“She has a new father now, and he won’t be happy with anyone who messes with her, especially someone who’s been inside. Do we understand each other?”
“We do, and you have nothing to worry about. I promise.”
“I’ll take that as your word and will sleep a little easier knowing she has a good man looking out for her, not that she needs that. She’s independent and always has been, from what I’ve been told.”
“She doesn’t need me to look out for her, but I’m happy to do it just the same.”
“That’s the right answer.”
“What are you saying to him, Charlie?” Cindy asked as she came over to them and wound her hands around Jace’s arm in a possessive move that thrilled him.
“I’m saying dad things to him,” Charlie said, giving her a pointed look.
“Oh. Well, I suppose that’s okay, if you didn’t threaten to beat him up or anything.”
“Only if he hurts you, sweetheart, and then I absolutely will beat him up.”
Cindy’s smile lit up her pretty face as her eyes filled with tears. “That’s very sweet of you, Charlie. Thank you.”
Knowing what she’d endured at the hands of her own father, Jace was filled with emotion as he witnessed the touching moment between Cindy and her stepfather. “I won’t give you reason for that, Charlie.” He put his arm around Cindy. “I just want to make her happy.”
“Are you going to introduce us to your new boyfriend, Cindy?” Katie’s husband, Shane McCarthy, asked.
“You already know him,” Cindy said, rolling her eyes at her brother-in-law.
Shane laughed and shook hands with Jace. “Good to see you.”
“You, too,” Jace said. “Give me the refresher course, Cindy.”
“Jace, you know my oldest brother, Owen, and his wife, Laura. Shane is her brother, and he’s married to Katie. That’s Charlie’s daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Grant McCarthy, and you already know Katie’s twin, Julia. That’s her fiancé, Deacon. These are my magnificent grandparents, Adele and Russ. You know Jeff and John, and this is Frank McCarthy, father to Laura and Shane, and his fiancée, Betsy. Everyone, this is Jace Carson and his sons, Jackson and Kyle.”
“Is there a map or diagram of who is married to who and who is related to who?” Jace asked.
“I’ll draw you a picture,” Shane said.
“How are you related to Mac?”
“First cousin and business partner.”
“He hired me today.”
“I heard, and we’re excited. We need a plumber badly.”
“Looking forward to it. So, remind me again how this works… You’re married to Katie, and Owen is married to your sister?”
“That’s right, and Frank over there is our dad. His brother Big Mac is Mac’s father.”
“The head spins.”
“It will for a while, but then you’ll figure us out.”
“I’ll take your word on that. How does Grant McCarthy fit into the picture?”
“Mac’s younger brother.”
“Ah, I see. And he’s married to Charlie’s daughter.”
“Right. See, you’re figuring it out.”