Page 117 of If the Stars Align
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” I tell the best in-laws I could hope for. They’re a major part of the reason Dex and I decided to move back here. When we have kids, we want them to grow up enjoying Sunday morning pancakes at their house. And telling ghost stories around the firepit in their backyard.
“Hello,Mrs. Dexter,” my mother-in-law says to me with a wink.
I’ve been Mrs. Dexter for a year, and I still feel giddy anytime someone calls me that. I’m so glad my husband never legally changed his name to Dex Oliver. Mrs. Oliver just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
“Long time no see, darling,” my father-in-law says to me with a laugh.
It’s funny because we live with them—just for now—while our house is being built. Our new home will be ready by the end of this summer. It’s only a ten-minute drive from the Dexters, and even closer to my mom’s, making it the perfect spot for the family gatherings I always dreamed of.
As the Dexters make their way into the auditorium, I see a familiar face smiling at me.
“Sam!” I squeal, wrapping my arms around her. “I can’t believe you’re actually here in Beachwood!”
Sam visited me and Dex in Chicago a few times, but wasn’t able to come to our wedding because her brother got married the same weekend. When she told me she would’ve much preferred celebrating with us, I knew she wasn’t lying, given the complicated relationship she has with her family. Apparently her mom spent the better part of the wedding weekend crying because Sam has no marriage prospects. And her Lebanese grandmother has now taken to calling her a “spinster.”
She hugs me back, then pulls away and gives us a pointed look. “AndIcan’t believe you guys moved back here when I just got a teaching position at Northwestern!” She sighs. “At least Chicago’s driving distance, so I can come harass you two in your love nest.”
Dex laughs. “You’re welcome anytime. And Sunny and I will come visit you too. I love Chicago—it’s a great city.”
“It is,” Sam admits. “It just sucks that everyone I know is in New York or California. OrBeachwood,” she adds, playfully rolling her eyes. “This Northwestern gig better be worth moving back to the Midwest for.”
“Of course it’ll be worth it, Sam—or should I say,Dr. Sam? I’m so proud of you for making your career dreams come true.”
“Thank you,” she says, beaming. “Speaking of dreams, how’s the romance writing going? If I remember our conversations in college—which I do ingreatdetail—your husband is giving you some excellent material.”
I turn to see Dex half-smile. “The writing’s going well,” I redirect as my face warms. “I’ve been working on a series of books that I’m planning to self-publish next year.”
“That’s so exciting! I can’t wait to read them. Just promise you’ll put in detailed instructions on how Dex does that thing—you know—the one that made you scream so loud?—”
“Sam!” I shriek, grabbing her shoulders as Dex chuckles. “First of all,pleasekeep your voice down before this ends up on Page Six,” I say with an eye on the crowd. “Second of all, I don’t write sex manuals—I writeromancenovels. And third of all…I’m literallynevertelling you anything again.”
Sam looks to Dex and shakes her head. “Shealwayssays that.”
I turn to my husband, who is thoroughly amused. “Normally, I don’t kiss and tell. But I was really hung up on you in college and ended up giving Sam waytoo many details about our relationship which, unfortunately, she refuses to forget.”
“All I’m saying is, the more details in your books the better. I’ll buy several copies and hand them out as a public service to every guy I slept with who couldn’t find my?—”
“Sam! There’s achildright behind you!” I say, bringing my palm to my face. The kid and her dad are facing awayfrom us, but still.
She winces. “Yikes! I didn’t realize. Well, I’m going to take a seat inside before Sunny’s face turns any redder,” she says, kissing my cheek.
I smile as she waves goodbye to us.
“She’s hilarious,” Dex says to me. “Great comedic timing.”
I shake my head, laughing as the child and father who’d been standing behind Sam turn in our direction. “Sunny D!” the father exclaims when he sees us.
It’s Evan Chen. My stomach flips, wondering if he overheard our conversation with Sam. I’d be mortified.
“Sunny D! Sunny D!” four-year-old Avery repeats, tugging at her dad’s hand. She’s so much bigger than when we saw her in Beachwood over the holidays, I can hardly believe my eyes. She looks exactly like a mini version of Mia—and hearing her call Dex and me by our high school nickname floods me with overwhelming joy. Back then, we were joined at the hip as friends. Now we’re joined in marriage.
After we all hug, Evan turns to look back at the front door again. “Mia should be here any second,” he says with a furrowed brow.
Right on cue, his wife comes barreling into the school at high speed, with two-year-old James barely keeping up. She’s got an enormous diaper bag slung over her shoulder, and she’s carrying something weighty in the crook of her right arm, which I can’t make out until she reaches us.
“Hold this!” she says, handing me a swaddled baby girl. She bends down, lifts two-year-old James onto her hip, and exchanges an exasperated laugh with Evan, whose arm is being pulled in every direction by their eldest daughter.
“You must be Maeve,” I say to the sleeping baby in my arms. I rock her back and forth as Mia wipes jam off a giggling James’s face.
