Two days before New Year and my parents’ house is upside down. We arrived late yesterday, so we’ve only been here about an hour, and already Tanner has been taken into the fold. At this, I make a mental note to thank my brothers for making it happen.

“It looks as though he’s always been part of this,” Mom comments, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

“It does… He makes me happy Mom.”

“I can see that, and so can your dad.”

“Talking about dads, Derek will be here soon.” I let her lead me into the kitchen. “He has it in his head that he’s crashing the party, when I’ve tried to tell him he isn’t and we genuinely want him here with us.” I sigh. “Tanner says his father can be a bit funny around the holidays, which I get, but I don’t want him thinking we’re only asking because he’s alone.”

“Oh honey, he’ll get used to us all. It’s been him and Tanner for nearly ten years now, and the McKenzie family is a lot to get used to. Pity there’s no one around his age.” Mom gets a gleam in her eye.

“Now Mom,” I warn. “He’s a handsome guy, and I’m sure if he was truly interested in meeting someone else then he would have done so by now. Leave him alone.”

“We’ll see,” she says, not committing one way or the other.

“Mom,” I groan.

Aunt Carla’s throaty laugh fills the room. “What on earth is your mother up to now to get the ‘Mom’ attitude?”

I slump into a chair at the table. “She’s trying to think of someone to set up Tanner’s father with.”

“I’d leave that alone,” Garrett says, entering the kitchen with a diaper bag in his hand, his arm wrapped around his wife, and his son in the other. “He won’t appreciate it. That I can tell you.” Aunt Carla takes the diaper bag, and my mother takes her grandchild, while Garrett helps Sirena into a chair.

“I can’t believe I have two months left. I feel like an elephant,” Sirena grumbles.

“You look gorgeous, which I’m sure your husband has told you plenty of times.” I glance at Garrett, who laughs.

“I tell her more than once a day, and that’s all I’m saying on the matter.”

Sirena smirks at her husband. “I don’t mind filling in the blanks,” she wiggles her brows.

“You do that, honey.” He grins with confidence because he knows my sister won’t say anything about his prowess in the bedroom.

Noticing Garrett’s eyes on me, I stand and move into his arms as he grabs me up for a hug. “Congratulations. You’re getting a good man.”

“I know. Thank you.” He puts me at arms length and looks between my mom and me. “I’m serious about Derek. As much as it bothers me that he’s alone, I really wouldn’t throw anyone at him.”

“We won’t,” Mom reassures. “Go find your godson. I have a feeling your approval is important to him.”

“She’s right,” I add. “You’ve helped him over the years more than I think you realize.”

Garrett swallows hard, and glances at his wife. “You’ll stay in that chair, right?”

“She’ll stay.” Mom shoves him out of the kitchen. “I have Elias, so go.”

“Have I said how much I love that man?” Sirena sighs, and Mom rolls her eyes.

“Every day, honey.”

Elias chooses that moment to fill his diaper, loudly. He silences the room before we start laughing. “Let me make this little one comfortable, and then we’ll start on the dinner.” She grabs the diaper bag. “Charlotte, come and help me.”

“I’d rather not.”

Sirena chuckles. “Take a peg for your nose and leave Mom to the diaper. Unless, of course, you want practice?” she raises a brow and I feel myself blush.

“Not yet, I don’t.” I quickly follow Mom before my sister can question me further. She’ll have Tanner’s life story out of me otherwise.

I stand at the door of Sirena’s old room and smile as my eyes land on the dresser that still holds Sirena’s trophies for the horse shows she took part in. A noticeboard above the white desk holds a collection of pictures, pins, and ticket stubs. The large built in bookcase holds Sirena’s collection of books that Mom has kept in top condition for Sirena’s children.

My gaze settles on Mom standing at the changing station that has been set up in front of the large window while wrestling with her grandson who prefers to wiggle than have a clean bottom. The crib to the side is covered in a pale blue comforter that looks fluffy and warm, with a duplicate of his favorite Paddington bear.

Elias is soon clean and giggling away as Mom places him in the crib to keep him safe while she cleans up the smelly mess. Her nose wrinkles as she ties the throwaway diaper bag.

“I don’t know what they feed him, but I’m so glad I don’t have to deal with that every day,” she comments.

I shake my head. “You’d love to be doing that every day.”

She sighs and leans a hip against the changing unit. “Actually, I really wouldn’t.”

I look surprised as she moves to sit on the end of the large bed. She pats the space next to her.

“I love my grandchild, and I’ll love any others I’m lucky enough to meet, but I’m not as young as I was. I find that it’s nice to be able to give him back to his parents.” She takes my hand. “It’s a beautiful ring,” she comments playing with my ring. “It makes my heart lighter seeing you with him. It’s been him since Sirena’s wedding, huh?”

“It has. I’ve been so miserable without him.”

“I knew there was something wrong, but your brother wouldn’t tell me anything. I had no clue that Sirena had details.” Mom huffs.

Chuckling, I add, “I don’t want to wait to get married, Mom. I know Michael and Brooke haven’t been married long, but I just want to be Tanner’s wife.”

“You tell me the date and we’ll work around it.”

“Thanks Mom.”

“Can I ask you something without you getting upset?”

I frown and tilting my head to the side, wonder what she’s thinking as I nod.

“Tanner was engaged when you both met?”

I should have expected this question, but I hadn’t. “He wasn’t engaged when we met, but he was before and after, which I’m not getting into. His ex actually tried to cause trouble and told Tanner one thing and the people in town another. He sorted it all out the day after Christmas. Emma has finally shut up with her lies, and the father of her child has come forward. Turns out she’d been having an affair with the new deputy in town. Well, he was new when they met a few months before. Hopefully we won’t hear anything else from her from now on.”

“Sounds like it hasn’t been easy.”

“No, it hasn’t… Is that what you wanted to ask me?”

Mom looks away and wrings her hands together, so I cover them. “Mom, you’re worrying me. Is everything okay with you and Dad?”

“Oh honey. We’re fine.” She sighs. “I want to ask you about your cousins, but I also don’t want to put you on the spot.”

My heart sinks because if it’s what I’m sure we’ve all noticed, that no one speaks about, I’m not sure what to say.

“I’ve noticed a few things, and the final decision to ask you about it was when I mentioned to Rachel that Alexander was bringing a date with him to the New Year party. She made an excuse and went to the barn. She looked heartbroken, and I hate that I caused that.”

“You didn’t cause it Mom. Alexander did.” I shake my head. “You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

“Do you?” she counters.

“I haven’t been told anything and I’ve only seen the looks they try to hide. I think they’re in love with each other, Mom.”

“That’s what I think too.” Mom looks concerned. “What are we going to do?”

“We’re not going to do anything. They’re old enough to know that they have to stay apart in that way. Perhaps this is Alexander moving on, and Rachel will follow suit. Put their feelings all behind them.”

“You really don’t believe they’ll be able to do that, do you?” Mom sighs and clasps my hands. “I want to believe it because it’s what they have to do.”

I rest my head on her shoulder and smile at Elias, who is watching us from the crib. “Only time will tell. Let’s go back downstairs.”

Standing, Mom pulls me into her arms. “I’m so glad that you followed your heart.” Even as she says those words, I wonder about my cousins. I wonder if they’ll ever follow their hearts.