26. Reed
Reed
My mother drops her purse on the table near my door and immediately asks, “Where is she?”
“No hello for me?” I tease as my father stands behind her, holding two suitcases.
My sisters are in the hallway, talking loudly like they always do.
They’re laughing and carrying on, probably driving my father half insane.
The man loves quiet; it’s why he lives in South Dakota with no one near our ranch for miles and miles.
Chicago is too much for him as it is, but throw in four women, and I know he’s ready to crawl under a rock and hide.
Ma waves me off, but she crosses the few feet and opens her arms for me. “I’ve missed you.”
“Sure, Ma,” I mutter against her hair. She’s placating me, but I’m okay with that. I know she’s excited to meet Amelia. I can’t even imagine how she’ll be once the baby is here.
A second after she pulls away, she asks again, “Where is she?”
“At her place.” I can’t keep the laughter out of my voice as I glance over her shoulder to my father. “Hey, Dad.”
“Reed,” he says, always buttoned-up and proper. “Where do I put this stuff?” He holds up the suitcases like they’re going to bite him if he makes any sudden movements.
“I’ll show you where the bedrooms are,” I say, motioning for him to come inside, although my mother is blocking the doorway.
“Doesn’t look like the place is big enough to have to show him, honey,” Ma says as she looks around the living room.
“It’s perfect for me,” I tell her, taking her by the hand and guiding her out of my father’s way.
“Big brother,” Frankie says as soon as there’s enough space for her to squeeze through the doorway.
I barely have a chance to open my arms before she leaps on. “I’ve missed you, you asshole.” She squeezes my neck so tightly that if she stays there for any length of time, I’m liable to pass out.
“Hey, sissy,” I gasp, fighting for air.
She jumps down and smashes me in the chest with her palm. “I hate it there without you.”
I cough, trying to fill my lungs again. “Move here.”
Frankie wrinkles her nose. “Not on your life.”
“Move it,” Brinley says, pushing Frankie out of the way to get to me.
I knew my sisters would miss me, but I didn’t think it would be this much. Sure, we have a group chat with all the siblings, but they never voiced how much they missed having me around.
“Brin,” I say as I hug my big sister.
“Suitcases,” Dad says, reminding me he’s waiting.
“Hold on. It’s my turn, Daddy,” Cora says, joining my hug with Brinley.
“For Christmas’ sake,” Dad says and follows those words with a very loud huff of air.
Mom points to the hallway. “Pick a bedroom and drop them,” she tells him. “I’m going next door to finally meet my daughter-in-law.”
But before my mother can walk out, Amelia fills the doorway. “Hey,” she says, her eyes finding me in the very crowded apartment.
“Hey, sugar. They’re here.” I throw my arms out, motioning toward my family.
Ma squeals louder than I’ve ever heard her do in my entire life. I don’t have an opportunity to say anything else, because she goes barreling straight toward Amelia.
“Oh my God, sweetheart. Aren’t you a pretty little thing,” Ma says and pulls Amelia into a hug before she has a chance to react. “I’m June.”
Amelia stares at me over my mother’s shoulder, looking similar to a deer in headlights.
Brin elbows me in the ribs. “Good job, Reed. Didn’t know you could pull such a pretty girl.”
I stare down at my brat of a sister. “Don’t be a shit.”
“I’ve been a shit since the day you were born.” She smirks. “Best and worst day of my life.”
“Aw, you always know how to warm someone’s heart,” I tease her.
“Damn, dude,” Frankie says, always so eloquent with her words. “She’s hot.”
“I know,” I say, unable to wipe the smile off my face. “Best damn jackpot of my life.”
“Who says ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’? Not my brother,” Cora adds as all three of us stare at my mother fawning over Amelia.
“We’re nothing now. You know that, right?” Brin asks, shaking her head. “We lost our standing to a baby.”
“An unborn one,” Cora says, throwing a little more gasoline on the fire.
“This kid better be cute,” Frankie says.
“As long as she looks like her mother. But man, it’s going to suck when she’s a teenager.
I don’t want to end up in jail for hurting some jackass wanting to…
” I shake my head, unable to finish the thought.
I can barely picture our child as a toddler, let alone a teenage girl with boobs and hormones.
“Maybe it’s a boy,” Frankie says. “That’ll be easier.”
“Nope,” I tell her. “I feel it. It’s a girl.”
“You’d be a great girl dad,” Brinley tells me, leaning her head against my arm. “You’re a great brother.”
“Thanks, Brin,” I say as my mother releases Amelia.
“Woman, unhand that poor thing,” Dad finally says to my mother. “The rest of us would like to meet her.”
Mom waves him off. “Hush, John.”
Dad bristles at her lackluster response. “Ridiculous.”
“She’s always been a bit greedy,” Brinley tells him.
“In more ways than you think,” Dad says quietly.
I don’t ask what he means because I don’t want to know. For the next thirty minutes, Amelia’s trapped in the doorway, hugging and talking with my family. They don’t give her a single break to gather her thoughts.
“I love them,” she whispers to me when they finally let her go. “They’re amazing.”
“Just like yours but smaller.”
“Numbers aren’t important,” she tells me, looping her arm with mine. “Should we head over to the bar today, or did you decide we should skip it?”
It’s Monday. The Gallo family dinner is going to be in full swing. We talked at length if bringing my family to the dinner would be the right call, but her grandma and parents damn near demanded their presence. They said we were all family now, therefore all required to be at the Hook & Hustle.
I rub her bare arms with my hands. “We should go.”
“Go where?” Brinley asks, always eavesdropping.
“To the bar for family dinner.”
They’ve all heard about it. There isn’t a thing in my life they don’t know about.
“Is the bakery next door? I’d love to see it too,” Brinley adds.
“Yes, it’s next to the bar,” I reply.
“I still don’t understand why they have a family dinner at a bar and not someone’s house,” Mom says, even though we’ve been over this a hundred times.
“You’ll see,” Amelia says to her with a wink.
An hour later, we’re in the doorway to the Hook & Hustle, and my mother’s jaw is nearly on the floor. “What in the…” She pauses and sweeps her gaze over the crowd again. “Are they all your family?”
Amelia chuckles. “Each and every one of them.”
“Well, damn,” Mom mutters and shakes her head like she still doesn’t believe what she’s seeing. “I get it now. No one has a house big enough for this group.”
“Pretty much,” Amelia takes my mother’s arm and leads her into the bar, “I want to introduce you to my parents, Vinnie and Bianca.”
My dad is always a cool and reserved guy, but the moment he’s in front of the legendary football player, he’s going to lose his shit and turn into a mumbling fool.
Dad follows behind my mother and Amelia as they cross the bar to where Amelia’s parents are already heading their way. They meet in the middle of the dining room like it’s a neutral zone.
I watch from a distance, wanting Amelia to handle the introductions in her own way.
“Damn. No wonder the girl is a stunner,” Brinley says, staring at Amelia’s parents. “That man is a silver fox, and the mom… Amelia won the gene lottery.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“No other way to be, Reed. So, do you know all these people?” she asks.
A second later, a redhead is coming our way. “Reed. Reed. Look at you and these beauties,” she says before she makes it to us.
“Amelia’s grandmother, Betty,” I inform them before she’s a few feet away.
“Cute as hell,” Frankie says.
“Gram, these are my sisters, Brinley, Cora, and Frankie,” I say, pointing to each one as I say her name.
“Hey, girls. I’m Gram, but you can call me Betty,” she explains. “We’re so happy to have you here with us today. I hope you brought your appetites.”
“Why can’t I call you Betty?” I ask her, but I’m teasing. I love calling her Gram or Grandma, like I’ve always been a part of the family.
She doesn’t bother with an answer as she swipes the air with her hand. “Come on. Let’s introduce you to everyone.”
“I’m never going to remember all these people,” Frankie grumbles as Betty drags them away.
“Don’t worry. I barely do either.”
But I’m lying. I’ve only been around them a short time, but they’re each such memorable characters that I can’t help but have their names imprinted on my brain.
“No turning back now,” Brax, Amelia’s cousin, says as he stands next to me, watching my two worlds colliding. “You’re in deep now.”
I stare across the dining room, taking in my beautiful wife. “I was in deep the moment I met her.”