Page 46 of Delta Mission
Aunt Betty blinked at the twins, then turned her gaze to me. A charged silence filled the room.
“What’s happening, Mommy?” Sutton whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
“What’s happening, Sutton,” Rupert’s voice boomed from the corner, “is a family reconciliation.”
Sutton scrunched her nose. “What’s a reconcil—”
“It’s where we forgive each other, and move on, so everyone can be happy.” Channing strode to me, slipped around to my back, and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Right, Aunt Betty?”
She bunched her bright pink lips. “Well . . . I just don’t think—”
“Betty. If Makenna and the twins can forgive and forget, you can too.” Rupert glared at his sister.
She huffed.
“Betty,” Rupert said her name like she was a naughty child. “You’ve been angry over that incident long enough. It’s time, don’t you think?”
The turmoil on her face melted, and she waggled her head. “Oh, all right.” She waved me forward. “Come here.” She opened her arms.
Channing nudged me forward, and it took everything I had to walk toward her.
“I always knew you’d come waltzing back through our door.” She squeezed her arms around me, and as I inhaled aromas of talcum powder and cheap perfume, Rupert winked at me.
“Right, then.” Talon smacked his hands together. “Who needs another drink? I know I sure do.” He clapped Channing’s back and left the room. “Mom, it’s safe to come out now,” Talon called toward the kitchen.
Talon was like the pied piper, and with a mass exodus, everyone left the room, leaving Channing and me alone.
Channing picked me up and twirled me around. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Jesus. That was horrific,” I whispered in case anyone was listening.
He lowered my feet to the carpet. “Well, I thought that went very well.”
I checked that nobody was lurking in the next room. “She’s scary.”
Channing dipped me backward and kissed my throat.
I squealed. “Stop that, you imbecile.”
He stood me upright again and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that was harsh.”
I draped my arms over his shoulders and drank him in. “I love you. Even if your family is crazy.”
“You haven’t seen crazy yet. Wait until we’re all seated around that table of food.” He placed his hands on my hips, pulling me closer. His beautiful eyes shimmered. . . divine and possessive. “I love you too, Goodspeed.”
Seeing the love in his eyes, I wanted to pinch myself. Channing had always been in my heart. Now he was in my arms, too. And in my soul.
A beautiful ball of emotion gripped my heart as I pressed my lips to his.
All too soon, he pulled back. “Come on, I want some of Mom’s pork crackling before Talon eats it all.” I grabbed my wine, and he led me into the dining room.
Everyone was seated around the table. Rupert was at the head of the table, with Valerie beside him. Talon was at the opposite end, and I felt his glare as Channing shuffled me into a chair next to his sister.
Across from me, Aunt Betty had her lips in a tight pout. She bugged her eyes at Channing. “About time you joined us. Hurry up and sit before the roast goes cold.”
It was going to be a long dinner.
Channing sat and rubbed his hands together. “Let’s eat.”
