"Dad wants to order in tonight," he says, his tone indicating how unusual this is. "We’re taking advantage of it."
Inside, the house is filled with a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
“What’s the occasion?” I ask, directing the question to my dad. He’s not one to order food often, so I’m curious about the sudden change.
Dad looks up from where he’s arranging the dining table, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Nothing, boy. I just got a hankering for some meatloaf, and it’s the best from the diner. They use your momma’s recipe.”
At the mention of Mom, a pang of sadness hits me. I tense, my thoughts drifting to her. I miss her so much...we all do.
Emma must notice the shift in my mood. She comes over and places a gentle hand on my arm.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her concern evident in her eyes.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just...sometimes when someone mentions Mom, I remember how much I miss her.
Emma nods, her expression softening with understanding. “What happened?”
“She died from cancer,” I explain. “It was a while ago, but damn, do I miss her. She was a fierce but gentle woman.”
Emma’s eyes are filled with sympathy. She doesn’t say anything, but her presence is a comfort. We stand there for a moment, the silence between us filled with unspoken understanding.
Hadley’s voice breaks the quiet. “Alright, jot down what you want, and I’ll call it in,” she says, holding out a notepad.
We all lineup and one by one write down on the notepad what we want. Hadley calls it in and pays over the phone using Dad’s card. After arguing with Aunt Diane about accepting the payment.
“Be ready in twenty,” she says, hanging up. “Emma, you wanna ride with me to pick it up?”
“Yeah. I’d love to.” Emma smiles.
As Emma and Hadley walk out the door to pick up dinner, Dad and my brothers corner Weston and me, their curiosity obvious.
“So, what’s going on with that girl?” Dad asks, leaning against the kitchen counter. His tone is half-teasing, half-serious. He’s always been protective of us, but there’s a softness in his eyes that tells me he’s genuinely interested in what’s happening.
Weston and I exchange a glance, a silent conversation passing between us. I can feel the weight of Dad’s question, but it also feels like the right moment to be honest.
“We’re in love with her.”
The words come out with a sense of finality, like a truth I’ve been holding in for a long time.
Marshall’s eyes widen slightly, and a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. He straightens up, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by something softer, warmer.
“She’s a good one,” he says, nodding. “I can see that. Make sure you treat her right.”
“What about her husband?” Sophia asks, bouncing Josie on her hip.
“She’s serving him with divorce papers. It was an arranged marriage and cheating was the loophole for her to get out,” Weston tells her.
“Is she staying then?” Carson crosses his arms as he questions us.
“We haven’t talked about it yet. But we want her to.”
“She better not break your hearts or I’ll break her nose like that bitch at the Copper Kitten last year,” Sophia warns.
“Little Felon,” Marshall sighs.
“They’re my brothers too, asshole. And I kinda like them,” she snaps at him and my dad chuckles.
“I swear, y'all choose the most stubborn, wild women…” he trails off.