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No...that would be our other guests.
My family.
I was so ashamed that I never tried to reach them after I got out of prison, and it makes me even more ashamed that they've been looking for me this whole time.
As I fidget on the porch swing, Claire places a comforting hand on my arm, knowing exactly what's running through my mind. "It's going to be okay," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of crickets chirping in the distance.
I nod, but my eyes are glued to the horizon, waiting for the first sign of my family's arrival. It's been years since I've seen them, and I'm not sure what to expect. Will they be angry with me? Disappointed? Or worse, will they have given up on me altogether?
The sound of an approaching car breaks through my thoughts, wheels crunching on gravel, and I stand up, heart racing. Claire stands up with me, a reassuring smile on her face. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together," she says.
I nod, but my attention is on the rental car pulling up the drive. I can just barely make out the features of the two women in the front seat, two shadows behind them. Holy shit--they're not alone. I see my sister's features in stark clarity, and I don't know if I can hold it together.
"You've got this, Gray," Claire whispers, squeezing my hand.
Luna is at my other side, being a very good girl and sitting as her tail thumps against the porch. I don't let her go and investigate until the car comes to a stop, and my mom and sister step out.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as they make their way up to the porch, uncertainty and fear washing over me in waves. But before I can even think about what to say, my sister is in my arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Oh my god, Gray," she sobs, clinging to me. "We've been looking for you for so long."
I wrap my arms around her, feeling a lump form in my throat as I see my mom standing a few feet away, tears in her eyes as well. In that moment, all my fears and doubts fade away, replaced by the love and acceptance of my family.
"I'm sorry, Sadie" I say, my voice breaking. "I'm so sorry for everything."
But my sister just shakes her head, smiling through her tears. "It doesn't matter," she says. "You're here now, that's all that matters."
I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders as I move to embrace my mom while Sadie practically tackles Claire. Luna is prancing around our ankles, and Sadie even starts to scratch Luna behind the ears as well. Then I look past my mom's shoulder and see two more familiar faces.
Two of my four brothers--the oldest, Caleb, and Sadie's twin, Jesse, are getting out of the car. They've got big smiles on their faces, and I find that those smiles are contagious as I go to hug them too. Luna dances around our ankles while Claire follows me to hug everyone, my mom holding Claire's arms as she looks down at Claire's swollen belly.
"My goodness!" my mom says. "I thought I was excited to meet my grandbaby, but seeing you in person...I can hardly contain myself!"
Claire blushes, her hand protectively resting on her belly. "We can't wait either."
The rest of the afternoon goes by in a blur of laughter and catching up, as my family fills me in on everything that's happened since we last saw each other. They don't pry into my time in prison, and I'm grateful for that. Instead, we focus on the future--my future with Claire, our plans to start a life together, and the baby who will soon be joining us.
As the sun sets and the crickets begin to chirp, we all gather around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows and sharing stories. I feel contentment settle deep in my bones, a sense of belonging that I haven't felt in years.
And as I watch my family laughing and joking around, I know that no matter what happens in the future, I'll always have them by my side.
Chapter twenty-two
Claire
Gray'sfamilyisjustas wonderful as I'd hoped they'd be.
He's slow to open up, but he does eventually, chatting animatedly with his brothers, Caleb and Jesse. They've been traveling around the country doing work on various construction sites, and they even talk about settling in Fern Hollow for a little while. It's nice to think about having family around once the baby is born.
As the night wears on, Gray's family begins to reveal more about themselves. His sister, Sadie, talks about her job in a bakery, and the crazy cakes she's made for people down in Roswell, where she and Teresa live. Sadie's twin, Jesse, shares stories of their childhood together and the mischief they used to get into. And Caleb, Gray's oldest brother, talks about his recent breakup and how he's ready to start fresh.
As for Gray, he opens up about his fears of becoming a father. He worries he won't be a good enough role model for his child, that he'll make mistakes, and that they'll never forgive him for it. I squeeze his hands as he talks about their dad, as they all commisserate over how rough it was sometimes growing up. But his family reassures him that he'll be a great dad and that they'll all be there to support him.
As the night draws to a close, Teresa pulls me aside in the kitchen, watching her kids talk with a smile. I stand at the kitchen counter with her, my hand resting on my belly as I feel the baby kick.
"You really love him, huh?" she asks.
I nod. "Gray is the best man I've ever met. I can't imagine my life without him."
