Page 42 of A Package Deal

Nelie blanched. The possibility of more family hadn’t crossed her mind. She couldn’t find her voice, so she let her middle finger do the talking. Jackson was still laughing when she stepped into the elevator.

Chapter 23

Nelierestedherelbowson the table and leaned her chin into her hands. Everything was perfect. For now. She didn’t know how people would react when she announced her plan, but she was grateful Mrs. Hart had agreed to host dinner. Telling everyone at once would be easier. She hoped.

She’d spent the greater part of the last week daydreaming and answering introspective questionnaires with titles like:What do you want to do with your life?andFind and Share your StrengthsandWhy Cake People and Pie People Shouldn’t Be in the Same KitchenandI’m Rich. Now What?None of them had been helpful—although the cake and pie one had her hankering for desserts—but they all reminded her of how lucky she was.

Mostly, Nelie loved her life, but there was too much in it. She wanted to pare back to make room for what truly brought her joy. Her life was like a supreme pizza. Right now, there were so many flavors on it, she couldn’t appreciate the ones she liked or avoid the ones she hated. Nelie wanted a simple margarita pizza made with the best ingredients, a glass of wine, and someone to share it all with. Orsomeones.

Pris, Suzanne, Mrs. Hart, and Gus sat at one end of the table. Jackson’s arm slung across the back of Emily’s chair as he and Chet listened to Ava and Piper. Nelie’s heart swelled. Her newfound family and her future family together. She smiled at her dad, and he winked back at her. Through all of this, she’d still been his sunshine and his Nelie-girl. He was her champion, and she knew he regretted going along with Stella’s cover story.

As content as she was, she shoved back from the table. The pre-chopped salad bags sitting on the counter weren’t going to make themselves. Nelie opened the bags as Ava sidled up to her, asking quietly to help. Nelie pushed the dressing packets, scissors, and tongs toward her. “Have at it, sweetheart, but let me know if you need help.” Nelie hoped Piper didn’t want to help. Tossing the salad was a one-person job. She watched the younger girl show everyone her loose tooth, and Nelie stopped worrying. Piper wouldn’t leave the spotlight for something as mundane as salad preparation.

The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Hart fished a few dollars from her pocket. “That’s the pizza man. Go get the door, Jackson,” she said, handing him the money.

“Pizza? Our first big family dinner and you’re feeding us pizza?”

“Hush.” Mrs. Hart swatted at him. “Bowling ran late today, but we’ve got salad and dessert, too.”

“Store-bought?”

“Nelie-brought,” Mrs. Hart said, and everyone laughed. Chet asked where the girls could wash up, and Pris said she’d show them, taking each of their hands.

“It’s good to see you in person,” Nelie said to Emily as she approached.

“You, too.” Emily hugged Nelie. “I’m not sure what this dinner is all about, but you have my full support. In everything. You were my friend before you became my sister-in-law. And speaking of”—Emily loosened her hug—“I’m sorry. From what Jackson told me, he’s been a bit of an ass.”

A bit?Nelie thought, but she held her tongue. She didn’t want to be another problem on Emily’s list. Nelie didn’t know how she was juggling daily hospital visits to Nate and her new job as the mayor. “He was worried. Who knew cinnamon-roll Jackson could go alpha male?”

“Yes, well, as long as he keeps his chest beating away from the mayor’s office, I’ll be okay,” Emily said.

“Are you two planning to hug each other all night, or can we eat? The girls are hungry,” Gus griped.

“The girls. Right,” Nelie said, rolling her eyes at her dad. Gus harrumphed and carried the plates to the table. Nelie followed behind with the salad. Suzanne grabbed a picnic-style silverware holder from the back room, and Emily passed around drinks as everyone took their seats.

“Granny, can you pass the salad?” Nelie asked. Mrs. Hart wrinkled her nose. The name didn’t feel right to Nelie, either.

“How long are you planning to stay in Haven, Suzanne?” Chet asked, squeezing Nelie’s knee under the table, giving her a boost of confidence and a jolt of attraction.

“I’m not sure. But I’m enjoying my time here. I can’t remember when I’ve spent so much time with my mom or my kids.” Suzanne looked around the table. “It’s been wonderful.”

“Why is your sweater on wrong?” Piper pointed at Pris. Ava glared at Piper. “What? You’re the one who showed me.” Piper looked indignant. Nelie met Emily’s eyes, and it looked like they were both holding back a laugh.

“Oh, I, um, had to get changed quickly at the hospital,” Pris said, blushing and wiping her mouth with her napkin.

“I thought you were off today?” Jackson asked with narrowed eyes. From the look Pris gave him, Nelie knew Pris wanted to club him over the head with his overprotective he-man attitude. The Galley was a popular spot for hospital employees after their shifts, and Nelie wondered if she knew the person responsible for her sister’s inside-out sweater and the glow on her face.

“So, do you girls have any plans for the spring?” Pris asked, turning toward them and ignoring her brother.

“Piper swims and Coach Preston thinks I should do kids’ triathlons to keep in shape for biathlon, but I don’t know how that will help with my shooting,” Ava said with an air of maturity. Pris’s eyebrow cocked as she turned to Chet and told him that children shouldn’t be doing triathlons.

“That was my concern, too,” Chet said, and Pris appeared to relax. “But it’s limited distances. For Ava’s age group, it is a one-hundred-meter swim, a two- or three-kilometer bike ride, and a one-kilometer run.” Pris nodded. Chet added salad to Ava’s and Piper’s plates. “And Alex and I are working on a way to get her shooting practice.”

“I might do it, too,” Piper said, and Ava frowned.

“That sounds wonderful. Ava must be an excellent older sister for you to want to emulate her,” Mrs. Hart said, and Ava shut her mouth as her lovely words blew away the storm clouds that had gathered over Ava’s head.

“She is, Mimi,” Nelie said, trying on a different name for Mrs. Hart.

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