I’d finished putting all of my dishes away in the kitchen, and my glass of wine, when I heard a knock on the front door. In my excitement to see who was there, I tripped over my feet and almost took a header in the hallway.

Luckily, I caught myself before face planting.

I could see Reardon’s tall frame through the stained-glass of my door. Nicknamed Viking by Gabe’s wife, and Reardon’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Zoey, Rear was pretty easy to pick out in a crowd. Or, through a stained-glass door. Super tall, with blonde good looks, and an adorkable personality, he was one of my favorite people.

“Hi,” I said happily as I wrenched open the door and flew into his arms.

“Hey,” Reardon replied, his arms coming around me and squeezing me tight. He was a great hugger. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, great,” I assured him, pulling back and grinning up at him. Like way up. “I’m just happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to be seen,” Reardon joked, letting me lead him inside before shutting the door. “Wow, this place is great. I’ve never seen one of the two bedrooms. I like it … very cozy.”

“Mhmmm, I like it, too. Although I’ll like it more once everything is put away in its proper place.”

Reardon chuckled. I was notorious for liking things neat and tidy. Clutter drove me batty.

“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked, the hostess skills that had been ingrained in me since birth kicking in. “I don’t have beer, but I have wine and bottled water.”

“No, thanks,” Reardon said, looking around as we walked into the kitchen. “I’m actually about to head to the bar, if you’d like to come.”

For the Lewises, the bar always meant our Uncle Zeke and Aunt Annabeth’s place in the town center of Cherry Springs.

“That would be great, actually,” I said, thinking a familiar place full of people I knew was just what I needed. “I’ll just go change out of these dusty clothes. Go ahead and look around, if you want.”

“I’ll do that,” Reardon said, already walking out of the kitchen to explore.

I turned down the hall in the opposite direction, heading toward the back of the house where the master bedroom was. The second bedroom I would use as an office and the building in the back that had been built as a workshop, would be my art studio.

I pushed past the boxes to the suitcase that was still open on my bed from earlier. The bed was the only thing in the room that was assembled and ready.

After pulling out a pair of jeans and a pretty blue top with a brocade neckline, I went to the adjoining bathroom to change and freshen up.

Once my makeup had been touched up, my hair brushed, and my clothes changed, I went back out to find my cousin, eager to be off. Not that I didn’t want to work on my house and have it ready as soon as possible, but the girls were all coming over in the morning to help, and I could really go for a hot meal and a stiff drink.

“Ready,” I called, shutting my bedroom door behind me.

When I didn’t get a response, I walked through the house and peeked in the rooms, looking for Reardon. The house wasn’t that big, and when I didn’t find him in any of the rooms, I realized the back door was cracked open.

I walked out the door off of the kitchen and onto the porch, looking out over the yard and seeing the door to my studio was open.

He’s so nosy, I thought with a chuckle, then bounded down the steps and across the yard.

“Hey, I’m ready,” I called out as I opened the door to find Reardon standing in the middle of the small building.

“This is really great space, Rena,” Reardon said as he looked around.

It was still pretty empty, with a few wrapped canvases against one wall and the boxes with my art supplies lining another. I had plans to buy a workbench, a few more easels, and some decorative plants to fill it up.

“Yeah, it was what sold the house for me,” I admitted. “I can’t wait to use it.”

Reardon crossed to me and put an arm around my shoulder.

“It’s good that you’re painting again, and working at the gallery. It’s important to do what you love,” my cousin said as we walked out of the studio.

I nodded, not really knowing how to respond. I always felt self-conscious talking about my painting, so I changed the subject and asked, “How’s Chloe?”

“Going stark-raving mad. If this baby doesn’t come soon, I’m afraid she’s going to murder me in my sleep.”

I chuckled at his response.

“Always so dramatic, Rear.”

“No, I’m serious, the woman is tired of being held captive by our California King, not that I blame her. I’d have lost it weeks ago.”

We went through the house so I could lock up, and when we went out the front door, I was surprised to see my nosy neighbor standing on the porch, fist raised to knock.

Before I could ask what he was doing there, Reardon grinned and said, “Perfect timing, we’re all ready.”

Jed and I looked at each other, confused at first, then we both grimaced when we realized Reardon had invited both of us to the bar.

I locked the door, then turned to see Reardon looking between Jed and me, a look of confusion spread across his handsome face. Not wanting him to think there was a problem, I plastered on my best smile and hooked my arms through both of the men’s arms.

“Let’s do this,” I said cheerfully.

Thankfully, Jed went along. He didn’t smile or pretend to be excited about the fact that I was joining them, but he left my arm where it was and walked down the steps next to me. So, that was something.

I supposed he could have pushed me off and told Reardon I was a jerk.

When we got down to the sidewalk, I looked at the street, then turned my head to look both ways.

“Um, what are we driving?” I asked.

“That,” Reardon said, pointing to the minivan that was currently parked in front of my house.

“Whose car is that?” I asked, with a laugh.

“Mine,” Reardon replied excitedly. “It has tons of room for the baby, Chris, and his football buddies. Plus, there’s a TV in the back, so we can watch movies. It’s great.”

“Oh, how the mighty have fallen,” I joked, but opened the door to get inside.

“Oh, stuff it,” Reardon said with a huff, and I knew I wasn’t the first Lewis cousin to give him shit over his new vehicle.

“Well, I think it’s great,” Jed said as he got in the back. “How do you work this TV?”

I rolled my eyes, but kept my face forward as Reardon happily showed Jed how to get the TV going.

Then, with the theme song of Star Wars playing on the TV, we were on our way to the family bar.