Chapter Twenty-Six
Ipractically grew up an honorary Mayberry.
Lauren’s parents, Jackson and Maribel, have come up to Maine plenty of times, usually around Christmas, so that Brody can spend time with his grumpa and gran.
I know more about her brothers, Xavier and Grady, than any respectable brother-in-law should have to know.
So, someone please tell me why the fuck I am so on edge about them being here today?
It’s got to be my dress. It has to be about introducing Caleb and Cameron to them. It’s the same damn thing I went through when being completely authentic with Caleb’s family when they were in town. But that turned out okay. Completely fine, actually.
So the only difference this time is that this will get back to my parents, all the way down in Pennsylvania.
They talk a lot, my parent’s and Lo’s. Usually about Brody, though, and the life we’ve built up here.
I can’t rightfully ask for Jackson and Maribel to keep tight-lipped about this; that just feels wrong.
Secretive.
Yucky.
I don’t like it one bit. I run my sweaty palms down the cashmere fabric of this latest acquisition—a merlot colored turtleneck dress with a skirt that lands modestly just above my knees. This one hugs my body, showing off all my curves—for better or for worse. I feel radiant in it.
Probably the same way Wilbur was a radiant pig in Charlotte’s Web though.
Just like in the story, however, that swine had a cheerleader in his corner, spinning webs of encouragement.
But unlike that tale, I’ve got two uplifting spiders.
Both of whom are smirking at me from across the living room while I’m in the kitchen listening to Grady prattle on about, of all things, his irritable bowel syndrome.
Fuck, maybe that’s why I’m so unnerved. I mean, seriously, I don’t care about the frequency of his bowel movements. I can’t even pretend to be interested at this point.
Who could? That’s probably why both Lauren and Caleb casually slipped out of the kitchen in the first place. When it was clear that Grady had more important things to discuss, rather than my choice in clothing for the evening, they completely abandoned ship.
Assholes.
I’ve tethered myself to a couple of cowardly captains. Here I am, in the band, playing the violin as the ship sinks below the surface of the water. Thankfully, Xavier finally comes waltzing in, kicking the snow off his boots on the door sill.
He’s a jock—seriously, he’s a professional football player—and he and I don’t have much in common at all, but thank fuck he’s here, because the one thing he and I do have in common is a deep seeded desire to shut Grady up.
He takes one look at me, a slow rake of his gaze over my body, and stops at my pained expression. He makes absolutely no comment about my outfit at all before saying, “Grady, why the hell are you talking about your IBS while in the kitchen? Can’t you see Marcus is trying to prepare food?”
Grady gapes, huffing in frustration.
Xavier drops his bag, and it hits the hardwood with a thunk. Brody rushes over to tackle him while he’s still in the foyer. Xavier bends, picking Brody up and swinging him around in a hug as if he’s a ragdoll.
Have I mentioned that standing next to Xavier Mayberry is the only time I ever feel petite?
“How’s my favorite nephew?!” Xavier hoots, chuckling as he sets Brody down on solid ground.
Brody fixes him with an unimpressed look. “I’m your only nephew.”
Xavier grins. “A win by default is still a win.”
“Holy shit,” a voice gasps from behind me as Cameron pops out of the bathroom. “Is that—oh my god—Lauren, is your brother Xavier Mayberry? The Xavier Mayberry?”
Lauren bites her lip and winces. “I may have forgotten to fill you in on that little tidbit, Cam. Before he became the toughest defensive end in the AFC East, he was just my brother. He picked and ate his boogers just like the rest of us.”
Xavier scowls at her. “I never ate ‘em!”
Lauren blows a raspberry. “The fuck you didn’t! We’d be watching movies and you’d be over there snacking on them like it was a bowl of popcorn!”
Maribel clucks her tongue, shaking her head. She gives Cameron a sympathetic look. “Yes, to answer your question, Cameron, these are my children.”
Jackson snorts. “Lord, and don’t they do a father proud, huh?”
Brody excitedly chimes in, “Cam, do you want my uncle to sign you a football so you can have one in your room, just like me?”
Cameron’s jaw is still scraping the ground. “Uh, this is all making sense now. I mean, why you don’t pay attention to many professional sports, yet you still have so much Mayberry paraphernalia in your room. I thought it was just because of the same last name as your mom…”
Brody rolls his eyes. “Well, duh. ‘Cuz they’re siblings.”
Grady huffs dramatically, pouting like a stereotypical middle child because no one is heralding his achievements at the moment. Xavier’s getting his recognition right now, and Lauren got her praises sung earlier when she told everyone about her new job.
I snort, leaning in to whisper to him, “Someone a little jealous because Brody doesn’t have any ‘I pooped today!’ trophies in his room to commemorate you?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Says the one wearing a dress…” he hisses.
Lauren stands, crossing the room in an instant. “Lay off, dweeb. Don’t talk to my husband like that.”
Grady flings his hands up in the air. “He’s making fun of my condition!”
Xavier, Lauren, Jackson, and Maribel all snap back in unison a similar version of, “Because all you talk about is how you shit!”
Jackson steps in next, slipping his arms between Lauren and Grady, pushing them apart.
“Grady, seriously. It’s Christmas. Don’t start drama, please.
You know very well that we’d be proud of your accomplishments too, but you never brag about them.
Hell, have you even mentioned anything to anyone here about how you’ve gotten that internship you’ve been working your ass off for? ”
Grady shakes his head.
“Maybe lead with that then, hun,” Maribel offers.
“I didn’t think anyone here cared about coding and web development. Too nerdy or whatever,” Grady huffs.
Brody chimes in, “I care, Uncle Grady.”
Cameron also pipes up, “I actually have a huge interest in that as well. I’m looking into colleges and am thinking about majoring in graphic design…”
“Seriously?” Grady wrinkles his nose.
“Yeah, man,” I agree. “So maybe, uh, I don’t know—stop harping on me about how grape skins make you bloated and let me finish this charcuterie board?” I add, passing him what should be a gut-friendly strawberry.
He pops it into his mouth. “Fanks,” he murmurs around the mouthful. He swallows, gulping hard. “And, uh, sorry for the nasty tone about the dress. It actually looks pretty good on you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you just saying that?”
He scoffs. “I mean, if I say it looks hot on you, I’m probably going to get slapped by not only my sister but your man over there as well, so I’m not going to test my luck…”
Xavier chuckles. “It’s definitely not what I expected, Antonucci, but if anyone can rock it, it’s you. What’s this I hear about you finally having a man though?”
I nod over at Caleb, who approaches Xavier to shake his hand. Lauren practically trips over herself, rushing back over to make a proper introduction for her eldest brother.
Just like at Thanksgiving, with Caleb’s family, we settle in now that everyone is here, and the story of our relationship unfolds.
Lauren’s entire family has known I’m gay anyway, so finding out that Caleb is my partner wasn’t shocking to them.
When it comes to Lo, however, they know her trauma, so they were a little stunned to see her so affectionate with Caleb over the course of our meal and subsequent setting up of sleeping spaces.
By the time we’re all spread out in different corners of the living room, watching Christmas classics, the novelty of Lauren, Caleb, and me being in a throuple has worn off.
Mostly, I think everyone is focused on keeping discreet eyes on Xavier, just to see if he ever picks his nose. Thankfully, he does not.
At one point during the movie, Maribel leans in and whispers to me, “Thank you, hun.”
My brows knit. “For what?” I whisper back.
She looks around the room. “You’ve given Lauren the life we’ve always dreamed of having for her. You’ve been her best friend and her soulmate for so long, and Jack and I are just so, so happy she’s had you to count on for forever. Brody has an amazing father in you. We’re just—so grateful, Marcus.”
I smile softly at her.
“I know you worry a lot about your parents, hun,” she continues.
“I just want you to know that if you do decide to tell them, Jack and I will have your back. We’ve seen, first hand, just how beautifully your arrangement works for all of you.
There ain’t a single person you’re hurting by doing what you’re doing, living how you’re living. ”
“Thank you,” I croak, tears stinging my eyes.
She reaches down and clasps my hand with hers. “We love you, son,” she whispers, sounding a little more choked up.
Lauren shoots me a questioning look from across the couch, where she’s snuggled in under Caleb’s arm, likely wondering what her mother and I are whispering about over here. I sign “I love you” to her.
“Is everything okay?” she signs back.
I nod. “More than okay.”
Maribel joins in signing with a smirk. “Relax and watch the movie. Leave us to our gossip.” Then, she pats my thigh, peering up at me. “Have you always liked wearing dresses?” she asks.
I nod. “Used to steal Lo’s clothes all the time before I grew out of them.”
She quietly chuckles. “All that dark, gothic stuff she used to wear…”
“She certainly was quite the emo queen."
Maribel’s reverent gaze floats over to Lauren. “She’s so strong,” she hums.
I agree. “She certainly is.”
“All my kids are bullheaded like that, I guess.”
I smirk. “I think they get it from their parents.”