Page 48 of The Hermit on the Hill

"Of course, Sam. I—"

"Hi honey, I'm home," Brittany's voice rang out from the front of the house right before the door banged shut. "Jared's with me and he's an innocent, so put your clothes back on."

"Are you serious?" Jared asked, the sound of their voices moving closer. "I told you we should knock."

"We aren't naked," I yelled, smiling at Sam, who was smiling back at me. "And we're in the dining room."

Jared and Brittany appeared in the doorway. Brittany's blond curls were a wild halo around her head and decorated with wildflowers. Jared's hair was loose and hung past his shoulders. Small purple flowers adorned his hair and his beard.

"Wow," Jared said. "Everyone is coming?"

"Even the kids." My stomach flipped. I wasn't really worried about what my siblings would say, but I was a little worried about what my brothers might do to Sam to initiate him into the family. "I called Jill this afternoon and told her everything. She thought about joining us on my laptop, but figured it would be too confusing with everyone here and nowhere we could put her so she could see everything happening."

"She should move here," Jared said. "Now that all of us are here, we can put the pressure on her."

"I'm sure she'll love that," I said. "Are you definitely moving here, then? You've decided?"

Jared glanced at Brittany and I didn't miss the fond look on his face, though he covered it quickly. "Yeah, Dr. Fielding wants me to start in two weeks. I've already given my notice at Hertsfeld's, so I'll be moving in next week, Sis."

Brittany smiled wide but didn't look back at Jared. When the doorbell rang, she bounced toward the front of the house. "I'll get it," she singsonged.

"That'll be George and May," I said. "Should we move to the living room until the pizza is here?"

"Sure," Sam said.

We met George and May in the front hall and led them to the living room. There was a sectional couch there, as well as two armchairs, and another small couch, all arranged in front of an enormous television with built-in bookshelves on either side of it. Bookshelves filled with books and enough folk art that I was looking forward to studying it all the next chance I got. At the rate I was going, I might have to creep downstairs at midnight to snoop through all his art and books.

George shook Sam's hand. "Nice to see you with clothes on."

Sam smirked. "Nice to see you unarmed."

George sat on one chair and pulled May down next to him so that she was sitting on him more than the chair. She snuggled up and pressed a kiss to the end of his nose.

"So." May turned to me. "What's the big news? And why are we meeting at Sam's house?" She smiled at Sam, who stood behind me at the edge of the room. "No offense, Sam. But the last time I was on your property, you threatened to shoot me if I ever trespassed again."

"No offense taken," he said. "You're invited this time, so I promise not to shoot."

George and May stared at me expectantly.

"I'll tell you everything. But not until everyone is here."

"Everyone?" May asked.

Just then, the doorbell rang again, and Brittany bounced off to answer it.

Sam leaned in close to my ear. "Do you want to talk to them alone first?"

It surprised me he'd waited until now to ask that question. Had May offended him? I turned to find him looking uncertain, and my heart went out to him.

"You should stay. I want you where I can see you in case Cody and Noah get any ideas about covering you in maple syrup and feathers."

"I won't be far," he said. "But I understand if you want to be alone with your family for this news."

"You are family. They all need to understand that. If I send you away, they'll think you're the enemy."

His grin was wicked. "I'm only the enemy if they trespass on my land or cause you or my son any pain."

I patted his cheek, ready to admonish him, when the kids raced into the living room followed by two teenagers and the parents of the entire crew, Noah, Aubrey, Cody, and Carrie.

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