Page 85 of Neat
Betty was quick to kick the conversation back in gear as Mallory stood, squeezing my shoulder. “Of course.” She disappeared into the kitchen, and I worried my cheek wondering what Mom was saying to her.
“It’s getting pretty serious with you two, isn’t it?” Jordan asked, nodding toward the kitchen.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I kept my eyes on the women inside those walls, anyway. “Serious as the last two minutes of a tied Super Bowl.”
Jordan chuckled, lifting his glass of whiskey. “Better hope Mom doesn’t eat her alive, then.”
I cheersed my glass to his, taking a long sip and letting it burn on the way down. Watching Mallory in the kitchen with Mom, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at the woman she was, the woman I loved, the woman who would someday be a part of our family. I knew it without a single doubt in my mind, especially after all we’d been through.
If the first month of our life hadn’t been enough of a ride, the last five months would have sealed the deal. Between learning how to live together — her perpetually a mess, me perpetually a neat freak — and adjusting to a new way of life with each of our new careers, it had been a whirlwind. Mallory was spending every hour of her day creating, whether it was painting or sketching or crafting or photography. Anything she could make and sell at the craft fairs around the state, she made. It was all part of her plan to save up to buy a shop of her own one day, and I helped her in whatever way I could — even when she asked me to pose nude for an exotic series of black and white sketches she sold for fifteen grand at a romance novel festival.
As for me, I was working longer hours at the distillery, turning the tour guide department into what I’d always envisioned it could be. We had more tours being booked than ever before — more than we had people togivetours — which meant I had my hands full trying to figure out how to accommodate the new demand.
And while I loved chasing my dreams with her, my favorite moments with Mallory were the quiet ones, when we were on the couch, Dalí curled up in a ball between us, a book in our laps, soft music playing in the background. I loved reaching over to close her book, to kiss her, to pull her into our bedroom where we made love.
I loved sharing my life with her.
And I knew without hesitation that I wanted to do it forever.
Mom carried the cake in, setting it down in the middle of the table with slices already pre-cut. She distributed small paper plates and my heathen brothers dug in immediately as Mallory took her seat next to me again.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
She smiled, unfolding her napkin and putting it in her lap again. “Everything’s fine. She was just threatening to hang me by my neon ponytail if I ever hurt her baby boy.”
I blanched. “She didn’t.”
“Oh, she did,” Mallory assured me on a laugh, patting my knee. “But, I don’t blame her. And it was a good talk, one I’m glad we had. I have to prove to her that I’m not like the rest of my family, and I don’t think that’s an unfair request. It’s also not a challenge I’m not willing to take on.” She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “Especially for you.”
I smirked, squeezing her hand where it grabbed mine under the table just as Mom called our attention.
“Now, before you go digging in,” she said, swatting my hand where I was about to put the first bit of cake in my mouth.
“Hey!”
“I’d like to take a moment to say something,” she said. She clasped her hands gently in front of her, and with the evening light pouring into the house, the silver of her hair shone a brassy gold. “Michael, this is one of the most important days of your life. It is a day you will never forget, a closing of one door and opening of the next. And no matter where this life takes you, I want you to always know that you have a home to come back to, and a family that loves you, very, very much.”
“Hear, hear,” Jordan said, lifting his glass. The rest of us lifted ours in unison.
“To Michael,” Mom said, tears in her eyes now. “Our baby boy, a baby no longer.”
We all cheered and whistled, taking a drink before digging into our cake. Mikey stood and wrapped Mom in a big hug, and as soon as they had both sat down, Noah stood. He seemed nervous, and when I realized he hadn’t touched his cake, I narrowed my eyes, looking between him and the offending slice.
“Uh, while we’re all gathered here,” he said, clearing his throat. “I wanted to let you all know we have another cause for celebration.”
The whole table went quiet, and we all knew before he even said his next words.
He reached for Ruby Grace’s hand, and when she stood with him, it was the first time we’d all taken our heads out of the sand and noticed the rock on her finger.
“Yesterday, I asked Ruby Grace to marry me,” he said, beaming at the red-haired beauty beside him. “And she said yes.”
Betty was the first to jump up, wrapping Ruby Grace in a fierce hug as she went on and on about Richard Gere, for some odd reason. Mom wasreallycrying now as she stood to hug Noah, and we all took turns embracing each of them and offering our congratulations.
“What an exciting day,” Mom said when we were sitting again, dabbing at her eyes with her napkin. She laughed when Jordan offered his, too. “I’m just a mess.”
“You had to know this was what you were getting yourself into with four boys,” Kylie said.
Mom chuckled. “Yes, I suppose I did.”
