Page 58 of Wreck Me

“Absolutely not. But we already invited my big sister, so we had that covered.”

“Ah, good point.” He winked at her.

As if summoned by saying her name three times in a bathroom mirror, Monique appeared at the entrance to the driveway. In a navy-blue sport skort and matching short-sleeved shirt, she didn’t look the least bit winded or sweaty despite the walk up to the house and temps already climbing. “I hope you didn’t invite too many people to this thing, cause we’re not all gonna fit into your little love nest.”

“Good to see you too, Sis.” Ginny walked toward her and gave her a hug. “It shouldn’t be too many. Rick really wanted to come, but he’s out of state visiting friends. So, it’s just you guys and Nico’s immediate family.”

Monique kept moving toward the front of the house. “And three giant dogs that stink enough to count as three people each.”

“Now, now. The pups all had baths this morning.” She gestured to where Mick, Jack, and Annie stood, tails wagging, behind a cute, white picket fence enclosing the smallest backyard in the Malibu Hills.

“Let’s keep them there,” Monique said.

When they reached the bottom of the porch steps, Nico shook Monique’s hand. “Welcome to our housewarming!”

“Thank you and congratulations.” She stared at them both. “But do we all have to paint our noses blue too?”

Ginny and Nico laughed, then wiped the paint off each other’s noses. “Nope,” Ginny said. “That’s just for crunchy pickles.”

Monique squinted at them. “You guys are so weird.” She looked back at the house. “I haven’t seen the place since the insulated concrete forms were delivered. Those were very interesting.”

“Yes,” Nico said. “We wanted the house to look the same but be much more energy efficient. We used solar shingles too. Ginny did all the research on it.”

Ginny turned to her sister. “What do you think?”

Monique gazed up at the house. Its pastel colors echoed the tall purple thistles and lemony brittlebush flowers dotting the hills that cradled it. “It’s not what I would have built with an unlimited budget but, I must admit, it’s cute. Did you make it even a smidge bigger than the original?”

“The bathroom and two bedrooms a little longer, one of which is my office and art studio,” Ginny explained.

Monique gave her sister side-eye. “Office?”

“I’m starting back in college. Going to finish my degree in art history.”

Monique’s mouth made and “O” of pleasant surprise. “I’m so glad. You are truly gifted in that field.” Monique turned to Nico. “And where’s your office then? The roof?”

Nico laughed. “I won’t be working when I’m home with Ginny, so why would I need an at-home office?”

Two sandy-haired boys appeared at the top of the driveway. They raced straight toward Nico, and he grabbed them both up in his arms. “Welcome to our new house, you guys! No climbing the fence at the edge unless you want to give your hard-working mom a heart attack.” He set them both down.

“We won’t!” said the oldest as they ran straight toward the ledge.

Laughing, Nico jogged after them, saying over his shoulder. “Go on in. I’m sure Vince and Sarah are close behind with Mom. I’ll just keep an eye on these danger monkeys till they get here.”

Ginny and Monique climbed the porch front steps and went in to find Sadie and Grant busy in the kitchen. New house smell was heavily overlaid with scents of warming cider and fresh baked cookies, and there were cheese and appetizer trays on thesideboard in the living room. Two plain orange wingbacks sat in the living room too, in no hurry to be replaced by the originals, which were still with Nico’s mother.

Standing in the entryway, Ginny filled her lungs. “Smells so good in here! Thanks so much, you guys.”

Sadie bustled past them into the living room with warmed parmesan artichoke dip and fresh bread rounds. “Our pleasure! And Rick sent along some treats from the diner since he couldn't be here. But…” she sent Ginny a pleading smile, “…you sure you don’t want a few streamers up?”

“We wouldn’t mind, but Nico’s mom will be here soon, and we don’t want to do anything that might make it harder for her to remember herself here. We scoured online shops for all the knickknacks and furniture to replicate the ones in the old house, but we don’t even know if it the memory trigger will work with all the new smells and unlived-in look. We’re crossing all fingers and toes.”

“I understand,” Sadie said, “it’s just my frustrated inner Martha Stewart!”

Ginny and Sadie helped Grant with some kitchen tidying while Monique sat at the booth. A few minutes later, Vince, Sarah, and the boys walked in.

“Mom’s here,” Vince said, sounding nervous.

Ginny wondered when the sight of Nico’s identical twin would stop being odd for her, but getting to know Vince, Sarah, and the boys had been fun, and they all seemed just as taken with her. “Has she recognized anyone yet?”

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