Page 121 of Game Change

“Behave. People will be here any minute, and I have to get these horrible things off my feet.” I give her my best smug grin.

“Comfy, aren’t they?” I ask of her yellow Crocs.

“Let us never talk about it.” She has the same collection of Crocs as me but only wears them at home. I follow her into the closet and watch while she pulls on a pair of ankle boots.

“I forgot to mention that Blair’s in town,” Brynne says. “I invited her tonight, but I’m not sure if she’ll come.”

There’s a loud knock on the door, so I leave the bedroom to let our guests inside. Heath, Uncle Milton, Lisa, and Colin the First rush inside. Marilyn follows behind them.

Heath waves a pastry box in front of me. “I ordered it from one of the city’s most exclusive bakeries. It’s a black forest cake. “Very high-end,” Heath whispers. I nod in faux approval as I eye his outfit. It’s a beige and brown cardigan decorated with pilgrims and Native Americans.

“Is that your Thanksgiving cardigan?” I ask.

He stands taller and runs his hands down his sides. “You like?” he asks. I don’t, but I nod. “I had it especially made.” He moves closer. “It’s from the Yucatan.”

I have no idea what that means, and I don’t care enough to find out. I leave to search for my wife, who comes out to greet our guests.

Her relationship with Uncle Milton has never fully recovered, but he reverts to Kincaid form and acts as if everything is okay. Brynne is cordial and polite, and I leave it alone.

“Hey, Auntie Bee,” Heath says.

Surprisingly, my wife and nephew are in a better place now. He still works for us part-time, and he’s enrolled in architecture school full-time. Brynne has mentored him. She said she wanted to take that role when the firm became ours. She's taken on a mentorship role and works with interns.

“Come help me finish setting up,” Brynne says to Heath, and he follows her into the kitchen.

Ian and Makayla arrive next, with Brody soon after. Raven called earlier and said she would be a little late but would be on her way when she finishes with her last client. Ernestine arrives and joins Brynne and Heath in the kitchen.

Uncle Milton and I roll our eyes at the sounds of Ernestine and Heath’s bickering over where to put the fine China set my mother gave us as a wedding present. She only showed up the day before the wedding and left the day after. That was the last time I saw her, and I’m fine with that.

“I drove by the property,” Colin the First says. “It’s coming along.” Uncle Milton nods in approval. The house that Brynne designed is currently under construction. It will be a fifteen-thousand-square-foot home on a quiet, sleepy street in the city. It’s our forever home and will be complete in another ten to twelve months.

I’m looking forward to it, but I can’t imagine living elsewhere besides this apartment. We will stay here during the week until we have kids, which we plan on in another two to three years. For now, I enjoy having my wife all to myself.

Amira arrives with Malcolm and Tabby. He has his arm thrown across Amira’s shoulders. Raven runs in behind them, holding a bottle of wine in each hand. I take them from her, and she goes to Amira and Malcolm for a group hug. Then she comes to me and Brynne for another.

“Don’t ask me to choose a favorite couple. I refuse,” she says. “Now, one of you find me a man because your girl is horny.” She walks away after making that statement.

Amira laughs and coughs simultaneously. Malcolm chuckles and rubs Amira’s back. Makayla leaves Ian’s side and hugs Amira and Tabby.

“Do I get a hug?” Malcolm asks Makayla. She rolls her eyes but hugs him.

“I want to talk about Christmas plans with Mimi and Tabby,” Makayla says. “We’re meeting Mom for breakfast tomorrow.”

“You’re not invited, Malcolm,” Tabby says. “Women only. Mom’s orders.” Tabby puts her hands on her hips and stares her brother down.

“I like to have breakfast with my girl,” Malcolm says, and Amira blushes.

“You, Dad, and Ian are going to hang out tomorrow,” Makayla says. “Be at the house by nine or deal with Mom.”

“We’ll be there,” Amira says.

Malcolm’s family loves her. From the moment Amira and Malcolm became a couple, she was accepted, and from what I know about her mother and sister, it’s exactly what Amira needed.

“Husband,” Brynne yells, “I need you.”

I leave my friends and go to my wife. I help her and Heath put the food on the table, and while everyone serves themselves, I open wine bottles and play soft music overhead.

There’s another knock on the door, and Blair comes in wearing a tentative smile. She lives in the city now while she attends grad school. Brynne’s father and his wife moved recently, but Brynne keeps her father at a distance. She did not extend an invitation to him today, but she does like her sister, and they are slowly getting to know each other.

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