Page 109 of The Rules We Broke
Standing at the door were all my favorite Jacksons: Brady, Kendra, Benjamin, and little Miss Caroline. All of them grinning like they’d just pulled off the best surprise of the season.
“Surprise!” they chorused.
“Oh, wow,” was all I could manage. I was so touched, I could barely speak. “Come in,” I choked out.
Brady reached me first, kissing my cheek. “We thought we could have a family dinner tonight.”
“I hope we’re not being too presumptuous by inviting ourselves,” Kendra added with a wink.
My heart was bursting. I placed a hand over it. “Nothing would make me happier.”
I welcomed them—and the trays of delicious-smelling food—inside.
We headed to the kitchen, which opened into the family room. We had a formal dining room, but I preferred the round table in the breakfast nook. It was cozy and warm. It matched how I felt at that moment.
Having them all there meant the world to me. I only hoped Aunt Lu would feel the same.
Unfortunately, her pinched expression when we walked in said otherwise.
I tensed, silently begging her to at leasttryto fake it.
But I didn’t have to worry—Caroline saved the day.
Without any coaxing, she marched straight up to Aunt Lu and handed her a card.
“I drew you a picture so you would feel better.”
She was adorable. So adorable, not even Aunt Lu could resist.
She took the card and opened it, doing her best not to fully smile. She was so stubborn. But she finally cracked.
“Well thank you, sugar,” she said. “I feel better already.”
Caroline giggled. “Miss Ellie calls me sugar sometimes, too.”
Aunt Lu looked up at me and smiled.Smiled—even with Brady’s arm around me.
She turned back to Caroline. “It must be because you’re so sweet.”
Caroline beamed.
Kendra and Benjamin sat on the couch and chatted with Aunt Lu for a bit. Brady and I took the safer route—setting the table and laying out the food.
It looked like Kendra had made grilled chicken with some kind of marinade, a fresh green salad, and homemade rolls. It smelled heavenly.
“Whose idea was it to bring dinner?” I whispered, placing the silverware just how Aunt Lu liked it.
“Kendra, of course. She and Benjamin wanted you to know they support us.”
It meant the world to me. And gave me hope.
I peeked over at them talking with my aunt. They seemed to be getting alongfamously.
Kendra was quickly becoming one of my favorite people. And I appreciated Benjamin more than I could say. This couldn’t be easy for him—especially knowing how much his mother hated me and my family.
So, I was more than surprised when he stood and held out his hand to Aunt Lu.
“May I escort you to the table?”
