She nods, but I know there is a well of emotion in her eyes as we walk into the family room, together, where my entire family is gathered.
Watching through her eyes, as she takes in the family photos hanging on every square inch of the walls, I see the house in a new light. The warm wood finishes my father added, the wicker baskets filled with the books my mom is reading next to her favorite chair. The basket of yarn and knitting needles for when Grandma Rosie comes over, the blazing fire warming the room, the chess match on the coffee table between Graham and Mac. Fig braiding Plum’s hair. My mom calling for Rye to grab some cans of chicken stock from the pantry. Lemon showing Dad how to download some app on his phone.
No one notices us for a moment, and time seems to still. My hand’s in Abby’s, hers squeezing mine right back, and suddenly I don’t feel like I’m bringing home a stranger for dinner. I feel like I am bringing home Abby. My Abby.
Eventually Fig notices us, and all eyes turn to the newcomer. I introduce Abby to my parents. “This is Redford. And my mom, Anise.”
My dad chuckles. “You can call me Red. And this is Annie,” he says. “And you're Abby?”
After I explain how we came to meet this afternoon, my siblings all chime in with welcomes and introductions of their own. My niece Plum is thrilled with the prospect of a new dog.
“Well, I already met him,” Plum explains to Abby. “We found him on the street. We were so scared because your poor puppy seemed so sad. But then Uncle Bartlett brought him into the shop and I got him this leash and Uncle Bart, he let me pick it. What do you think of the color? I chose purple because I thought purple would look really pretty with his fur.”
“I think purple is a lovely color, and thank you for helping with Hijinx,” Abby says with a grin. She takes off her jacket, and my sister Lemon hangs it up on a coat rack for her.
Fig is twirling her hair and showing off pamphlets on France to anyone who will listen. I hear her travel pitch in the background. “It's only four months and it is mostly in Paris. I would be getting the education of a lifetime. And considering I took two years of French already, I'm basically completely prepared.” Fig talks with her hands, her long black hair swinging around her shoulders as she tries to get everyone's attention with her new plan.
I know there's no way in hell my mother's going to let her out of her sight. She's not just Mom's baby. We all see her as ours to protect.
Hijinx is happy, and Abby is holding her own with Lemon and my dad, and I'm listening to Mac tell Graham about the building plans for some country lodge he’s working on over in the Burly Mountains.
“I just don't understand why you would want to clear-cut so many trees,” Graham says adamantly.
“This acreage is prime real estate though!” Mac debates. “The future is now! Uncle Luke agreed with me.” Not wanting to listen to that discussion right now, I wind through the house.
I find Rye in the kitchen. The fridge is open and he's rooting around for a beer. “Want one?” he asks.
“Sure,” I say.
“So who's that girl?”
“You heard how we met?”
“Sure,” he says, eyes narrowing. “But what do you know about her?”
“What do you care? You think she’s gonna steal my wallet?” When Rye doesn’t answer, I snort. “How are you always such a cynic?”
“Uh. Why wouldn't I be?”
“Maybe because the world's not actually out to get us?” I say, rolling my eyes as I pop open the cold one.
Rye takes a slug of his beer. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. The guy is a train wreck.
He needs someone nice in his life, or maybe a dog, a dog like Hijinx. Someone to soften his rough edges. He shakes his head, looking pissed.
“Did I do something to offend you?” I ask with a growing growl.
“I just think it's weird that you brought some girl home to Sunday dinner. We don't even know her.”
“Rye, it's dinner,” I say. “She's new to town. She was held up by a knife earlier this afternoon.”
Rye’s jaw tenses at that, his mood shifting. “Fuck, you serious?”
“Abby got stitches for what they did to her. Poor thing had her wallet stolen.”
Now Rye is more than pissed. “I bet it was those guys in Burly. They’ve been causing lots of problems. It’s time they slow their goddamn roll. Don't you think?”
“Yeah I do. But I don't even know who did it. We should go talk to Graham at the police department and find out.”