Page 96 of Bound To Be Mine

The front door was unlocked, as always. I pushed it open and was immediately hit with the smell of roasting meat and fresh bread. My stomach growled.

“Mom?” I called out.

“In the kitchen!” came her voice from the back of the house.

I led Mandy through the familiar hallway, past the living room where we’d spent countless hours as kids fighting over the remote. The formal dining room was on the left with the long table already set.

Mom was at the stove, stirring something in a large pot. She looked up when we entered, and her face broke into a huge smile.

“Briggs!” She set down her spoon and crossed the kitchen to pull me into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I kissed her cheek, then stepped back. “Mom, this is Mandy. Mandy, my mother, Mimi.”

Mom turned to Mandy. I watched as she took in my wife for the first time. She’d seen the pictures. She knew the story. But this was the first time they were meeting face to face.

“Mandy,” Mom said warmly, pulling her into a hug before Mandy could even offer a handshake. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much.”

“All good things, I hope,” Mandy said, returning the embrace.

“Mostly,” Mom teased, pulling back with a wink. “Welcome to the family.”

The words were surreal. Welcome to the family. Like it was that simple. Like Mandy belonged here already.

“What can I do to help?” Mandy asked, looking around the kitchen.

“Oh, you’re sweet, but everything’s under control. You two go relax. Everyone else is in the living room.”

We found the rest of the family exactly where Mom said they’d be. Sebastian and Bernadette were on the couch, his arm around her shoulders. Adrian was in Dad’s old armchair, looking more relaxed than I’d seen him in months. Elizabeth was in the rocking chair with Bucky sleeping in her arms.

“There he is,” Dash said, looking up from his phone. “The married man.”

“Shut up,” I said, but I was smiling.

Mandy made her rounds, greeting everyone. I watched her charm my family with the same ease she’d charmed me. Elizabeth had given her Bucky to hold.

And holy shit, seeing her with a baby in her arms did something funny to me. I swallowed the lump that had formed.

“You look happy,” Dash said.

I glanced at him. “I am.”

“Good.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “You deserve it.”

Mom called us all to dinner twenty minutes later. The dining room table had been extended to accommodate everyone. It was packed. I looked around at all the faces and was overcome with emotion.

Dad would have loved this. The table full, the house alive with noise and laughter. This was what he’d always wanted for us. Soon, Sebastian and Bernadette would be married and I knew they’d have children. There would be grandkids and noise and so much love.

Mandy sat beside me. Mom brought out dish after dish—roasted chicken, potatoes, vegetables, fresh bread, salad. It was enough food to feed an army.

“This looks amazing, Mimi,” Mandy said.

“Thank you, dear. I hope you’re hungry.”

We dug in, and conversation flowed easily around the table. Sebastian was telling some story about a photoshoot gone wrong. Dash was heckling him from across the table. Elizabeth was trying to keep Bucky from fussing while also eating. Adrian was watching his son with that same expression of wonder he’d been wearing since the kid was born. That was the look of a man with his heart on the outside of his body. I envied him a little.

“So, Mandy,” Mom said during a lull in conversation. “Briggs tells me you’ve taken on Sebastian and Bernadette’s wedding.”

“I have,” Mandy confirmed. “We had a great venue visit today. It’s going to be beautiful.”