Page 68 of Another June with You

“Stop it. You’re family to me.”

Jamie barely managed a smile and hesitantly followed her into the backyard.

Shannon was pleased to see her Uncle Gene and Aunt Joanna, as well as their son, Maxwell, in attendance. Though they lived within an hour of each other, they only saw each other a few times a year.

“Hey, Max,” Shannon greeted him.

His expression brightened, and he strode across the yard to hug her. “Hey, cuz, how are you?”

“Doin’ okay. You?”

He shrugged. “Eh.” His deep green eyes fell on Jamie. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Jamie.” She looked at her friend, whose eyes were fixed on Duncan and Dréa standing across the yard, lip-locked. “Jamie, this is my cousin, Max.”

Jamie startled and shifted her attention to the man in front of them. “Nice to meet you.” She shook his outstretched hand.

Shannon could tell she was preoccupied, so she guided her to a seat at the table next to Nana. Max sat down on her other side.

Nana smiled up at Shannon. “Micah’s not with you today?”

“Not today, Nana.” She leaned down and kissed her grandmother on the cheek.

Seated on the other side of Nana was her sister, Pauline, who winked when Shannon sat down across from them.

Shannon noticed the large bowl of spaghetti in the center of the table and wished she could heap a pile onto her plate. She reached into the bowl and snuck a single noodle, slurping it slowly into her mouth. Mama was suddenly behind her with a plate of grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. Shannon looked up at her mother, who gave her a knowing smile and set the plate before her.

Papa took the head of the table with Mama to his right. Dréa took the seat Sophia normally would’ve sat in next to Mama with Duncan seated beside her. Leo and Paolo, cousins on Mama’s side of the family, sat down across from Duncan, and Paolo stretched his long body diagonally across the table to high-five Shannon. Out of the many cousins they had, these two had always been frequent fixtures around their house.

The meal was delicious and the small talk plentiful, but for their usual Sunday dinner, it was quieter than normal. Maybe because there was an outsider at their table. Maybe it was the tension between Duncan and Jamie. Whatever the reason, it seemed a little off.

When the last noodle was slurped and the last wine sipped, Duncan stood slowly, glancing around the table with uncertainty. Shannon noticed the way his eyes skipped past Jamie.

“Uh, I have something …”

Shannon had never seen her brother so nervous before.

“I have an announcement to make.”

Shannon’s stomach dropped, thinking about her best friend’s feelings, hoping this announcement was about his job or anything other than what she feared it was.

“Dréa and I are engaged.”

Dréa beamed and held her hand up to reveal a giant round diamond engagement ring.

Mama and Nana covered their mouths with their hands.

“Oh, my dear,” Nana said, “you’re good at keeping secrets. Just like your Nana.”

His smile appeared forced and insincere, and he still avoided making eye contact with Jamie.

“It was hard not wearing the ring the whole time I’ve been here,” Dréa told them.

The elder women of the family stood and walked around the table to hug on Duncan and Dréa.

Shannon glanced over at Jamie as a tear slid down her cheek.

“I’m gonna go,” Jamie whispered across the table, and she stood and bolted from the yard before Shannon could stop her.

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