Page 104 of Michael: The Hawthornes

I couldn’t help the burst of laughter that exploded from my mouth.

“You be quiet in there,” Gram ordered, peeking around the wall.

“Sorry, Grams,” I called back.

Ten minutes later, my great-aunt Farrah came sashaying into the house.

“Where’s the patient?” she asked importantly, not even pausing when I pointed toward the kitchen.

I waited.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Aunt Farrah practically shouted right on cue. “What did you do?”

I tried to listen to what Emilia said back, but someone else was coming through the door.

“Hello, baby boy,” my mom greeted.

“Hey Ma.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, dumbass,” she replied easily. “Rhett! How’s my grandson?”

“Myla!” Rhett scrambled off my lap and rushed to my sister.

“Oh how the tables have turned,” I joked as my mom scowled. “Ready to say hello to yourfirstbaby boy now?”

“Pfft,” she replied, waving me off. She quickly bent down to kiss my head before moving toward the kitchen, Myla and Rhett following behind her. After that, the door didn’t stay closed for more than a few minutes at a time. My aunts and cousins came inside, practically ignored me, and eventually made their way into the kitchen. I wasn’t even sure how they were all fitting in there.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked as I followed the last batch.

“No boys allowed,” my cousin Rebel announced. “Except Rhett. He can stay.”

“That’s not fair,” I pointed out.

“I don’t make the rules,” she countered firmly.

“Who makes ’em?”

She pointed at Charlie who was smiling at me in satisfaction.

“You’re a menace.”

“You have a dick. Skedaddle.”

I looked through the group and found Emilia who was still sitting in the middle of the room on a kitchen chair, a towel draped around her shoulders.

“You good?” I asked. I couldn’t even walk toward her because there were women everywhere.

“She’s fine,” Kara called from behind her.

“I’m good,” Emilia said, rolling her eyes. “As long as no one takes any photos.”

“Too late,” Aunt Farrah cackled, grinning at Emilia.

“We love you,” my aunt Rose said, poking me in the belly. “But seriously, get out.”

I stood there for a second, unsure what my next move should be. While I knew Emilia was safe, obviously, I didn’t feel right about leaving her with the female piranhas I called family. It wasn’t as if she’d ask me to stay, even if she wanted to. She’d be too embarrassed by that.

“What, you think she’s gonna spill your secrets?” Charlie called. “We already know about your escapades on the property. Against a car? Really? Didn’t think you had it in you.”

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