Page 107 of A Better Place

James makes the rounds, his hand never leaving mine, introducing me to so many family members I feel like my head could explode.

For so long, it was just Jack and I. Even when I was with Vince, we didn’t have family around. He wasn’t close with his parents and he, too, was an only child. To say the onslaught of so many people around is overwhelming is an understatement.

James, being James, sees it before I have the chance to even try to hide my freak-out. He sits us down at a table with his parents, placing a glass of wine in front of me and kissing me on the cheek.

His parents are two of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They welcome me into the fold so seamlessly it feels as if I’ve been a part of their family for years. I see James take out his phone and send off a quick text, and a minute later Jack is sitting down on the other side of me.

“Hey, Mom. You look really pretty,” he tells me.

“Jack, meet my parents, Deb and George Cole. Mom, Dad, this is Jack, Carly’s son.”

George stands up and shakes Jack’s hand over the table, but Deb has other intentions.

“Get over here, my boy,” she says.

He sheepishly stands up and walks over to her then bends down close.

She takes him by the face. “It’s good to meet you, Jack. James has told us so much about you. And so has Maggie. Welcome to the family, kiddo.”

He nods his head, not saying anything in return, then before he can do anything about it, she pulls him in for a hug only worthy of a grandmother.

He steps away and starts to returns to his seat, but not before Tess comes over with her camera ready, Lily in tow.

“Picture time, y’all!”

She takes several shots: some of the four of us, some of just James and me, Jack and me, James and Lily, and also some with her parents.

I’ve never felt like part of a family.

Until now.

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