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“Thank you,” she smiles. “But of course, even though I did all the work, he looks more like his father.”
“I hear that’s usually the case with the first one.” I nod.
“It’s ridiculous, though!” Lillian chuckles. “But at least he has your smile.”
“True, and he’s a very good baby already,” Mona adds.
“My mom used to say that’s how God tricks you into having more.” I grin as Mia comes to join us. “She was the easiest baby ever and then I was born.”
Mia laughs. “Mom and Dad said Meg was hell on wheels for the first two years of her life.”
“Oh really?” Drew asks. “Tell me more.”
“Unless you were holding her and giving her your undivided attention, she was either asleep or screaming her head off,” Mia says. “We literally have pictures of her smiling in one frame and crying hysterically in the next.”
“Wait, why didn’t we see those when my bath-time pictures were being passed around?” Drew asks, prompting giggles from everyone.
“Oh, gosh, they must have gone missing or something.” I shrug, not bothering to hide my lies.
“We’ll find them eventually,” Drew says to Mia, and they clink their drink glasses together.
“Hey, you’re marrying me. You’re automatically on my side, remember?” I say, poking him in the arm.
“Tit for tat,” he replies. “You saw my baby photos, now you show me yours.”
“Yeah, you’re just lucky you’re cute,” I tease him.
“Oh, I’m adorable.” He smiles at me teasingly.
Chapter thirty-three
Meg – Meeting the Siblings
Once everyone is enjoying their drinks and each other’s company, Chef Thomas calls us all to find our seats when he serves the meal of the most tender barbecued chicken, rice, seasoned cabbage, and buttery sweet rolls. After dinner is done, Mia turns on music and the guests go back to mingling with as many people as possible.
Drew and I are passed around to everyone several times with well wishes on the wedding, our marriage, and everything after that. It’s not until I feel someone come up behind me that the cycle stops for a moment.
“I get dibs on her next!” Mona says as she links her arm around mine, pulling me away from Mia and Susan, the front desk clerk. “You’ve all had plenty of time to catch up.”
“Fair enough,” Drew says as he kisses the back of my hand before letting Mona lead the way outside where it’s much quieter.
“I don’t mean to pull you away like this, but I know how busy you’re going to be tomorrow,” Mona says, as she and I find a quiet spot just outside the inn to talk.
“That’s okay,” I assure her. “I’m really happy you were able to fly in. I know how much it means to Drew that all his siblings are here.”
“Me too. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I’ve seen my little brother this happy. I had to meet the girl responsible.” She smiles.
“You know, Troy said something along those lines too, about seeing Drew this happy. Has he always been so…”
“Stubborn? Uptight? A stick in the mud? Yes, for longer than I think he’d ever admit,” Mona chuckles. “But then he met you and you seem to have had quite the effect on him.”
“As much as I’d love to take all the credit, I know that being somewhere like the beach has to add some magic to the mix. Do you know why he was so grumpy before?” I ask.
She lets out a long breath. “Well, despite the appearances of the family name, Drew hasn’t always had the best time finding and keeping people he cares for. He’s been the lone wolf type for most of his life.”
“What do you mean?”
“He unfortunately learned early in life that people can suck and a lot of them often have a hidden agenda when they find out you’re from a certain family,” she starts.
