33. Darcy
THIRTY-THREE
DARCY
I’m a sweaty, sticky, dirty mess when Bri and I get back from the orchard. A handful of my most helpful cousins showed up to help with the morning picking. It’s a part of our family Fourth of July tradition. The peaches come in super fast, and we give the workers the holiday weekend off.
My dad’s sisters Susan, Sally, and Rosie, are bustling around the kitchen and dining room putting out sandwich fixings for our massive family, and the house is getting crowded. Of course, some just show up to eat, then pick, while others come out early to get more orchard work done.
I haven’t even made it to the kitchen because of the people soup I’d have to wade through to get there.
I’m rejuvenated by being surrounded by my big loud mess of a family, but between the ride, picking peaches, and my persistent hangover, I’m wiped. Bri has been here enough times that she can fend for herself, so I don’t worry when I lose her to the swirl of cheek kisses and “sorry I stink” and “the place looks great!”
I’m swept into a big hug before I’m oriented, but I know it well: an extra bicep squeeze to bring us closer, surrounded by Pleasures perfume, and a nest of graying hair. “Maggie.”
“You’re doing so good with everything, sis. It looks great. And also I think your perfume smells better than mine and you need to give me the name of it because when you inevitably leave us, I’ll miss that smell in the house.”
I laugh. “You’re too sweet. And at this rate, I’m never leaving.”
She tips her head. “That’ll be alright too. Somebody’s got to see us into our sunset years.”
“Okay, wait, I didn’t say, ‘retire and never come back.’ How’s your trip?”
I get a tug on my ponytail and again, I know who it is before I turn. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetie.” My dad squeezes me tight and holds me back by the shoulders. “A little dirty, but it’ll do.”
“Maybe if you’d shown up a little earlier, you could be dirty too,” I say, and Bill laughs, coming up next to my dad.
The hug chain keeps coming until Maggie clutches my shoulder. “You’ve worked the hardest. Fix you a plate before all these ghouls gobble it up.”
“What ghouls?” My mom comes around the corner and plants her hands on her hips. “All I see is my baby girl.”
I reach for my mom, who looks very little like me. I got most of my looks from the Rossetti side: perky boobs, big hips and ass, and all that dark curly hair. If anything, I resemble my aunties most.
I hug my mom, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen her since I split with Rob. That brings in a mix of emotions. Why didn’t I call them first? Why was Maggie the first call I made?
I don’t have long to dwell on it before Aunt Rosie butts in. “Darcy, there’s a real cute boy in there looking for you. Real helpful fella, and so handsome too. Dreamy, even.”
My eyes flare and I’m struck speechless. Unless Caleb took me up on my invitation, Jake showed up anyway.
“Handsome, cute, and dreamy?” Mom cracks. “I’ve got to see this.”
She pulls me by the elbow to the kitchen and there he is.
I guess I never officially rescinded Jake’s invitation to my family barbecue, and being the ever-reliable guy he is, he’s here.
He’s here getting grilled by my aunties while he washes dishes at the sink. His broad shoulders fill out a t-shirt, and he sports some chino shorts and his signature glowing skin. The charming sun damage strikes again.
“And you said you’re in school at Marshall?” Aunt Sally asks, employing the extremely courteous voice she reserves for people she doesn’t know well.
“Yeah, getting my master’s in engineering. Robotics.” Jake shoots Sally a polite smile that shows those fucking all-American dimples.
“Oh, I bet your girlfriend is very proud of you,” Aunt Susan presses.
Jake lets out a “heh heh” of a laugh, the nervous kind that only boys being interrogated by matriarchs can produce. “Nope, no girlfriend.”
And this is where I need to cut in and save him from auntie hell. I cross the room to stand next to Jake.
“Hey, Aunt Susan, I see you’ve met Jake. Jake, Susan’s son Eli goes to Marshall too. And that Sally over there. Her kids are around here somewhere.”
Jake salutes to greet the freshly introduced inquisition team and turns to me with a delighted smile. “Hey! Been looking all over for you.”
He bends to hug me, holding his hands out behind my back so he doesn’t drip soapy water on me. Mid-hug, he pulls back and kisses my cheek.
Naturally, my face is on fire. Sure, I kissed this guy in public a few days ago. Sure, just the scent of him makes every organ in my body do some sort of dreamy sigh thing. Sure, I’ve had this guy’s privates in my mouth and his most personal of bodily fluids smeared on my body, but I have not gotten affection from him in front of my family.
And certainly not after he pissed me off.
“Wow, didn’t think you were actually coming today. Thought you’d be catching up at the lab,” I try.
“I went early. No one was there so I got a lot done.”
“Oh, okay. Good.” I’m still recovering, breathless and stunned that he’s here. Not just here, but making himself useful. Which he always does, and in this moment, that’s devastatingly hot. “I guess you met my family?”
“Yeah, some of them. But you weren’t kidding. There are a lot of you,” he says conspiratorially. My aunts titter at that. Of course, he’s charming the ever-loving shit out of them.
“Jake sure seems to know his way around the kitchen,” Aunt Rosie adds, and it’s a statement and a question simultaneously.
I give a weak laugh. “Um, yeah, well, he lives out here and the team takes turns making lunches.” I need to get out of this situation and bring him with me. “Jake, did you get something to eat, or did they just put our guest straight to work?”
“Oh, honey, he just jumped right in and started helping. Wouldn’t take no for an answer. A real fine boy,” Aunt Susan says, practically devouring Jake with her eyes. Jake just shrugs.
“Let’s fix you a plate,” I say, handing Jake a towel for his hands before pulling him to the sandwich buffet.
“Nice meeting y’all!” Jake calls as I drag him away.
“I am so sorry about them.” I square him up in front of me. “Good god, you’ve got lipstick on your cheek.”
Jake pats his cheek, a bemused smile on his face. I snatch the towel from his hands, holding it up. “Can I?”
“You’re welcome to touch me any way you want, darlin’,” he grins. “And it’s not my fault I’m auntie catnip.”
I huff at him and he laughs. “You missed my pesterin’. Admit it.”
I squish his cheeks together and wiggle his chin. “I didn’t miss shit.” I throw the dish towel over my shoulder and turn for the kitchen. “Make yourself a plate and meet me outside. Blow a whistle if you get trapped in the ten seconds I’m gone.”
Jake’s laugh is warm and husky as he catches me by the elbow and leans down to my ear. “It’s really fine. Your family is nice.”
I can’t fucking help it. I melt.
His proximity. His touch. The whisper.
I give in. I let my eyes meet his over my shoulder and everything freezes. I want to say something. Something smart. Something sassy. What do I cook up? “See you outside.”
I’m still resetting from that when I make it to the kitchen, where I find my aunties, including Maggie, huddled in a circle and whispering. I throw my arms around their backs and break up their circle. “What are we whispering about, hmm?”
“Oh, Darcy, you’re no fun,” Aunt Sally moans. “You know good and well what we’re talking about.”
“I’m sure I do,” I reply. “And I’m here to tell you to go easy on the interrogation.”
“Don’t you think he’s handsome?” Aunt Susan asks, fanning herself.
“He seems like a very nice boy, Darcy,” Aunt Rosie chimes in. “Big improvement over Rob.”
I press a hand to my forehead. “Okay, that,” I point at Aunt Rosie, “stops right now.”
“Don’t get so worked up,” Aunt Sally says, patting my back. “We just want you to be happy.”
Maggie gives me a sympathetic look. “That boy’s sweet on you, Darcy. You’re young. He’s young. You’re gorgeous. He’s handsome. Just enjoy it.”
I draw a deep breath, letting it out with a short snort. My dad’s sisters are goofball matchmakers. Maggie’s mischievous, but she also knows me the best and I trust her opinion most. “Thank you. I know you mean well, but I’m serious. Don’t grill him like he’s rotating over a spit. You’ll scar him for life. You’re lucky he’s a good sport.”
“I bet he is good at sports,” Aunt Susan chuckles, setting the rest of them off again. With that, I drop the towel in the hamper under the sink.
“Y’all are incorrigible,” I sigh on my way to make a sandwich and go outside.
Jake’s already sitting with Bill, both of them doing that man thing of sitting with their knees wide, feet tucked under the chair, and arms crossed.
“She’s done real good,” Bill says as I sit next to him. “Proud of our Darcy.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling her all summer,” Jake says.
“And I’m glad you’re feeling better, sissy,” Bill says with a clap on my shoulder. “Jake said you’s a little under the weather a couple days back.”
I raise a quizzical brow and Jake looks sheepish. “Yep, much better, thanks.”
“But she sure is dirty and stinky now,” my mom chimes in from a couple seats over.
I force a smile. It’s normal for my family to rib each other, but things feel weird right now. My parents have a right to be annoyed with me given I called off my wedding without much of a heads up. I’d rather they didn’t take it out on me right now, though. “I was in the orchard all morning. That’s a consequence.”
“You’ve done so good for us,” Maggie reiterates, sensing my discomfort. “Might have to keep you on come fall-time, sis.”
I can’t even hold a fake smile anymore. “Maybe.”
“You could put all that creative writing to good use,” Mom says.
“You’re a brilliant writer, sweetie,” Dad says. “Why not write at night and farm all day? Can’t think of better inspiration than that.”
I can’t meet Jake’s eyes, but I feel him looking everywhere, assessing the situation. Maggie is apparently my third arm now, and acts on what I’m thinking. “Jake, what does your family do for the Fourth?”
Jake puts on a polite soft smile. “When I was growing up, we’d usually just set off fireworks with my dad. We didn’t have a ton of family in the area, but we had a fruit farm too. Y’all know how it is. No holidays on a farm.”
Bill examines him. “You going back there after you finish school?”
Jake’s brow knits. “Not sure yet. I’m almost done building the fruit picker and, if it’s something I can patent, I will. I’ll at least make a model for my mom to use back home. That’s why I chose that specific robot.”
Bill claps my shoulder. “Well, I’m sure Darcy can tell you, there’s no place like home.”
Jake’s trying to get me to look at him. “Y’all have a real special home. It’s nice to see a family this connected.”
He’s concealing it well, but I know there’s pain behind what he’s saying. It makes me want to hug him, still mad at him or not.
Maggie pats his hand. “Thank you, honey. You’re welcome with us anytime. If Darcy doesn’t invite you, just come on anyway.”
“Have you ever seen her mad?” Jake teases. “I wouldn’t dare set foot in her territory if she didn’t want me there.”
“A wise man doesn’t upset a woman,” Bill says, and everyone has a good laugh.
Maggie just rolls her eyes and we both rise from the table. “Why don’t y’all go set up the field for our ball game?”