Chapter 27
Rhodes
When they started revamping the house, I’d gotten photos, and I’d envisioned many things, but I wasn’t sure this was a scenario I could have imagined.
No place I had ever lived felt this alive.
Plates clattered, and voices overlapped in what could only be called a well-rehearsed symphony.
It should have been a headache, but instead, the Holts’ bickering and bantering blended together perfectly—no voice straying too far into a realm where it was pushing too hard.
This was what I always imagined a big family would sound like.
When I was growing up, we had dinners at the table, but it was just the three of us. Even when I was young, the conversation was always orderly and adult. It wasn’t this cacophony of sound.
Everything smelled amazing, with the kitchen filled with the aroma of pasta sauce and breadsticks that Delphina had made.
They declined my offer to help set the table, even though we brought down all the chairs we could find.
Luckily, the table that came with the house was huge.
When I bought Castleton, there were a few large estate items they didn’t want to move, and the table had stayed.
This was my first real meal with the Holts, and when Wade invited me to Sundays, I had been excited, but this was a revelation, having them in my space.
I deeply admired Maggie and how she and her late husband built this unbreakable family, weaving them together with a love that didn’t care whether they were biological children or not.
The Holts stood on their values, and I respected that.
"Pass the bread, East. Stop hoarding.” Kipp grinned from his spot beside Wade, elbowing his brother playfully.
Kipp had an easy energy, but if you didn’t know him better, you’d think he was all jokes.
He was one to watch for. Not only was he a great tracker, but he was also willing to take the shot when it mattered.
I would have been happy to have him on my team anytime.
Opal was having the time of her life, her eyes wide as she twirled her pasta on her fork, giggling at the chaos.
She wasn’t used to family dinners or all the banter that was being flung back and forth.
Her dinners had been a little like mine growing up.
We’d eaten quietly with her nanny or alone.
Once in a while, we’d have a silent (if we were lucky) meal with Catherine, but nothing like this boisterous pile of Holts.
My only issue was that even though Sage was sitting right next to me, she was still too far away.
Carefully, I edged my chair a little closer.
I’d have her in my lap if I could get away with it.
All the distance I’d had to keep over the last few hours had grated on me after our moment in the office.
Her hair was still slightly tousled by the wind, and she wore a little smile as she passed the salad bowl.
I couldn’t stop watching her, the way she leaned into everyone’s banter, and the way her laugh cut through all the noise.
There was still a subtle edge to her tonight, a shadow from the incident at the gas station that lingered in her eyes. Not that it shouldn’t. My guess was that her siblings noticed it too. They were weaving check-ins into the teasing every now and then, much to her annoyance.
East snorted, tossing a breadstick across the table with perfect aim. “Says the guy who claimed Maggie’s bumper sticker is about him. ‘Honor Student’? Come on, we all know it was Chloe.” He shot a wink at his younger sister, who rolled her eyes but smiled brightly.
She laughed, spearing a forkful of pasta. "Hey, if it keeps Kipp humble, I'll take credit. But seriously, Mom, this sauce is magic."
Phiny nodded vigorously, her fork waving like a conductor's baton.
"Yes! And Sage, you look like you could use seconds. Everything tastes okay?” She eyed her sister carefully.
“That pasta's got healing powers, I swear.
" It was casual, but I caught the glance she shared with Sage, a subtle check-in after today’s scare.
Sage smiled, though I saw the faint tension in her shoulders ease as she took another helping. “I’m good, Phin. Just… a long day. But yeah, Maggie’s pasta could fix anything.” Her eyes met mine briefly, and a spark of what we’d shared earlier flared.
"Rhodes, you've got a good setup here. I’ve never been out here before. Ed Castleton was a bit of a …”
“Jerk?” Kipp offered.
“Recluse was what I was going to say. I just didn’t know him that well.
” Maggie gave him a look. “But it’s gorgeous here.
So much room to play, and plenty of room for more chaos.
” My heart sped up at the look she was giving Sage and me.
“Opal, honey, how's that fairy kingdom coming?
Sage gave you some lavender tips, right? "
Opal bounced in her seat, sauce on her chin. "I’m going to build more tomorrow after school.”
Wade nodded with a grin, “More fairy houses. You need a whole village,” while Kipp added, "I'll bring sticks. But Sage, are you sure you're up for fairy duty? You looked a bit wiped earlier—need backup?" Another gentle probe, wrapped in humor, the siblings circling protectively without smothering.
Sage laughed, genuine this time, her gaze flicking to me again with that pull I couldn't ignore. "I'm fine, really. Thanks, though. And Opal—I’ll even bring you some stuff from the shop. I have some little minis I can give you for your houses.”
My daughter’s eyes lit up. I wasn’t sure what Sage was talking about, and I definitely didn’t like the idea of her going to work, but I doubted I had a say.
We hadn’t even had any time between the Holt clan showing up and dinner to talk about her staying here tonight.
There was no way she’d be leaving to stay unprotected at her house even if Lila and East were still living across the street. That was a hard no.
Wade leaned back, arms crossed, but his eyes softened on Sage. "Good. But if that 'fine' changes, you say the word. Now, pass the cheese—East's hogging again."
The banter flowed on, with teasing jabs flying like breadsticks, but beneath it all was that unbreakable thread, the way they checked on Sage without making it heavy.
It was messy, loud, and perfect. As I watched Sage, her quiet resilience shining through, I felt deep gratitude for being pulled into it.
This was the connection I'd moved here for, the family Opal and I needed.