Page 36 of Beehive Yourself
“Sawyer,”—Mrs. McKinley beams, opening her arms—“it’s so good to see you.”
“You too,” I tell her, accepting her embrace and narrowing my eyes at Hallie as she talks to Beth and her wife, Piper.
We’d both been surprised by their presence when we arrived at her parents’ house, the classic coastal home decorated in white and blue with beautiful wood floors and a dish full of shells on the dining room table.
“We’re just so thrilled about you and Hallie,” she gushes, and while I appreciate her enthusiasm, I can’t deny the way she’s caught me off guard.
“You are?”
“Oh course!” she says, resting her hand on my forearm. “All you ever want is for your kids to be happy, and I’ve never seen my daughter like this—she’s practically glowing.”
“Thank you.” The words are gruff and I have to clear my throat. “That means a lot, Mrs. McKinley.”
“Oh, please, you call me Margot.”
“All right, Mom, out of the way,” Beth teases, bumping her hip into Margot’s with a grin. “Let me hug this guy so we can get the awkwardness out of the way.”
“Hey, Beth.” I chuckle, thankful that she’d been the one to initiate this impromptu reunion. “It’s good to see you.”
It’s strange hugging her, knowing we have a history and accepting that I wouldn’t have Hallie without it.
“It’s pretty great seeing you with my sister,” she says, releasing me and looking over to where Piper is talking to Hallie. “I’m glad that you didn’t hold what I did against her.”
I open my mouth and then close it before dipping my head. “I almost did,” I admit, “but she called me out—helped me see how much I’d been holding on to it still. I never begrudged you finding happiness; I just hated being a casualty.”
“She’s the best,” Beth says, her smile affectionate. “She called me out too when it all happened. She was mad as hell on your behalf.” Turning, she takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “I’m sorry for the way I hurt you.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, a strange sense of relief at finally having this behind me—us.
“So, we’re good? Not awkward?” she asks and I snort.
“We’re good.”
“Great, now come meet my wife, and let’s really bring this full circle.”
“Lead the way.”
HALLIE
My heart had droppedto my flip-flops when I’d seen Beth and Piper. Bringing Sawyer to dinner with my parents was one thing, but having my sister and her wife crash that dinner was another.
I think we’d all collectively held our breath, but then Mom had hugged Sawyer and the tension that had been there seemed to dissipate. We told stories, laughed, and joked with Beth and Piper cuddled together on the couch and me in Sawyer’s lap in the recliner.
My parents hadn’t stopped smiling, and I just wanted to soak it all in.
“You’re smiling again,” Sawyer teases as we walk along the beach, stars dotting the inky black sky as the waves crash along the shore.
“It was just a really good night.” We’d finally left sometime after ten, Sawyer suggesting we take a walk before heading home.
Home.
“It was… It felt like maybe we all needed it,” he says, his voice thoughtful, and I nod.
“Do you think your parents will be as understanding?”
Sawyer chuckles, the sound low and husky as he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side. “I don’t know if you know this about Dottie Kade, but that woman lives to love everyone she comes across. She’s going to be over the moon to see you, and hell, she’ll probably adopt Beth and Piper too.”
“I’m glad that wasn’t weird.”
