Page 67 of The History in Us

“I did nothing,” I said, innocent and ignorant. I knew nothing of this impromptu party and was equally surprised. My parents had no idea who I was bringing home, so this couldn’t have been planned by them.

Tricia’s face beamed. “We were so excited when you called us.” And here lay the answer. An additional shock came to me as the awareness sunk in that Levi had made contact with my aunt and uncle. He hadn’t told me.

“We couldn’t possibly have you come home without a welcome home party. You snuck in for that funeral years ago and didn’t even stop to say hello,” Leon admonished teasingly, but a quick reminder of negative memories flashed over Levi’s face.  The teasing taunt proved that it stung when he hadn’t visited them. They adored Levi Walker. They’d been the ones to throw him that fateful going-away party. On second thought, it was only appropriate they set him up with a welcome-home celebration as well.

Tricia reached out and rubbed up and down Levi’s solid arms.

“I can’t get over how much you’ve changed,” she said, eying him like a loving parent. “And to have found our Katie.” Finally, Aunt Tricia was ready to acknowledge me but stopped short the second she saw the baby in my arms. Eyes opening wide, her expression struggled.

“Who is that?” She nearly choked on the words, scanning the bundle in my arms.

“This is my son, AJ,” Levi said, reaching for his child and presenting him to my family as if AJ were part of it.

“You’re a father?” Leon’s dark eyes roamed over the growing baby in Levi’s arms. He blew out a breath and I couldn’t decide if Leon was ready to cry or trying to contain his concern. Either way, he reached forward and embraced Levi again, returning to slapping his back. I stepped around the man hug, hoping to finally greet my favorite aunt. Walking into her arms, I was instantly returned to twenty-two years ago, when this beautiful woman gave up a year of her life to play mommy to me when I was suddenly mommy-less. Holding tight, I pressed into her, breathing in her welcoming embrace.

“He’s so handsome,” she whispered, before pressing me back to look me up and down, “but you are beautiful.” I smiled at the compliment even though my face flushed. Looping an arm through mine, she directed me to the bar.

“Calvin, two margaritas.” At the request, the baldheaded owner looked over the worn wooden bar.

“Need some ID from that young lady next to you,” he smirked, winking at me. I reached for my pocket, ready to prove I was well over the legal age, when Tricia laughed.

“Calvin, you flirt, you know I’m plenty old enough,” Tricia playfully admonished.

“Oh, I thought he was speaking to me.” A deep chuckling voice came from behind me, and I spun to face my uncle Tom.

“Who’s this beautiful young thing with you tonight, Tricia?” Playful eyebrows danced over blue eyes that matched all the rest of the Carters. While my father’s brooded, Uncle Tom’s sparkled. Continually a flirt, there wasn’t a disloyal bone in his body to my aunt Karyn.

“This is your niece, Katie!” Tricia shrieked, swatting her older brother playfully, knowing he had to have recognized me.

“Katie? No way, she has pigtails and buckteeth. Freckles on her face and a goofy grin like she holds a secret.” Tom’s brows wiggled again, and I flushed further at his recollection of me as a child. I was grateful that Levi hadn’t heard that less-than-flattering description, but relief was only momentary. Heat at my side proved he’d made his way through his welcome party to find me. I blushed deeper.

“Sounds adorable,” Levi offered, tugging at the end of my current ponytail, and stepping closer to me. If my uncle Tom’s eyebrows could have risen any higher, they’d be hair on his shaved head.

“And who is this?” His teasing tone didn’t match the full body scan over Levi.

“Levi Walker, sir.” Levi stuck out his hand to shake, but Tom stared at the offered hand.

“The war hero?” Tom looked from left to right as if checking to make sure he was in the right place.

“I don’t know about her…” Levi couldn’t finish as Tom pulled Levi into a hard hug, and more back pounding. Despite his age, Tom lifted Levi off the ground a few inches before putting him back down.

“Thank you for serving our country,” Tom chuckled, righting a truly stunned Levi. Then he turned to me. “Now, explain your intentions with my niece.”

“Oh my God,” I gasped while Tricia broke into laughter at her brother’s side. I didn’t think it possible for Levi to blush, but his face darkened.

“I…uhm…” For some reason, the stutter in his answer bothered me. What were his intentions with me? We were friends, I’d decided. Somewhere along the way, we were definitely friends. I shuddered at the thought of benefits, though, as that was certainly an added bonus to the relationship. Were we in a relationship? The questions fired in my brain, and I decided to wash them away with a quick drink of my margarita. I turned away from Tom who had Levi engaged in other conversation, and decided not to let my thoughts get carried away from me. I was home. Levi was home. I was happy.

* * *

Time passed quickly as I greeted neighbors and nosey gossips, all asking me about Levi.

Is he your boyfriend?

Is he married?