Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Brooke
“Don’t be nervous. You know them already. You don’t have to be scared.”
I narrowed my gaze at Leif. “So says the man who is about to take me to a Montgomery family dinner, as if it’s not a daunting task.”
“It’s not going to be too daunting. I promise you.”
“I’m excited. Will there be cheese?” Luke asked, and my lips twitched as Leif took a staggered step back, his hand over his chest. “Will there be cheese? It’s like you don’t even know me, kid. Of course, there’s going to be cheese. It’s a Montgomery dinner.”
“What if somebody doesn’t like cheese comes to visit, would they be kicked out?”
Leif lifted Luke into his arms as my son began to laugh, and I ignored that little clutch of my belly at the sight. We were walking up the long driveway to Austin and Sierra’s house, and from the cars already parked in the driveway, we were possibly the last ones there.
I didn’t like being late, but I’d had a morning meeting with a few advisors that hadn’t been able to be postponed. Leif understood, and he told me his family would as well, but I still felt bad about it.
“If someone does not like cheese, then they are forever ostracized.”
“What does ostrich-sized mean?”
“What that means it’s a big bird,” Leif said, laughing at his own joke as I rolled my eyes.
“But ostracize means that they are forever kicked out of the family.” At Luke’s wide eyes, Leif tapped Luke on the nose.
“But I was only kidding. If somebody doesn’t like cheese, that just means more cheese for us.
However, if you bring in any processed or fake cheese into the house, you are forever gone.
That is a fon-don’t, not a fondue. It must be gouda to be good. ”
I rolled my eyes. “How many cheese jokes do you have for this?”
“I have amassed a countless supply of cheese, dairy, and cow jokes from a long life of cheese-related humor. Just know that this will not be the first time you hear them, nor the last. It’s sort of what you’re forced into since you’re with me.”
He took my hand and my heart sped. Here I was, meeting the family, about to go to an actual dinner, and bringing my son. This was a big step. A scary one.
Leif’s parents lived less than twenty minutes away, in the suburb just north of ours. They had a large house that I knew was Montgomery built. It was a two-story place with beautiful corbels under the eaves.
It looked like a home, welcoming, and with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, it was gorgeous. Leif told me that there was a huge deck on the back, one where he and his family had eaten countless dinners. Tonight, we would be eating inside since the mosquitoes were terrible.
“This home is beautiful. It’s like something out of my childhood dreams.”
“Well, that’s a nice thing to hear when I walk outside,” Sierra said as she opened the door and beamed at me.
I blushed, not having realized that she was there. “Oh, well, I love the house.”
“So do I. Austin had it built before we were married, and I moved in and never left. We have done some renovations to keep it updated and the like, but the Montgomerys know how to build.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Austin said as he came up behind Sierra and put his hand on her shoulder. He was a full head taller than her, his big beard flecked with slight to moderate granite. They looked happy and in love and as if they had been made for each other.
That was what I wanted. That settled happiness still seemed to thrive even after four children and countless changes. Could I have that with Leif? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure if I could trust myself enough for that, but maybe I should try.
Luke scrambled down out of Leif’s hold and practically ran toward Sierra.
My eyes widened as Leif’s mom bent down and lifted Luke up to her waist.
“Hello there,” she said, laughing.
“It is good to see you again. Thank you for welcoming us into your home.” Luke said it slowly, reciting everything I had told him, and Sierra beamed as Austin rubbed his mouth, holding back a smile.
“We’re trying,” Leif said, and once again, my heart did that pit-pat thing.
Because he said we.
We were trying. Together.
I was in love with Leif Montgomery, and I needed to come to terms with that.
“Come on inside. We’ll get you all situated with the Montgomerys,” Austin said as Sierra moved into the house, Luke in her arms as the two of them talked.
I bit my lip, walked inside, and handed over the bottle of wine I had brought.
“Like Luke said, thank you for welcoming us into your home.”
“Thank you for bringing this stranger with you, since I never get to see him these days.” Austin took the bottle from my hand and then held me close, giving me a big bear hug.
I swallowed hard, tears stinging my eyes.
What was with me?
Leif hugged his dad and then gestured towards the living room.
“And here is the rest of my immediate family. There’s Colin.” He pointed to a tall man with dark hair and thick-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. I knew that Colin was finishing up his last year of college. He grinned as he came toward us.
“Finally, the woman that tamed the beast.”
“Colin,” Leif growled, but Leif’s little brother waved him off, picked me up around the waist and twirled me around the living room.
“Welcome to the Montgomerys.”
I sputtered and laughed. “He said you were going to be the one that made a scene.”
“At least I’m living up to my expectation.”
“Okay, hands off my woman,” Leif growled as he pulled me back.
“Seriously? You decide to go with my woman?” I asked, laughing.
“I’ve got to claim my territory. There are a lot of freaking Montgomerys out there. This is why it’s just the immediate family today, rather than all of the cousins and aunts and uncles. I don’t think you’re ready for that kind of dinner.”
“Nobody is,” a young woman said from the couch as she stood up, her twin brother beside her.
“Gideon, Jamie, this is Brooke. And over there, in Mom’s arms, is Luke.” My son waved from Sierra’s arms, and I had to wonder if I was ever going to hold my son again tonight, because he looked mighty comfortable in Sierra’s arms. Of course, that just made me smile.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Gideon said, grinning. “Will you drive us around? Or let us drive your car?”
“Gideon Montgomery,” Austin growled, though I could hear the laughter in his tone.
“What am I missing?” I asked as Leif pinched the bridge of his nose.
“The twins are trying to get their driver’s licenses, which means they need adults who are suckers enough to let them drive their cars. Do not touch Brooke’s car. She has Luke to drive around, so if you wreck it, then Luke won’t have a car.”
“Well, that’s a leap of logic,” Jamie said with a teenage roll of her eyes. “We’ll be careful, and it is not like Luke would be in the car as we drove.”
I held up my hands in surrender. “I’m not getting in the middle of this, but I bet you Leif could help. He is the big brother, and he’s nice.”
“Brooke,” he growled, but his eyes were filled with laughter.
“Oh, we already like you. You’re going to fit nicely,” Austin said as he squeezed my shoulders and led me to the sitting room.
“We all helped cook, so Sierra didn’t have to do it all on her own, but she’s still the best cook of us all.”
“I’m catching up,” Colin said, his chin raised.
“Yes, you are,” Sierra said, grinning. “Now, what can we get you to drink?”
“Milk?” Luke asked as he came practically barreling towards my legs.
I laughed, thankful that Leif kept me standing upright.
“We do have milk, as long as it’s okay with your mom,” Sierra answered.
I nodded. “Milk is good, but you also need to have water. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Come on. I have the perfect cup for you. It used to be Leif’s. I don’t throw anything away.”
Austin rolled his eyes, much as his teenage daughter had. “I don’t know why she said that. She’s constantly cleaning out the house so we don’t end up like hoarders.” he grumbled.
“Let me guess. She finally threw away those old shorts that were more holes than cloth.” Leif grinned.
“They were fine.”
“Dad, you used to have to wear shorts underneath them so you didn’t get arrested for indecent exposure.” Jamie added with a huff, her eyes dancing.
Austin growled though it was halfhearted. “I swear, I’m outnumbered by all of you.”
“I don’t know. I seem to be the one surrounded by Montgomerys. I think Luke and I are the ones outnumbered.”
“Okay, fine. I guess that counts.” Austin winked. “Come on, let’s get you that drink, now that Luke is taken care of.”
Soon, I found myself laughing over barbecue ribs and fajitas, two foods that Leif loved, and they hadn’t been able to choose which one to eat.
There was pico de gallo and cilantro, beans and a fruit salad, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw.
Somehow it was the perfect amount of food for everybody though, without anyone feeling like they had to overeat.
Everything was delicious, and I knew I needed a recipe or two for the sauce at least.
“Are these tortillas homemade?” I asked, after Luke and I shared a final one.
Sierra grinned. “Yes, one of my nieces went down to San Antonio for school for a while and learned how to make them from her roommate’s family.”
“I’m jealous.”
“I can teach you. It’s fun. I bet Luke would have fun making them, too.”
Luke grinned, his mouth closed but full of tortilla.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” I said with a laugh.
“I know you only wanted immediate family here,” Austin said after a moment, looking at Leif. “But I wanted to invite Lake, as I need to meet this man of hers.”
“You know, I haven’t met Zach either,” I said with a frown. “That’s weird, right?”
“They are both constantly out of town, and when they are in town, they want to spend time together. I guess it makes sense.” Leif said as he shrugged. “I met him on that double date. Remember?”
“Oh yes, when you went on a date with my nanny,” I teased.
The table broke out into laughs and hoots as Luke’s eyes widened.