Page 22 of Liam

“I’ll have to check it out.” She pauses a beat. “It wasn’t too busy?”

“Nah, the high school still has a few days left, so we were lucky it was quiet.”

“You record most of your stuff around here?” she asks.

“Yeah, mostly.” Linc chuckles before adding, “Liam doesn’t get out much.”

My eyes drift shut, and I let out a sigh. I hate that she has this much insight into my life. But then again, so does anyone with Internet access.

I glance out the window just as my sister’s car pulls in. I wasn’t expecting her today—unless she told Lincoln and Lincoln forgot to tell me, which is… likely. A smile tugs on my lips the moment I see Lucy step out and open the back door, and without thinking, I’m back on the porch again, watching my sister lift my niece, Katie, out of the car. As soon as she’s on her feet, she’s running toward us. “Uncle Twinnies!”

“Princess!” Linc and I return in unison. The first time our nephew, Benny, met Katie was on Halloween, and she was dressed as a princess. He’s called her Princess ever since, and (maybe unfortunately) the name has stuck.

Lucy smiles from ear to ear, first at Adelaide, then at us, then back to Adelaide. “You must be Roman’s sister. Addie, right?”

I don’t look at Adelaide for a response. Instead, I watch Katie park her butt on the dirt ground, ruining her frilly pink dress, and immediately work at ripping off her shoes. Honestly, I don’t know why Lucy insists on dressing her like a princess when anyone who spends time with her can see she’s far from it. Katie likes to get dirty, walk barefoot, dig for worms, and burn plastic soldiers with nothing but the sun and a magnifying glass. She’s everything her uncles are, and absolutely nothing at all like her mother.

Lucy must hate it.

“My husband mentioned you were working here. He works with Roman, too,” Lucy tells Adelaide. “Girl, your brother’s so happy you’re home.”

“So am I,” Adelaide replies. “I mean, I’m happy to be back with him.”

“He’s sure missed you while you’ve been gone.”

“Trust me, the feeling’s mutual.”

Lucy and her husband, Cameron, were in the same grade as Roman, so they go way back—even as far as my little league days when Roman and Cameron coached us. Ever since Roman got out of prison and started working for my dad, he’s become a solid part of their friend group.

“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you, or re-meet you, I guess,” Lucy says. “We’ll have to have you over for dinner sometime.”

“Sounds good.”

Lucy switches her focus between Linc and me, and I already know what’s coming. With pleading eyes and batting lashes, she hints, “I havesomuch work to do.”

Linc and I share a look—one that would come with an eye roll if our sister wasn’t right in front of us. Lucy rarely works. She treats her shop like a personal library, and most days, you can find her in a corner, hiding from paying customers so she can read. We both know that either a new book just came out, and she’s dying to read it, or Cam has some unexpected time off and they’re going to do… things no brother should have to imagine their sister doing.

Linc’s quick to reveal his phone from his pocket and fake answer it without ever tapping the screen. “Hello?” he says to no one. “Oh, really?”…“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Within seconds, he’s muttering, “Gotta go! Bye!” Then speeding away on the golf cart.

Lucy… sweet, innocent, clueless Lucy turns her attention to me. “Can you?” she asks, motioning to Katie, who’s now building a tiny fort with sticks and fallen leaves.

I’d planned to edit the content we just created, and we’re still behind because Linc’s been spending time with Julie, soIactually have“so much work to do,”but then I look down at a three-year-old Katie… at her big blue eyes, and her chubby cheeks, and her ridiculous smile, and I can’t say no… not that I’d really want to. “Sure.”

“You’re the best,” Lucy says as I make my way down the porch steps. On her tiptoes, she hugs me around the neck, offering a “Thanks.” When she pulls away, she squeezes my biceps. “Wow, look at you all bulked up. Those boxing lessons are serving you well, huh?”

I roll my eyes, do my best not to bring attention to the girl sitting on the steps, and whisper, “Knock it off.”

“What?” Then, in true big sister form, she teases, “Am I embarrassing you in front of agirrrrl?” She breaks out in a giggle.

So does Katie.

And so does Adelaide.

I focus on my niece, taking her tiny hand in mine. “Your mama’s crazy.”

She nods in agreement. “Mama’s crazy.” Then she raises her arms. “Up.”

I lift her up, hold her close, and start for the studio. “Say bye to mama.”

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