He inhaled deeply and dramatically dropped to his knees on the concrete.
“Oh, Oregon,” he said happily. “How I’ve missed you.”
The people around us laughed and pointed as he pretended to kiss the ground. I watched him in amusement, but when I caught him glancing at me, I realized that he was trying to embarrass me. Not on my watch, buddy.
“Yes,” I yelled, raising my hands in the air. “I love the smell of rain and car fumes!” I made eye contact with a man around our age who was pulling a large suitcase behind him as he approached the doors. “Don’t leave! You’ll regret it!”
Alex was laughing hysterically when an SUV pulled up beside us and a petite dark-haired woman leaned out the window.
“What did I tell you two about talking to strangers?” she called out jokingly. “That man looks dangerous.”
The man I’d pulled into our antics rushed away, and I smiled as Alex climbed to his feet and loped toward the car.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, hugging her through the window. “Ani, this is Sarai.”
“Of course when I find you, you’re harassing some poor guy,” she teased him, flicking him as she turned toward me.
“That was my fault,” I admitted, walking toward the car. “Nice to meet you, Ani.”
“You too,” Ani said. She stared at me for a minute. “You’re pretty.” She looked at Alex. “What the hell is she doing with you?”
“She prefers the handsome brother,” Alex replied, pulling me against his side.
“Hey now,” an almost familiar voice called from the driver’s seat.
I leaned down to see who was driving and met the eyes of Alex’s twin brother. It was eerie, staring into those eyes. They were Alex’s but not. The crinkles in the corners that Alex had from smiling were shallower on Bram, but the furrows between Bram’s eyebrows were deeper.
“Hey,” Bram said. His voice was deeper than Alex’s, raspier.
“That’s my identical twin brother, Abraham,” Alex said, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Huh,” I murmured, tipping my head to the side. “I don’t see it.”
“Oh, I like her,” Ani said quietly.
“Get in before people start honking,” Bram ordered.
We climbed into the backseat, and just as Alex closed the door, the car was in motion.
“Where’s Arie?” Alex asked as I rushed to fasten my seat belt.
“She’s with Mom,” Bram replied.
Ani turned around in her seat and smiled brightly.
“Baby, I get in a wreck and you’re toast,” Bram said, reaching out to put his hand on her leg.
“Don’t wreck,” Ani replied, still facing us. “How was your flight?”
“It was good,” Alex said, stretching out his legs as much as he could. I didn’t blame him. I was feeling a bit stiff from being in the tiny plane seats, too, and he was much bigger than I was. Hopefully his knee wasn’t bothering him.
“No crying babies or smelly food,” I said, making Ani laugh. “So I’d consider it a success.”
“Smelly food is the worst,” Ani replied, wrinkling her nose.
“I’m getting on the freeway, Anita,” Bram snapped worriedly. “Sit your ass down.”
“All right, all right,” she grumbled.
“It’s good to have you home,” Bram said, glancing at us in the mirror again. “You’re flying back out on Sunday?”
“That sucks,” Ani announced. “You should have tried to stay longer.”
“We’ve got jobs,” Alex said in amusement. “Not all of us can paint furniture whenever we want and call it good.”
“I resent that,” Ani said, flipping Alex off. “I’m also raising a small human.”
“And doing a fantastic job,” Alex conceded.
“I can take you back to the airport on Sunday if it’s in the morning, but if it’s later than noon, then Trev or Dad can take you,” Bram said, like the entire conversation between Alex and Ani hadn’t happened.
“What do you have going on Sunday?” Alex asked, reaching out to hold my hand.
The warmth of his palm was a comfort. I didn’t have anything to add to the conversation, and I didn’t mind staying quiet, but I also worried that they’d think I was rude for just sitting there silently. I took a deep breath and forced my body to relax. I had all weekend to make a good impression.
“Me and Ani are going out to dinner,” Bram replied.
“And?”
“And Bram promised to keep Arie so I could shower and shave things that haven’t been shaved in a while. Maybe pluck my eyebrows and paint my nails if the mood hits,” Ani said, leaning around her seat to glare at Alex. “It’s probably going to take me all day.”
“Ooh,” Alex joked. “It’s that kind of date.”
“It is.” Ani smirked. “We’re gonna—”
“Nope!” Alex yelled, startling a small laugh out of me. “I don’t want to hear anything else, thanks.”
The conversation moved to the logging company, and I listened intently as Alex and Bram discussed the business. Alex had never complained to me about being in the Army; he actually seemed to enjoy it, but it was like a light flicked on when he spoke about the family business. He was animated and opinionated as he discussed potential growth opportunities and downfalls. As Alex and Bram argued good-naturedly, I smiled and looked out the window at the passing scenery. It was a gloomy day, and it looked like it was going to rain at any second, but the landscape was still surprisingly beautiful.