2. Lizzy
Later that night at dinner, as my oldest sister Lanie passes me the salad dressing from across the table, she asks, “Any idea when Raven and Finn will arrive? Surely, they’re done with the open house.”
“I assumed they’d be here by now, though I haven’t heard from her all afternoon,” I admit, pouring dressing on my tossed salad.
Raven and her boyfriend Finn are looking at a place to rent for the summer.
Sure, they could stay with us in Nana’s house, as there is plenty of room.
But Finn insists they get a place of their own.
He’s joked several times about family being like fish, and we’re not meant to spend more than three days together.
Obviously, that’s not true since he and Jax just came off a long music tour with Ruby Frax.
They had spent months together traipsing across the country, and my sisters hardly ever missed a show.
Touring with Riser put Ruby Frax on the map, and their momentum continues to grow as a band.
After hearing some of the album they’re releasing later this summer, I’m certain they’ll soon be the ones headlining.
“Hopefully, this means they’ve found something they like,” Sloane adds, passing the plate of bread to her fiancé Jax. Letting out a loud breath, she adds, “Some amazing places just went on the market.”
Raising a brow, Jax pauses mid-scoop with the cheesy lasagna still strung to the dish. “See any you like in particular?”
Sloane plucks her garlic bread from her plate and rips off a piece of it. “The house next door just went up for sale. It’s super cute, and I’ve always loved it, but I’m not sure they’re looking to purchase anything.”
“Really?” Lanie perks up. “Which one?”
“Harriet’s place.” Sloane sighs and shakes her head. “I can’t imagine it’ll be on the market long. She just remodeled her kitchen and has done several upgrades.”
Harriet was one of Nana’s good friends. Even though she was at least twenty years younger than Nana, the two of them loved spending evenings together drinking wine and catching up.
Recalling our conversation from a few days ago, I add, “Her daughter Elise lives in Maine and will have her second baby later this summer. She was on the fence about leaving Seaside. I guess she finally decided to make the move.”
“That makes sense. Family is important.” Lanie nods, then raises a brow in my direction. “Speaking of family… I think we’ve all waited long enough. How did the interview go? I’ve been dying to ask since you got home.”
Sighing heavily, I admit, “I think it went as well as it could. Once my nerves settled, I felt like we were on the same page… but who knows?” I shrug. “They’ll call me in the next few days if I get the second interview.”
Lanie quickly asks, “How soon will they hire someone?”
“One way or the other, I’ll know by the end of the week.”
“I’m sure you’ll make it to a second interview.” Sloane smiles encouragingly.
Leave it to my older sisters to be my biggest cheerleaders.
Lanie nods at Sloane. “I agree. So, what’s the next step when they call you back?”
“Oh…” I exhale heavily and attempt nonchalance. I know better than to get overconfident and jinx myself. “Only win over both the three-year-old and her dad, of course.”
I’m surprised when it’s my brother-in-law Ryan who chimes in. “You’re amazing with kids. I watched you wrangle the Spencer twins last summer.” Shaking his head, a laugh escapes. “Those two were wild, and you had them towing the line without breaking a sweat.”
I shake my head at the memory. “Oh, there was plenty of sweat, trust me.”
Travis and Trent made me earn every penny last summer. Apparently, I was the only one who could keep those seven-year-olds out of too much trouble. With their dad traveling for work and their mom working different shifts at the hospital, I was first on the list when their parents needed a sitter.
“You made it look easy to me,” Jax adds. “Emily watched those boys only once a few years ago, and that was enough for her.”
Emily is Jax’s younger sister. She’s about my age, and like Jax, a local to Seaside. She’s been away at college since Sloane and Jax got together, so I haven’t spent much time with her, but after my time with the boys last summer, I’m sure he’s not wrong.
Before anyone can say another word, the front door to the house bursts open, and my sister Raven’s voice gleefully fills the room. “Honey… we’re home!”
“We’re in here…” Lanie calls back. “Hope you’re hungry. I’ve made plenty of food.”
“Thank God. I’m starving,” Finn grumbles as he comes into sight. “This woman,” he points with his thumb to my sister beside him, “had me traipsing all over town for hours. There wasn’t a vacant house in this vicinity we didn’t look at.”
“You’re the one who insisted on doing this all today,” Raven reminds him. “I’m not the one who’s hell-bent on finding a place of our own immediately.”
Plopping down in a chair, he reaches for the plate next to him and fills it with lasagna, salad, and bread. Before saying another word, he places it in front of my sister. “Eat. Hangry Raven isn’t good for any of us.”
“Uh-oh,” Sloane says under her breath. “I take it you didn’t have any luck?”
Sloane and Raven stare at one another for a moment, and they have some sort of unspoken conversation between them. It’s quite useful to them being twins, but as their younger sister, I get frustrated when I’m not invited to the conversation.
After Finn dishes up a plate for himself, he says, “Yes. We found a few actually.”
“So, what’s the problem?” I ask when I can’t figure out what’s got my sister in such a grumpy mood.
“First, she hasn’t eaten all day. Second, I may or may not have told her I’m not interested in renting after seeing what was available.”
“And third, this idiot just put an offer on a house,” Raven spits out.
“What?” I can’t have heard her right.
The room erupts in several conversations at once, however, my attention ping-pongs from Raven to Finn. Simultaneously, his face breaks out into a triumphant grin while hers purses as if she’s just bitten into a lemon.
It’s Sloane who finally gains the focus of the room. “I don’t get it. Why is this a bad thing?”
Raven’s nostrils flare. “This… this… annoyingly perfect man just bought my dream house… like… paid for it out right… who the hell does that kind of thing?”
All eyes turn to Finn, and he simply shrugs.
“What? Fiduciary planning people… Did you think I’ve blown all my adult money just because I’m a rockstar?
I’ve worked my ass off for the last ten years, living well below my means and doing what I love.
God knows being a musician isn’t always steady work…
In my early days, I made day trading my bitch and put that business degree my mom insisted I get as a backup to great use. ”
The moment Finn reaches for Raven, her features soften, and it’s suddenly as if they’re the only two in the room. “What’s really going on here, babe?”
“I… I’m… just in shock. Who the hell goes out to look at rentals and comes back a homeowner? Since it was a cash offer, we close on it next week.” Looking to the room for help, she asks, “Who the hell does that?”
Cupping her cheek in his hand, he asks, “Do you not like the house?”
Pulling back with wide eyes, Raven gasps. “Of course, I do. It’s been my freaking dream house since I was a kid. But it’s so much… and all your family is in South Carolina. Are you sure you want to buy a place in Seaside?”
“Raven…” he says sternly. “You’re here. Your family’s here, and it’s time we put down roots here … together .”
Oh, my freaking heart. Did he really just say that ?
“Roots…” she whispers as tears fill her eyes.
My sister never cries, so this must have some hidden meaning for them.
My gut clenches, and I hold my breath waiting to hear what he says next.
“I told you… you’re it for me…” Finn pauses for a moment and glances around the room briefly before mumbling, “Fuck it. I had something extravagant planned, but this can’t wait another minute.
I love you, Raven Marie Lancaster. I need to spend the rest of my life with you.
You’re the fucking sun, the moon, and stars for me.
Where you go, I go. Let’s call Seaside our home base.
Let’s make a life here together… Let’s start forever right now. What do ya say…”
He pushes out his chair and suddenly is on bended knee before her, pulling something from his pocket.
Holding out a black velvet box between them, he asks, “Will you marry me?”
Tears streak down Raven’s cheeks as she repeatedly whispers, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
As the room erupts in hoots and hollers, I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.
Glancing at the caller ID, I ignore the celebration of my family and quickly dart away from the crowd, to answer it in a quieter place.
Pushing open the sliding glass door, I step out onto our deck. “Hello?”
“May I speak with Elizabeth Lancaster?”
“This is she,” I quickly respond.
“This is Dianne Kruse. My son and I would love to have you join us for a second interview. Would you be available tomorrow?”
Relief floods through me, and I quickly agree to the time and place.
Before I know it, I’m back inside, celebrating more than my sister’s unexpected engagement. The night flies by, leaving me little time to worry about what tomorrow may bring.