13. Aubrey #3
“Yes, that’s right. Well, most of them.” I giggle as I stand to hug her. “I’m Aubrey, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, honey, we all know who you are.” She laughs. “I’m Leah, and this is my husband, Damian.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He shakes my hand.
“Likewise.” We all take a seat and wait for the rest to arrive. “So, how many kids do you all have? I’m sorry, Shane has told me but I’m a little confused who belongs to who,” I ask, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Phoebe places her hand on my thigh in a reassuring way.
“Don’t feel embarrassed if you confuse them.
We know it will take some time to get them all right.
We’ll take the time to introduce them all individually later.
My husband, Edward, and I have two boys named Michael and Alexander. And two girls named Eloise and Serena.”
“We have Joshua, the curly redhead, who you’ve already met,” Eden says with a wide grin.
“And we have Xavier, from my husband’s previous marriage, and Malcom, our adopted son. We also have Abigail, our foster child. She doesn’t know it yet but we’re in the process of adopting her as well, so don’t say anything,” Leah informs me last.
Shane had told me one of his sisters couldn’t have kids, so they were going down the adoption route instead. “That’s beautiful of you to give them a second chance at a family,” I say profoundly, my voice getting emotional as my eyes well with tears.
“Oh, no. The famous pregnancy hormones.” Eden laughs as Phoebe takes my hand.
“Why is it every time I leave my girlfriend’s side for five minutes, I find her crying?” Shane hurries over and crouches down as he cups my face. “What’s wrong, Angel?”
I place my hands over his and smile at how attentive he is to me.
“Nothing, Shane. Just hormones.” His eyes roam over my features, not entirely convinced.
I move one of my hands to his jaw, rubbing my thumb along his cheek.
“I swear, I’m good. Really good,” I whisper, and finally a smile appears along his mouth as he leans in and kisses me in front of everyone.
I feel my skin prickling with heat as Shane pulls away and stands, taking my hand in his as an older couple walks toward us. There’s a blond man that walks past us, who I presume is Edward, since he sits down beside Phoebe and kisses her cheek.
“Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet my parents. Adam Jefferson, my father.”
Adam places his hands on my shoulders as he comes in to give me a peck on each cheek like the French do. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Aubrey. We’ve heard so much about you.”
“And my mother, Pamela Jefferson,” Shane continues just as his mother hugs me tightly the moment his father retreats.
“Oh, you gorgeous girl. You can’t believe how delighted we are to finally meet the woman who has stolen our baby’s heart.”
“I think he’s the one who’s stolen mine,” I say quietly as I look at Shane, my blush turning a fierce red.
Pamela steps back, retaking her spot beside her husband as she clutches her heart and smiles with affection.
“And well, I think you’ve met everyone else.
My three sisters, Phoebe, Leah, and Eden.
As well as their husbands, Edward, Damian, and Marcus.
” Shane points to each, naming them in case I’ve forgotten.
He knows that when I’m overwhelmed with information, I can forget things, and I appreciate him even more for it.
I go over each in order, naming them all in my head. “You spell apples,” I mumble to myself, before realizing everyone can hear me with how quiet it is in the room. My eyes widen as I look over at Shane who shakes his head with a silent chuckle.
“Oh, I can’t believe she just said that.” Pamela gasps while Eden explodes with laughter along with Leah who giggles. Adam grins at me with amusement and Phoebe simply smiles, like she’s suddenly hit with a realization. I’m just not sure what.
“I am so sorry! I didn’t mean that as an insult, I was simply going over your names in my head and the thought popped up,” I rush out as my neck, ears, and nose sting from how red they are.
I’m so embarrassed right now, I just want to rip Shane’s shirt open and hide behind it for the rest of the night.
“No, honey. It’s fine, really. You simply surprised us,” Phoebe says tenderly.
“Really?” I frown with confusion.
Leah nods. “Shane used to call us the Apples family when he was younger. It lasted two whole years. Everywhere we went, he would introduce us that way instead of the Jeffersons.”
Eden’s laughter finally dwells down as she gasps for air.
Despite her being two years older than Shane, I can tell she has a young spirit living in her.
“It was a great time, people at school were so confused because he would get extremely persistent if anyone told him otherwise. He would be like, ‘I’m Shane Jefferson, the S in the Apples family’.
He was adorable.” She sighs, recounting the memory.
Pamela steps up once more, taking my hand between both of hers. “You truly were made for my son. It’s clear as day.”