do about anything not to stop this stroller from moving.”

Rohan runs out the door with his game controller.

Ryder follows with a backpack. He waves to his dad. “We’ll be at Aunt Phoenix’s.”

Aunt Cleo follows a minute later, and she looks not nearly as put-together as she usually does. I think she’s wearing Uncle Denver’s T-shirt and sweatpants. “Maverick!”

Aunt Cleo beelines over and hugs me. She smells like green beans, but I don’t tell her that.

“Hey, Aunt Cleo,” I say.

“Maverick?” Great-Grandma Dori finally stops talking to Phoenix and hugs me tightly. “Too tall.” Her bluish hair doesn’t even reach my chin now. “Where’s your date?”

“What?”

She shakes her head. “Someone said something about you bringing someone home with you?”

Phoenix, Uncle Denver, and Aunt Cleo all roll their eyes at the same time. I kind of like the fact Great-Grandma Dori wants to control her party but tries not to ruin their surprise.

“She’s in the SUV,” I say.

“Oh.” She leaves me in a whoosh, and soon the back door of the SUV is open.

Shit.

Raelynn’s eyes widen and she looks over Great-Grandma Dori’s head at me.

“She’s sweet. Shy,” Phoenix chimes in from the garage.

Great-Grandma Dori is asking a lot of questions, and before I realize what has happened, Jack’s eyes widen, and his mouth falls ajar.

Dad rolls down his window. “Maverick!”

His tone is the same one he used when I was ten and I didn’t tell anyone the toilet overflowed. They only knew once the water dripped into his new studio.

Rohan’s head peeks out from the back of the SUV. “Maverick’s girlfriend’s uncle is Tyler Vaughn.”

I should’ve been prepared for Great-Grandma Dori to pull out the information before I got a chance to tell everyone myself. Slowly, I turn at the gasp behind me, not knowing if it was Phoenix or Aunt Cleo. Hell, it might’ve been Uncle Denver.

That happy look on Phoenix’s face has been stripped off. “Is that true, Maverick?”

I nod, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

7

Maven Bailey

(Ten years old)

Stella and Kingston’s Eldest Daughter

“What are these called again?” I ask mom before biting into the hard oval candy.

“Jordan Almonds,” Mom answers, helping Mabel tie the ribbon around the box.

Dad picks up four and puts them in a box, then he passes it to me to put on the lid and tie the ribbon. We have two assembly lines going.

I chew and swallow the sweet hard candy mixed with a nut. “I don’t like them.”

My dad laughs. “Yeah, I’m not a fan either.”

“It’s tradition,” Mom says. “Did you know that your great-grandma’s birthday is the same day as her wedding anniversary with your great-grandfather?” She’s switching from Maisey to Mabel, helping each tie the ribbons.

Dad sees her struggling and turns his attention to Maisey for a minute.

To everyone in Lake Starlight, we’re the three M’s. The Bailey M’s—Maven, Maisey and Mabel. Either that or we get called Kingston’s kids or Stella’s babies. None of the nicknames are good ones. My sisters and I are each two years apart as if our parents are the best planners in the world. Last year Dad did something and now they say there will be no more kids. I don’t really know what it was, but my dad was walking around with a frozen bag of peas for a few days. Maybe they ran out of names starting with M’s that they liked.

“The Jordan Almonds are a way of remembering their anniversary too…” Mom continues talking to my little sister.

Mom’s eyes meet Dad’s across the table. They smile at one another before continuing to fill the boxes for Great-Grandma Dori’s birthday party.

“Did you hear that Maverick is back?” my dad asks, clearing his throat only speaking to my mom.

“Does this mean you’ll be MIA tonight, playing his new game?” Mom chuckles. She’s always laughing at Dad, even though he’s not that funny.

“He’s dropping me off a copy. Ryder said it’s awesome. The changes he made…” Dad keeps talking about a video game that my oldest cousin, Maverick, made.

I see my mom getting bored. She doesn’t play video games. I watched my dad play once, but Maisey asks a lot of questions and it gets annoying. Plus, I’d rather read than play a video game.

Dad adds, “But it’s who he brought with him that’s the big news.”

“Who?” Mom perks up and looks at my dad.

“Tyler Vaughn’s niece.”

My mom’s mouth falls open like my little sisters’ used to when my mom would play airplane to feed them.

“Who’s that?” I ask.

Dad looks at me. “The guy who sings that song in the new animated movie. What’s it called?” His eyes narrow and he looks to Mom for the answer.

“That new princess movie, sweetie,” she says.

“Princess Helena?” Maisey asks with excitement.

Mom nods.

“That’s so cool.” Maisey leans back in her seat.

Mabel slumps over the table, looking bored and obviously done helping.

“It is cool, but he and Aunt Phoenix don’t get along,” Dad says.

“So?” I ask.

Dad tugs on one of my braids. “Sometimes people don’t like it when the people they love are with relatives of people they don’t like. It’s complicated.”

“Why?”

He laughs. As usual when our questions trap him in a corner, he looks to my mom to save him.

“You’ll understand when you’re older,” she says, patting Mabel to sit up. Mom whispers something.

Mabel heads to the couch, lies down, and pulls a blanket over herself.

“Why does she get out of doing this?” Maisey whines.

“Because she’s only six.”

“I’m only eight,” Maisey whines again.

“Go,” Mom says.

Maisey shoots me an expression to tease me because she’s free and I’m still stuck helping. But I like it when I have Mom and Dad all to myself.

Then Dad talks about the sports place he owns with Uncle Jamison. When he looks at me, I cringe because I can already guess what he’s going to ask.

“Basketball?” His hopeful eyes take in my expression before I can respond.

Being the eldest daughter of a sports fanatic like my dad and not having one athletic bone in my body sucks. Everyone always says things about my dad and how he could’ve had a baseball career if he hadn’t hurt his shoulder in high school. Mom always gets a sad look on her face whenever anyone talks about it.

Dad runs a youth sports center where he spends his time teaching children how to play baseball, softball, and basketball while Uncle Jamison concentrates on soccer. After my cousin Calista got a scholarship to UCLA and some other boy got one to Stanford, it made them so much busier.

“King,” my mom says in that voice she uses when she’s not really mad, but she’s not happy either.

“You have the height and I think you’d be good at it,” he says to me.

Mom sighs. She gets me in ways my dad doesn’t sometimes. Dad always talks about my height as though it’s a good thing, but I’m too tall for my age. The tallest in my class out of all the girls. I hate it.

“She doesn’t care for sports. She’s more like me. All about books and learning.” Mom winks at me, sliding another finished box over to the completed stack.

“True? I should quit now?” Dad looks at me.

I want to scream for Maisey and Mabel to come back. Maisey would be raising her hand and jumping up and down for my dad to teach her basketball, and Mabel would probably just talk about something else.

I nod, not wanting to say the words that will make my dad sad.

He tugs my braid again. He always does that when he has to think about something a little longer. “What are you reading right now?”

“Because of Mr. Terupt. He’s a schoolteacher in the fifth grade. And…”

Dad laughs and Mom smiles.

I look between them. “What?”

“You just got so excited. As excited as I was the first time I hit a double in baseball. Go on.” He smiles at me and it makes me think maybe he’s not that sad after all that I don’t want to play basketball.

“You get all seven kids’ points of view and…” I ramble on about the book.

Dad and Mom act interested. I hope they are. It’s such a good book.

“Can I borrow it after you’re done?” Dad asks.

“Dad…” I roll my eyes.

“Hey.” He tugs my braid. “I want to read it and find out what about this book excites you so much.”

I sigh. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he says and passes me a box to put a ribbon around.

Our front door opens and that can only mean one person is here. Even though my dad has a huge family—like, a monstrous size—most of them knock or ring the doorbell.

“Yoo-hoo!” Great-Grandma Dori says.

Maisey gets up from her play kitchen and barrels over to the door. Mom runs into the kitchen and throws Dad a bunch of dishtowels, which he tosses over the already prepared boxes. With one swipe of his arm along the table, Dad dumps everything into a bag. Jordan Almonds spill across the floor and I fall to my knees to help my dad pick them up.

Great-Grandma walks in and Dad’s able to hide his hands behind his back, but the candies are all spilling out of my hands.

“What’s going on?” Great-Grandma asks.

“Nothing. Just a spill.”

Grandma inspects my hands, prying my fingers open. “Jordan Almonds? I haven’t seen one of these since way back when I got married.”

“Want one?” I ask.

“It’ll break my dentures. No one my age can eat those things. Funny, I was just bringing over these chocolate color-coded candies. Gold and white and silver.” She drops the bag in her hand on the table, glancing at the pile under the dishtowels at the end of the table.

“For what?” Dad asks, dropping a handful of almonds in the trash.

“Just in case someone needed favors for something. We’re such a big family, there’s always something to celebrate.”

Dad coughs something and my mom lightly touches his arm.

“That’s sweet, Dori.” Mom comes over and inspects the bags. “This is a lot though.”

“There’s more in the van. Earl was supposed to be right behind me.” She looks back toward the front door.

Dad rolls his eyes. “I have no idea why you trust a man with a medical condition like narcolepsy to take you all around town.”

“Earl is fine. He’s happy to do it. And I keep an eye on his medication.”

Dad stomps down the hall and out the door, Maisey following. She’s a total daddy’s girl.

“Dori, Kingston is right. It’s not safe. That’s a serious medical condition and he shouldn’t be driving.” Mom ushers Great-Grandma to sit down, sliding out the chair for her.

“I have great vision and I’d never put myself at risk.” She pats Mom’s hand. “I’m good. How is your mom?”

“I finally convinced her to close Cozy Cottage B&B. She’s been having flare-ups, but all in all, the doctor says she’s good. Just run down. I’m hoping it helps that she’s not running the business anymore.” Mom shrugs. “It was a hard decision.”

“I can imagine. I remember when I finally told Savannah I was done at Bailey Timber. It’s hard to let go. Your mom loved her guests and loved watching them fall in love with Lake Starlight.”

Mom nods but doesn’t say much. Grandma isn’t happy about closing down her bed-and-breakfast and got in a huge fight with Mom over it. Maisey and I sat on the stairs, hearing Mom crying to Dad about how awful she feels, but how there’s no choice. The good thing is that now Grandma comes over here and watches us once a week so Mom and Dad can have a date night.

The front door shuts. Dad walks back into the kitchen and drops two more bags on the counter. “Your driver has no idea I was in the van because he’s asleep.” He sighs, going to the fridge and grabbing a beer. “Anyone else?”

“Nah. If Earl is asleep, I might have to drive home,” Great-Grandma Dori says.

The fridge door slams. “Absolutely not.”

“King,” Mom sighs, glancing over her shoulder at him.

He takes one sip of the beer and slides it on the counter toward the sink. “I’ll drive you and Uber back.”

“Can I go?” I ask.

Maisey jumps next to me with her arm in the air as if we’re at school. “Me too!”

Dad looks at Mom.

“I’ll follow behind,” she says.

“You’re all being ridiculous,” Grandma Dori says.

“You’re going to be ninety. Sheriff Miller took your license away before he retired. When you lost your license, you couldn’t drive your Cadillac, let alone a huge van. You’re planning your entire birthday party while acting like you have no idea it’s happening. Eventually you’re going to have to slow down.” My dad sounds like when he lectures the three of us about picking up our towels and clothes off the bathroom floor or when the toothpaste is dried inside the sink.

“Kingston Bailey, I will slow down when I die.” Great-Grandma stands and walks out of the house.

Dad blows out a breath and throws up his hands.

Mom stands and tucks in her chair. “It’s her life.” She smiles at me. “Go get your coats.”

Maisey and I go into the laundry room and take our coats off the hooks where we leave everything when we get home from school. I realize that Maisey’s got Mabel’s, but we both stop zipping our coats when we see Mom and Dad in a tight hug, Mom’s hands running down Dad’s back like she does to us when we’ve had a bad day.

We look at one another. What are we missing?

8

Ryder Bailey

(Twelve years old)

Denver and Cleo’s son

“I could’ve just stayed at Jack’s,” my brother whines as we enter the suit store. “He’s got, like, ten suits I could borrow.”

“You both need to get your own suits. Your mom put me in charge. Stop complaining.” Dad walks up to Mr. Carlson, who runs the only suit store in our small town. “I need these two fitted for a suit.”

“You’re going to pay money for something we’ll wear once?” Rohan slumps in a leather chair, putting his feet on the table and pulling out his phone.

Dad ignores him. That’s how it usually goes until Rohan wears that thread so thin, then it’s watch out and get as far away as you can before Dad blows. I swear it’s Rohan’s favorite game to play.

I’m the complete opposite of my twin brother. Mom says they figured that out when we were nine months old and Rohan started walking and I waited another two months before I took my first steps. Rohan was always in awe of the television, and I enjoyed having books read to me. I took two-hour-long naps, and Rohan only took half-hour cat naps. To me, Mom makes it sound as if I’m the best kid and Rohan’s the worst, but she’ll occasionally say Rohan is just like Dad and I’m more like her.

Regardless, we’re mirror images of each other. Most people, except our family, can’t tell us apart.

“Just get Ryder fitted. We’re the same size anyway,” Rohan says and doesn’t even look up from his phone.

Dad gives Rohan the look. The one that says, “one more word and my size twelve foot is gonna be up your butt.” But Rohan doesn’t notice, crossing his ankles and continuing to tap on his phone.

“If I’m going through this, so are you,” I say, sitting on the chair opposite him and looking at the suits lined up perfectly on the rack. I’m not surprised we’re going all out for G’Ma D, but I am surprised she’s not here to make sure she likes whatever we pick out. My dad is known as the jokester of all his siblings. I wouldn’t put it past him to have us show up in powder blue ruffled leisure suits like I’ve seen in some movies.

“Take one for the team,” Rohan says.

“I always take one for the team.”

He distorts his face into a “whatever” expression. Rohan’s usual look. Needless to say, we’re not that close, much to my dad’s disappointment.

The door opens and my dad’s twin walks in with our cousin Jason. He’s got his phone in his hands too. Uncle Rome nods to Dad then puts me in a headlock and gives Rohan a noogie. It’s his usual hello.

“What’s up, Jas?” I say to my cousin.

He sits on the coffee table. “This blows. I was just about to pass a level on Mav’s new game, and I get stuck coming here. For a suit.”

“We were at Jack’s. What level are you on?” Rohan tucks his phone away.

“Ten,” Jason answers.

As odd as it is, we all look so similar, we could be triplets. We had a new teacher last year who was convinced we were until she found out how many Baileys live in this town. Some of them don’t even have the last name Bailey, but they’re Baileys just the same.

“Damn it, we’re stuck at nine,” Rohan says in a sulky voice.

Jason shrugs and his face has that look that says he’s not telling us how to pass it. Unfortunately, with big families, there’s big competition, and right now, the first person to complete Maverick’s video game will have bragging rights until the end of time. Maverick is, like, a genius or something and he always gives us the new version of the game after he’s tweaked something. We all play it, even our uncle Kingston.

“That damn video game,” Uncle Rome says to my dad.

“Bigger news than that. The developer of the game brought a surprise guest for the party,” my dad says.

“Who?”

“Tyler Vaughn’s niece.”

“Shut up!” Uncle Rome pushes Dad in the chest as if they’re still my age.

Dad nods. “I talked to Griff and he said Phoenix is trying to be all okay with it but she’s also having another lock installed on the studio because everything they’ve been working on is in there.”

“Can’t say I blame her. That guy is a snake. But for Maverick to bring her home says how serious he must be about her.”

“Calista said nothing?” Dad asks.

Uncle Rome shakes his head. “That girl could never be a gossip reporter. She can keep anyone’s secrets. Including her own.”

Dad tilts his head as though he thinks there’s more that Uncle Rome isn’t saying.

“Did you hear Calista and Dion got picked up by the old people van at the airport?” Jason chimes in with his own gossip. He and his sister, Calista, are total opposites.

“Love it,” Rohan says. “Better them than me.”

“And guess who was also in the van?” Jason looks at me like I should be able to guess.

“Who? Ethel? No surprise there,” my dad says.

“Ethel and her grandson.” Jason’s voice inflicts humor when he mentions Rylan Greene, Calista’s archenemy.

“Ohhh… tell me more.” Dad will probably razz Calista about it the next time he sees her.

“Nothing to tell,” Uncle Rome says. “But when she got off the van right after Rylan, her face was all flushed. I’ve always wondered if maybe there was something more than hate between those two.”

“No way. The guy’s a narcissist. Calista can’t date him,” Rohan says. I’m surprised he’d care one way or the other.

“He backs up that cockiness with skills on the field,” I say.

The guy is practically a legend around here. People say he’s so similar to Uncle Jamie that he’s a shoo-in to go pro after college. I prefer soccer, but Rohan is baseball through and through. I look up to see my dad and Uncle Rome looking at me.

Uncle Rome turns his attention to my dad again. “I have an inkling that things aren’t going so great at UCLA. Harley says maybe she just misses home. But graduation is coming at the end of this year and I think maybe Calista’s struggling with that.”

Mr. Carlson comes over and claps his hands in front of himself. “Okay, boys, who’s first?”

“Him.” Jason and Rohan both point at me.

I shrug and stand. I’d rather get it over with anyway.

While I’m in the fitting room, I hear Mr. Carlson talking to my dad and uncle about Great-Grandma’s party and how she told him that if any of her family members came in to be fitted, she’d really like them to wear a gold button-down shirt and black tie.

I figured maybe we’d get a nice pair of pants and a button-down shirt. Then I’d have the pleasure of watching Rohan pulling at the linen fabric the entire night. But a tie means nice shoes too and probably a belt. I roll my eyes when Mr. Carlson lays it all out in front of me. My brother was right. This sucks.

After changing into the designated G’Ma D approved suit, I head out to the waiting room and Jason and Rohan lift their gazes from their phones and their jaws drop.

“Never,” Rohan says.

“Absolutely not,” Jason says.

Our dads laugh.

“Do you want to answer to G’Ma D?” Uncle Rome asks, clapping Jason on the shoulder and shifting his gaze to the other fitting room as I stand in front of the three-way mirror.

“Dad, you can’t be serious. You’re going to spend the price of a new bat on a suit I’ll probably rip that night?” Rohan asks.

“You’re twelve now. You can’t keep wearing sneakers to events like this. And plus, you’ll look good for the girls.” Dad winks.

Rohan gags as if he’s not into girls, but he’s lying. I found Mom’s magazine with women wearing lingerie stuffed into his drawer the other day. Plus, his tongue practically hangs out whenever Jasmine Killborn walks by him in the hall. Can’t say I blame him.

After Mr. Carlson has stuck a bunch of pins and chalk all over the fabric, I’m finally allowed to change. He says leave the suit in the dressing room and he’ll take it to be altered. He turns to Rohan, who knows it’s his turn but is pretending to be distracted by his phone.

“Roh, get your ass in the dressing room,” Dad says.

Rohan’s eyes roll back, but he pockets his phone and heads into the last available dressing room just as Jason walks out in the same get-up as me.

“Wait, we’re wearing the same exact thing?” I ask.

“Leave it to G’Ma D,” Uncle Rome says. “The things she gets us to do for her.”

“I’m doing it for her. You’re not matching with Uncle Denver.” Jason stands up on the raised platform so Mr. Carlson can measure him, and I disappear back into the dressing room.

The door chime rings, and I wonder who else is going to fit in this small store. I get dressed in my jeans and T-shirt, slide my feet into my Vans, and walk out to find my cousins Jack, Callum, Conor, Asher, and Mason all huddled around the small table. G’Ma D and her friend Ethel are talking to Mr. Carlson.

Jason leaves the pedestal and walks to the fitting room to undress as Rohan comes out. He steps on the pedestal and pulls out his phone, his thumbs moving across the screen, not paying attention to much around him, which is typical.

G’Ma D takes the measuring tape from Mr. Carlson and says she doesn’t want the pants to be baggy, showing him how she wants it done. Her hand keeps venturing higher and the room grows quiet until Rohan jumps off the pedestal.

“G’Ma D!” he shouts, dropping his phone and covering his junk.

We all laugh. To me, that was payback for all the shit he does—except I didn’t have to dish it out myself. Dad and my uncle clap, rolling back and forth in the leather chairs.

“You just got felt up by your great-grandma!” Uncle Rome says. “Classic.”

It takes Great-Grandma a few seconds before she can straighten up, but when she does, she says, “Stop laughing, you two. I used to change both your diapers, so I’ve seen both your penises before.”

The entire room “ewws,” all the boys in our family probably thinking the same thing. It’s a disgusting thought that we were naked in front of her at one point in our lives, whether we remember it or not.

“You all need to grow up,” she says, gesturing to the pedestal for Rohan to step back up. Thankfully for Rohan, she hands the measuring tape back to Mr. Carlson. “Remember, snug fit, not baggy.”

“I’m not showing my junk,” Rohan says.

G’Ma D ignores him and turns her attention to my dad and uncle. “And you two? Why are you not trying something on?”

“I have a suit,” Dad says.

Uncle Rome nods. “Me too.”

“Not one that looks like this.” She thumbs behind her.

They both lean over to look at Rohan as though they don’t remember what the suit looks like. The one with the gold button-down shirt and black tie.

“Yeah. No.” Dad leans back and rests his ankle on his knee.

“Yeah. Go.” She points toward the dressing rooms.

“Why are we all buying suits ‘just in case’?” Uncle Rome puts up air quotes.

G’Ma D looks at Ethel as though she’s losing her patience.

“Stop asking questions and go,” Ethel says with the authority of a well-trained sidekick.

All of us Bailey boys watch as our dads head down the hall to the change rooms. She really does have us all wrapped around her finger.

I still don’t understand why we all have to match for her birthday. What kind of party is she pretending not to be planning?

9

Lance Whitmore

(Fifteen and a half years old)

Brooklyn and Wyatt’s Son

I walk out of my bedroom as my dad steps out of his and Mom’s. We freeze, our gazes soaking in what the other is wearing. We yell in unison.

“Brook!”

“Mom!”

She walks out of the bedroom, holding a necklace and handing it to my dad. He takes it, and she holds her hair up at the back. The two of them mastered this drill long before I was ever born.

She laughs. “Sorry, but Grandma Dori wants you guys to match.”

“One night,” Dad murmurs to me but rolls his eyes behind my mom’s back.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you just did.” Mom lets her hair fall.

Dad presses a kiss to Mom’s shoulder. It’s sick seeing my parents show affection all of the time.

“I just have to do one thing before we leave.” Mom lifts the hem of her dress and walks down the stairs to her office. She works more than my dad lately because her business took off once she got a deal with some well-known fragrance company.

“I’m giving you five minutes,” Dad calls.

Mom giggles, disappearing into her office.

I feel like an idiot, looking like a mini-me of my dad’s, as I walk in front of him down the stairs. Gizmo lies in his bed in the family room, and I ignore the pang in my chest. He’s barely out of that bed lately. We all act as though he’s normal and we’re not surprised every morning that he’s still alive.

Dad opens a bottle of water and sits on the couch, pulling out his phone. “So, how is school?”

“Fine.”

He peeks up at me. “And FYI, I talked to your grandma about the car.”

Dread takes over me. My dad doesn’t let my grandparents from New York get me luxury items very often. My grandma said if I go to college in New York, she’ll buy me a condo. They bought me a new computer for my fifteenth birthday.

“And?” I ask.

“Your mom and I have the final decision. It’s not going to be some sports car. We live in Alaska, for Christ’s sake. What is she thinking?”

I shrug as if I didn’t tell her the exact car I’d love. It’s easy to get my hopes up when my grandparents, as rich as they are, want to give me the world. But the relationship between my dad and my grandfather isn’t great and not nearly as easy as our relationships with my mom’s family. I don’t even really know my cousins in New York because they never come out here and my dad refuses to leave Lake Starlight for holidays. Which I’m grateful for. I love my life here. That’s why I’m not sure I want to go away for college, but I think even Mom would be disappointed to hear that.

My dad is still eyeing me as though he wants me to say something.

“Maybe you should have had more kids. She could’ve shared the wealth.”

He shakes his head. “Spoiled.”

“It’s your fault.”

There was a time when I begged my parents for a sibling. Now that I’m older, I don’t mind being an only child. Easton’s like my brother, and maybe we get along so well because I don’t have to live with him, and we don’t have to share the attention of the same set of parents.

I think my mom was so caught up in starting her business and my dad in turning Glacier Point into “the place” to stay for plush luxury in Alaska, another baby just got pushed to the back burner until they felt like they didn’t want to start all over again. Plus, to this day, my dad talks about how much my mom didn’t enjoy being pregnant. I guess she was pretty mean for most of that nine months.

He chuckles and tips his water bottle. “Watch yourself.”

I nod. “Mom!” I don’t want us to be late.

“Coming,” she says, but we both know she’s not.

“Any girls coming tonight? Kenzie?”

I’m not surprised Dad sees the Kenzie thing. I like her, but I’m not blind—she likes Easton. He thinks I don’t know, but when your eyes always fall to the girl you like, you notice who her eyes are following. Hers are always on Easton. And I get it. He’s a jock and I’m class president. In the social hierarchy of high schools, everyone knows where the other stands.

“I think so. With Brinley.”

My dad nods. “She’s cute.”

“Um… no. You can’t say that.”

“Why not? Brinley’s cute.” He gulps down a sip of his water.

“Because that’s like the dad and the nanny or something.”

“Your aunt Phoenix was a nanny for Uncle Griffin.”

My mouth hangs open. “I don’t want to know that. There are certain things that happened before I was born that I’d like to be blind to.”

“You youth are so touchy these days.”

Mom walks in thankfully and breaks up this father-son moment. “Let’s go.” She squats and pets Gizmo. “We’ll be back late, sweetie.”

He doesn’t really move, and Dad watches with sadness in his eyes. Mom’s going to be a mess when Gizmo walks over the rainbow bridge to the other side.

She looks at Dad. “What?”

He holds up his hands and shakes his head. “Nothing.”

We all file out of the house in silence. In my dad’s truck, I buckle myself in the back seat as my phone dings.

Easton: What are you wearing?

I laugh because I’m thinking the same thing that happened to my dad and I just happened to Easton and Uncle Austin. And no way am I telling him I’m matching him because Easton’s ballsy enough to change his clothes.

Me: Just a suit.

Easton: What color is your shirt?

My thumbs pause on my screen. Yeah, if I’m stuck matching, so is he.

Me: A blue shirt. Red striped tie.

Easton: Phew. Mom mentioned that Grandma Dori wants all the boys and men to match. No way!

Me: You’re in the clear.

Easton: I’m ditching the tie and jacket the minute I get there, so I don’t look like a damn mini-me to my dad.

I laugh because I thought the same thing.

“What’s so funny?” Mom asks.

“Nothing.”

“Always nothing,” she mumbles to my dad.

* * *

We pull up to the front entrance of the Glacier Point banquet center. My dad added the banquet hall after he bought the place. A valet driver opens my mom’s door, and I step out.

“Watch out, it’s slippery,” the valet says.

A slight rain earlier melted the dusting of snow we got during a cold front last week, and I’m guessing the water froze on the pavement.

Dad gives the keys to the other valet, who parks our car in the nearest spot. I guess that’s how the boss gets treated. When we’re at home, I never think of my dad as anything but my dad, but when we’re at Glacier Point, another part of him emerges. He becomes this broad-shouldered man with tons of confidence and power. He directs and manages his staff without ever making them feel less than. From what I can tell, his staff likes him and us. Sometimes I wonder what he was like when he was my age. But Dad always says he didn’t really find himself until after he met my mom. She loved him for him and not what she expected from him.

Uncle Liam drives up right behind us, and the valet opens both rear doors of their large SUV. Out walks Aunt Savannah in a dress the same as my mom’s. I glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, my mom’s jaw is hanging open. Not so cool of an idea when it’s on the other side, huh?

“Hey, Lance sweetie.” Aunt Savannah kisses my cheek and heads over to my mom, complaining about the dress and how Grandma Dori took her dress shopping. From what I pick up, Grandma Dori took them all separately and, as usual, swindled her way into getting what she wants.

Next Brinley steps out.

“Lance. You look good in a suit, per usual.” Brinley has come with my family to New York a few times because she loves to shop there, and she’s like the daughter my mom chose not to have. When we’re with my grandparents, we go to fancy places, fancy plays, and everything is all-around just fancy. She loves it.

“You look great, but I’m doing the math on who you’re going to match.”

She hugs me, a light perfume lingering around us. “I hope it’s no one.”

She hopes, but I bet she does.

The valet holds his hand out and Brinley turns around, which means Kenzie came with her. Uncle Liam clasps me on the shoulder, Asher right next to him, on his way over to my parents and Aunt Savannah.

Kenzie gets out of the SUV with her long dark hair swept into some half updo and her hair curled into spirals. She’s wearing a lot more makeup than normal, and her dress is strapless—meaning her boobs are pushed up with a line of cleavage that’s hard not to look at.

The valet shuts the door, heading to the next car.

Kenzie takes two steps, and her feet slip.

“Kenz!” Brinley screams.

I rush forward, grabbing Kenzie’s elbow and her arm to steady her. She gasps as she falls back into my arms until I right her and give her my arm until we reach the rubber matting.

“Mac, we need ice melt out here immediately. Especially with the age of the guests we’re having,” Dad says. “I’m not being sued for twenty hip replacements.”

Uncle Liam laughs and Mom swats Dad’s arm.

“Thank you so much,” Kenzie says once she’s secure. She looks at me and I swear we share a moment.

“You’re welcome.”

“Look at you, saving the day.” Brinley smacks me in the chest. “A modern-day Romeo.”

I shake my head as heat fills my cheeks. Kenzie doesn’t say anything, and the three of us walk inside the banquet room, the massive chandeliers glistening above us. The usually white room is now decorated with gold, silver, and white, with little treasure boxes in front of each place setting. A large 9-0 display is decorated in black-and-white pictures of Great-Grandma Dori throughout the years, while a slide show plays for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. It’s as big as a wedding. Great-Grandma Dori is loved in Lake Starlight, so I’m not surprised by how many guests will be here tonight.

“It’s beautiful,” Mom says, covering her heart.

“Everything she wanted.” Aunt Savannah leans her weight against my uncle Liam.

My cousin Rhea walks in with her sister, Calista, and Asher walks over to them. He and Rhea talk about all the matching suits and dresses. As more family members trickle in, it’s clear what Great-Grandma Dori did. She matched every boy and man in the Bailey family with black tuxedos and gold shirts with black ties. Every woman in my mom’s generation is wearing a champagne-colored dress, while Calista and the older girls are in silver. Rhea and the younger girls are in white, which means the three M’s look like triplets instead of just siblings.

Man, Great-Grandma could give Bobbie Fisher a run for his money because she’s a master chess player.

10

Rylan Greene

(Twenty-one years old)

Outsider to the Bailey family

Grandma Dori’s BFF, Ethel, grandson

Walking into Glacier Point banquet center with Grandma Ethel on my arm, I give my head a shake when I see so many Baileys all dressed alike. Having had Jamison Ferguson as my soccer coach for years, I’ve met and talked with the majority of the Baileys at one point or another. But I scan the crowd of townspeople and Baileys, eager to spot one specific.

She’s standing with a group of her younger cousins, a sea of little girls in white dresses surrounding her as though she’s their queen. She sneaks them each a cake pop from the table displaying a white-and-pink tiered cake with flowers cascading down to the base and a single pink candle on top. I guess Dori opted not to have the big 9-0 on top of her cake.

“There are my friends.” Grandma pats my hand. “You’re good, right?”

She’s already sliding her arm out before I answer. It’s sad when your grandma has more friends at a party than you. Then again, it is a party for a ninety-year-old.

“I’ll be great. Have a good time.”

Grandma could’ve brought anyone to her best friend’s party. Hell, she could’ve come by herself. Most of them came in the Northern Lights Retirement Center van. She thinks I’m blind to her efforts, but after watching her with all my half-siblings over the years, I’m on to her. No doubt Dori’s a part of this too.

“Rylan!” Jamison pats me on the back, putting out his hand for a shake. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

His little son, Conor, stands at his side, dressed like a miniature version of him. I’ve known the kid since he was in his mom’s belly. I hold out my fist and Conor bumps it with a smile before sneaking behind his dad’s legs. He’s always been shy.

“Grandma wanted me to drive her.” I smile.

Jamison matches my smile with a knowing look of his own. “We’ve all been there.”

His little girl, Isla, runs over and he sweeps her up, holding her. I fist bump her and she bumps me back, harder than her brother.

“Hey, Rylan!” Isla yells.

“Can’t say I’m upset about the way it all turned out though.” Jamison kisses his daughter’s cheek, and she squirms to get free.

“Come on, Conor!” She grabs her brother’s hand and drags him away.

Another kid in the same gold shirt and black all the Bailey boys are wearing joins them, and they head to the bar.

“So how’s Stanford? What are your plans for after graduation?” Jamison asks.

That’s the question of the fucking year. My dad’s on me, my brothers are asking, even my grandma has inquired. My older brother Xavier has tried to be a guiding force since he’s been down this route with football. Soccer is a different beast than football though, especially in the States. Since I started playing in college, my body’s never been so beat up. I can’t imagine what going pro would be like, but what else am I gonna do? Sit behind a desk and put my degree in business to use? That sounds like a jail sentence.

“I’m not sure,” I answer as honestly as I can.

Jamison has never pushed me. He sat me down my freshman year in high school and talked to me about options and where I wanted to go with the game. As cocky as it sounds, I knew I had the skill. It’s either the fact my parents put me through so many camps and lessons from a young age that I had a grasp on the game, or maybe I was born with the talent. Either way, even as a freshman in high school, I had options some didn’t.

But as I got older, I found myself more excited to see Calista than to actually play soccer. The times Jamison had us go one-on-one were my favorite days. Especially when I was a teenager and she’d strip off her shirt to practice in her sports bra. Those were my favorite days.

“Well, don’t rush into anything. That’s all I’ll say.” He pats me on the back. “Want to get a drink? You’re legal now, right?”

I nod. “Sure.”

We head to the bar, passing a few Baileys and shaking hands and exchanging hellos. It isn’t until after I’m holding the beer that I remember I shouldn’t be. We’re in the tail end of the season with a bye week right now. I won’t say anything, but I’m shocked Calista missed today’s game for UCLA. She could’ve flown home right after and probably gotten here in time.

Someone bumps into me and I almost spill my beer all over the front of my suit. I look up.

Calista is walking by with her cousin, Jamison’s oldest, Palmer. She doesn’t smile, but I see her lips quirk, betraying her. “Oh, sorry.”

“No problem.”

They disappear into the hall by the bathrooms. Maybe it’s because I’m the youngest in my family, but I love how Calista’s always with her cousins and paying attention to them even though they’re younger.

I step away from the bar and glance out into the hall. She’s hugging her cousin while Palmer cries, Calista’s hands running up and down the length of her back.

“Shit, is that Rylan Greene? Tell me my sister hasn’t seen you yet.”

I turn to find Dion behind me.

“She’s seen me and tried to spill my beer all over me.” I put out my hand, and he shakes it.

Dion’s never treated me badly, despite the fact that his older sister and I have been at odds for more than a decade. In fact, I think he likes the animosity between us.

“Let’s switch shirts.” He moves to shrug out of his jacket. “I’ll take one for the team and let my shirt get ruined.”

I laugh, looking at his gold button-down shirt and black tie. “I’ll take my chances.”

“Damn it. Can you believe this shit show?”

We look around at all the lookalikes. I lift my wrist to check the time and see how long until Dori’s supposed to make her “surprise” entrance.

“My grandma is her best friend. I can believe it.” I rock back on my heels. “Plus, I had to slip the DJ the music she wants played when she arrives.”

He runs his hand down his face. “Do I even want to ask?”

“‘Raise your Glass’ by Pink.” I choke on my beer from the laugh sputtering up my throat. “I thought for sure it was going to be Dean Martin or something.”

“Did you really?” Dion asks with no surprise on his face.

“Nah. I half expected ‘Gin & Juice’ by Snoop Dogg.”

Dion spits his drink all over the floor, laughing. “I can actually imagine her doing that.” He imitates Snoop Dogg with the hand in the air, moving his body to the beat of the music.

“What’s so funny?” Calista joins us and crosses her arms, apparently unimpressed.

“Rylan is. Who knew he was so funny!” Dion smacks me on the back and grabs a waitress, telling her about the spill on the carpet. Not that I imagine they’ll do a lot since it’s barely visible.

“Dion!” Callum runs up. “Did you play Maverick’s game yet?”

“Catch you guys later.” Dion waves and walks farther back into the room to talk video games with Callum, Jamison’s oldest son. Courtesy of the Lake Starlight Buzz Wheel, I heard their cousin Maverick was developing some video game.

I turn to Calista. “I guess that leaves us.”

“I need a drink.”

As she turns, a squeal erupts through the speaker and I look to the front of the room, where my grandma has the microphone. She taps it as if she’s a comedian or some pop star everyone’s been waiting to hear from. “She’s pulling in now. Everyone hide!”

The lights go out before I can find a place to go, and the only source of light is the candles floating in the bowls on each table.

“Is this really necessary?” Calista says in a low voice.

My body buzzes at having her so near in the dark. I step closer to her when I know I shouldn’t. And not because I have a girlfriend. I lied in the van from the airport. My ex and I broke up weeks ago. I just wanted to see how Calista would act if she thought there was someone in my life. Because I know how I’d feel if the roles were reversed.

My hand falls to her hip as though I have no control of my appendages. She stiffens for a moment, and I hold my breath until she sinks into my hold. Her back falls to my chest, her head on my shoulder. One thing I’ve always liked about Calista is her height—I won’t have to bend down to kiss her.

“What are you doing?” she whispers. Her minty breath fans across my cheek. She must have turned her head to look back at me.

“I have no idea.”

I break the distance and allow my lips to fall on hers, knowing the consequences. She hates me, but she can’t deny me. Which will probably only make her hate me more.

I slide my tongue along the seam of her lips, and she opens, her tongue sliding into my mouth, meeting my tongue. She swivels in my hold, her arms moving around my neck, and my hands slide down her back. The kiss isn’t nearly as powerful as that first one years ago—it’s more like a homecoming—but the longer it lasts, the more I want to push her under the table so when the lights pop on, we’re still in this bubble where no one knows anything. We’re still a secret.

But sadly, we’re warned before the lights pop back on.

My grandma’s whispers into the microphone are an ice bucket over my piqued arousal. “She’s here! Shhh. One. Two.”

At three, I end the kiss and step back right when the lights turn on.

I blink and take a slug from my beer as if nothing is new.

Everyone screams surprise, and Pink’s voice sounds from the speakers. Dori acts surprised, and her small great-grandchildren rush to her as if she had the entire thing choreographed. I side-eye Calista. Her hands are over the back of a chair, gripping it so hard her knuckles are white. Her back rises and falls with deep breaths. Our eyes catch for a moment and I know she’s feeling what I am. She wants to leave this party and be alone with me.

“I should go say happy birthday.” She walks away before I can protest.

I head to the bar to get a water because I still have to drive tonight. Beer isn’t good for my training anyway. Calista’s dad, Rome, sidles up next to me, ordering two drinks.

“Hey, Rylan,” he says.

Anxiety ratchets up my spine over the fact that two minutes after I made out with his daughter in the dark, he’s approaching me as though he can sniff out my desire for his eldest daughter. “Hi, Mr. Bailey.”

He waves me off. “Rome is fine.”

“Okay.” I crack open my bottle of water and gulp half of it as if maybe he could somehow smell his daughter’s minty breath from my mouth.

“I’m gonna get to the point. Are you the reason my daughter had tears in her eyes when she got off that van?”

My memory jogs back to days earlier when I was getting ready to get into an Uber and saw her red-rimmed eyes. “No.” I shake my head.

“You sure?”

God, I’m positive. I think. His laser-focused eyes make me question if I’m correct. I’ve barely interacted with Calista since high school, though she crosses my mind often.

I’m so zeroed in on him, I don’t see Calista approach behind her dad.

“It wasn’t him. I got kicked off the team,” she says.

Well, fuck. How does a skilled player like Calista get kicked off one of the best women’s teams in collegiate soccer?

I shouldn’t care about the answer. I shouldn’t have kissed her. Hell, I shouldn’t even be here. But regardless, none of it feels wrong. Maybe it’s time I confess my feelings and finally see where we land.

11

Grandma Dori

(Ninety years old)

Wife to Philip, Mother to one, Grandma to nine, Grandma-in law to nine, Great-grandma to twenty-six.

My great-granddaughter Mabel is straddled over my body, her arms limp around my neck. She’s fast asleep in my lap while I look at a room filled with family and friends, people I’ve been blessed to know. I love the smell of Mabel’s apple shampoo. It’s a scent that pulls me back to a time when I was the mother of a young one.

As I watch my family dance together, laugh together, and talk together, gratitude swells inside me. Through my ninety years, my life has taken so many twists and turns—I have no idea how I navigated myself to this moment when all my grandkids and their children are celebrating my life. All present and accounted for.

I wish Tim and Beth and of course my Philip were sitting next to me, cherishing this sight as I am. My grandchildren’s resilience after they lost their parents has always amazed me. The way they preserved, came together, and moved forward into their futures. And now they’re all raising amazing children of their own.

Austin ruffles Easton’s hair as he leads Harper to the dance floor, where he teaches her to dance—which she surprisingly seems to enjoy. Those teen years are hard. Holly comes over and the three of them end up dancing together.

My eye catches Easton sipping his soda with Brinley next to him, the two of them staring at the dance floor. Brinley puts her arm around Easton’s shoulders and lays her head on his shoulder. I follow their vision to Lance dancing with Brinley’s friend, Kenzie. She laughs at something Lance says and her head falls back. Lance looks at her as though he can’t imagine ever looking at something so beautiful again.

Liam takes his wife’s hand away from clearing one of the tables and takes her out to the dance floor, where he spins her around like a pro. They talk with Wyatt and Brooklyn, who are enjoying the quiet of a party dwindling down.

In a corner of the room, Phoenix, Griffin, Maverick, and Raelynn are huddled together with plates of cake in their hands. They smile, and although there’s no laughter, all four are heavily in conversation. Phoenix goes to grab their plates, but Raelynn collects them. After she takes them to a table, Maverick puts his arm around Phoenix and whispers something in her ear. She wipes a tear from her eye.

Palmer and Linus play a board game with the younger siblings who aren’t already falling asleep. She grips his arm. His smile isn’t nearly as bright as it usually is. Young heartbreak can be hard, but he’ll survive.

The game is interrupted by Sedona tapping Palmer on her shoulder and signing, Can we talk?

They move to a table by themselves to give them the privacy they need to get it all out. Palmer will realize one day that us parents do have a life before they’re born. Our children may not always agree with the decisions made, but they were ours to make. Palmer will figure it out when she finds the love of her life.

Colton swoops up Mason and takes him over to Juno on the dance floor, and all three slow dance. Eventually Mason crouches under their arms and they laugh, letting him go. Then they dance together.

Jamison is in one corner with a soccer ball, teaching Rohan a trick. The rest of the boys are huddled together on their phones, playing Maverick’s game.

Kingston sits down next to me, running his hand down his daughter’s back. “Want me to take her?”

“Nah, I won’t be able to do this forever.” I press a soft kiss into Mabel’s dark hair.

“I wish you could.”

My dear Kingston. My ninetieth birthday has hit him the hardest. I’ve tried to ignore his longing stares and worry for the past few weeks, but this conversation feels inevitable now. I reach forward, careful not to drop Mabel, and pat his hand.

“I got a good twenty years left, don’t you worry.” I wink, but he gives me a sad smile. “Kingston, I’m going to go sometime. We all are. But know that when I do, I’ve had a good life. A magnificent life. And I’m so grateful for it. It wasn’t all roses, but it’s been the blessing of a lifetime and filled me with more joy than you can even comprehend, to watch you and your brothers and sisters make your way in the world and create families of your own. Don’t be sad for me, kiddo. I’m one of the privileged ones. I got to be here to see it all happen.”

He smiles.

Lucky for both of us, Stella comes over and looks at her husband with a smile. “Kids are all taken care of. Why don’t you spin your wife around the dance floor?”

He stands and I mouth a “thank you” to her. She nods. Both of us are on the same page.

“After you, Mrs. Bailey,” Kingston says, his eyes lighting up as he gazes at his wife.

They walk over to a corner of the dance floor that’s more secluded, and Kingston holds Stella close.

The sound of a laugh pulls my attention away from my grandson and his wife. I spot Calista and Rylan at a table by themselves. She’s facing him, his leg sandwiched between hers, and her forehead falls to his shoulder as a fit of laughter comes over her. He smiles at me but concentrates back on her.

Rome and Harley come into the banquet room and stop, seeing the scene in front of them. Harley pulls Rome toward the dance floor, but he keeps looking back at his oldest daughter. I guess I’ll ignore the fact that they disappeared for a half hour and Harley’s hair is now matted. Some things never change.

Ethel sits down in the chair Kingston vacated. “Great party.”

“Yes. Thank you. For everything over the years.”

She waves me off. “We’re best friends. That’s how we roll.” She nods toward where I was just looking—Calista and Rylan. “What do you think? Gonna work?”

“All we can do is bring them together, right?”

“Do you think they’re our last?” Ethel’s voice is resigned.

I laugh. “I’m not ready to hang up my cape yet, are you, Louise?”

“Never, Thelma.” She squeezes my hand.

“WOO HOO!” Denver yells and raises his fist.

Everyone’s attention shifts to the dance floor. He’s right behind Abby as she takes her first steps. Cleo runs to the other side for Abby to walk to her, and after five steps, Abby falls into her mom’s arms. Cleo kisses both cheeks, holding her up in the air, laughing and smiling.

“Who’s watching my kids tonight?” Denver calls. “I won the bet and now my wife needs to pay up. Which means, I need a house without kids.”

The entire room fills with laughter and it’s the best sound in the world. There are sad moments in everyone’s life and oftentimes you find a moment of peace, but the laughter makes life worth living.

* * *

Ready to leave Alaska? Nope? Us either!

Hop over to Sunrise Bay with us because Ethel’s grandkids, The Greenes, need a little help finding the love of their lives now!

*Cue Grandma Dori and Grandma Ethel’s next mission*

My Beautiful Nemesis is a fish out of water, enemies-to-lovers steamy romance in our brand new small town family series, The Greenes.

CLICK HERE to pre-order your copy for a DISCOUNTED PRICE!

Cockamamie Unicorn Ramblings

When we plotted out the Bailey series, the three novellas weren’t part of the original plan. But since it’s hard to fit in all the happily ever afters in every book when it should center on the couple for that book, we decided to do three between each set of three. Get the whole three thing? LOL

Anyway, the wedding was easy, it would be Austin and Holly. The babies were more difficult but it was fun to make it a threesome baby shower. The Birthday was hard. It was always going to be Dori’s birthday but we were unsure how far in the future we wanted to go. At first it was going to be her hundredth birthday, but we didn’t want to make her too old and… let’s just say Grandma Dori lives forever!

And then we thought it would be fun to do all the kids until we realized some of the kids would be really young. But we’re glad we did it because it’s nice to see the parents through their children’s eyes. We hope you enjoyed it as well.

Now, time to be sappy as we wipe the tears from falling. Most of you know that a little over two years ago, we plotted this series in a hotel room during a conference. It was the first time writing a series that was more than three books long and we were terrified. What if no one liked them and readership dropped off after the first couple of books? But we never could have imagined how much this family has changed our lives. Most authors thrive when readers love of their characters and that couldn’t be more true of The Baileys. With every book, it made us push boundaries with twists or turns and real drama that families go through. You adopted this family as your own and championed them to other readers. The Baileys feel real to us and we think that’s true for a lot of you as well. What we’re trying to say is… THANK YOU! Those two words are way too simple a way to express how much gratitude we have for you loving this family like your own.

And without our team listed below, who have made this series what it is!

Danielle Sanchez and the entire Wildfire Marketing Solutions team!

Cassie from Joy Editing for line edits.

Ellie from My Brother’s Editor for line edits.

Shawna from Behind the Writer for proofreading.

Sarah from Okay Creations for the cover and branding for the entire series.

Sara from Sara Eirew Photography for the awesome picture of Sedona and Jamison.

Bloggers who consistently carve out time to read, review and/or promote us.

Our Piper Rayne Unicorns who champion this series to others with their whole hearts.

You the reader who took a chance on our book with so many choices out there!

This is not goodbye to this family… just a see you later. Although we haven’t made any clear decisions yet on what the future holds for The Bailey family, we’re not ready to officially say goodbye either. They will have cameos in The Greene Family series though. That is one thing we can tell you for sure.

We hope to see you in Sunrise Bay!

XO,

Piper & Rayne

About the Author

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

www.piperrayne.com

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Also by Piper Rayne

The Rooftop Crew

My Bestie’s Ex

A Royal Mistake

The Rival Roomies

Our Star-Crossed Kiss

The Do-Over

A Co-Workers Crush

The Greenes

My Beautiful Nemesis

My Almost Ex

My Vegas Groom

The Baileys

Lessons from a One-Night Stand

Advice from a Jilted Bride

Birth of a Baby Daddy

Operation Bailey Wedding (Novella)

Falling for My Brother’s Best Friend

Demise of a Self-Centered Playboy

Confessions of a Naughty Nanny

Operation Bailey Babies (Novella)

Secrets of the World’s Worst Matchmaker

Winning My Best Friend’s Girl

Rules for Dating your Ex

The Modern Love World

Charmed by the Bartender

Hooked by the Boxer

Mad about the Banker

The Single Dad’s Club

Real Deal

Dirty Talker

Sexy Beast

Hollywood Hearts

Mister Mom

Animal Attraction

Domestic Bliss

Bedroom Games

Cold as Ice

On Thin Ice

Break the Ice

Box Set

Charity Case

Manic Monday

Afternoon Delight

Happy Hour

Blue Collar Brothers

Flirting with Fire

Crushing on the Cop

Engaged to the EMT

White Collar Brothers

Sexy Filthy Boss

Dirty Flirty Enemy

Wild Steamy Hook-up