I wake up late Saturday morning, hesitating to leave the bed. I’m alone unfortunately, as Jackie snuck back to her room in the wee hours of the morning. Damn, what a night and what a girl. I’ve been with quite a few women in my past, but no one has ever rocked my world the way Jackie has in just a few days. She’s the real deal, and has been under my nose for some time. Problem is I was so hung up on Julie, I didn’t pay her attention. I’m such a fool.

It’s not just the sex, although she has set the bar pretty high in that category. It’s the fact that she takes the time to focus on me. Yesterday, for example, it was little things like making sure I was comfortable around her mom, including me in their conversations, bragging about my degree, and how I want to be a physical therapist.

Jackie is not the reason I hesitate getting out of bed, though. Today is the barbecue, where all of her family will be here and my old man. It’s bad enough to have to worry about being accepted by all the Winston family, but worrying if my dad will show his ass today and embarrass me, makes me want to hightail it back to the beach condo.

He’ll be okay if he doesn’t drink. No one knows about his problem with booze but me. It started when Mom died and has gotten worse over the years. He doesn’t let his drinking get in the way of working, but how long will that last? I can’t get out of my head that one day, I will be caring for the old man.

Then there’s Officer John. I’m not sure why he hasn’t told Jackie about my past, but it would be just my luck if he chooses today to bring it up.

A soft knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts. The door opens to the bright and beautiful face of my lovely new girl.

“Are you awake?” She smiles, bringing in a breakfast tray and kicking the door closed with her foot.

“You need some help?” I ask, getting up.

“Lie back, I got this,” she commands.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I relax back onto the pillows. She sets the tray in front of me, giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

“Good morning.” She smiles.

“Good morning. What’s all this?”

“Breakfast in bed, silly. I was worried there would be none left, if you didn’t hurry to the kitchen soon. Some of the fam is already here. Once they start diving in, it’s every man and woman for themselves.” She takes a piece of bacon, feeding me half before taking the other half for herself.

“I’m sorry. Your mom must think I’m rude.”

“No, I told her I wore you out last night and you were probably still sleeping.”

“You didn’t really, did you?

“No, but why are you still in bed? Did I wear you out?”

“Would you think less of me if I admit I’m dreading meeting all of your family today?”

“No, I guess my family can be a bit much at first, but you need to stop worrying. They’re going to like you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I like you, that’s how.” She smiles before giving me another peck and springing off the bed.

“Wait! Where you going?” I laugh. “I thought maybe we could cuddle for a little while.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

“Sorry, strictly PG today. Remember, I have brothers.” She winks before blowing me a kiss and leaving the room.

I enjoy my breakfast then grab a quick shower before finally making my appearance. The only one in the kitchen is Jackie, who is cleaning up. I am ready to be a good guest and take care of my breakfast dishes and tray, but Jackie quickly takes it from me, before I can.

“You’re a guest. Guests don’t wash the dishes,” she scolds.

“I don’t mind helping.”

“I know.” She smiles.

“So where is everyone?”’

“Hanging at the pool. You can go ahead and head out and I’ll be there when I’m done in here.”

I step near the window to see lots of activity going on near the pool, kids of all different ages, adult couples talking in groups, and more people than I can count. “I think I’ll stay here where it’s safe.”

“My family isn’t that bad, but fine, if you stay then you help.” She smiles before throwing a dish towel at me. I catch it and am so tempted to smack that cute behind of hers with it but it would be my luck that a brother would walk in and catch me.

“For the record, I didn’t say they were bad, but there are just so damn many of them.” I laugh as she hands me a plate to dry.

“I know. I sometimes forget that. I guess being the baby girl, I’m used to it.”

“So, you’re number seventeen?”

“No, sixteen. My brother Gabe is the baby.”

“How old is he? I don’t remember him.”

“Coincidently, he’s seventeen. We’ve been teasing him about that since his birthday last month.”

“Okay, without pausing, name your brothers and sisters,” I tease her.

“That’s easy.” She rolls her eyes.

“In chronological order.” I challenge.

“Okay, you asked for it: John, Maggie, Sam,, Laura, Patrick, Jill, Jane, Frankie, Chris, Lisa, Debra, Keith, Michael, Rachel, Holly, and Gabe.”

“You forgot yourself.” I correct her.

“You said my siblings.”

“Touché,” I say, grabbing her up and kissing her smart mouth.

“Well, good morning, Tyler,” Mrs. Winston says as she walks into the room.

I quickly release Jackie. I was so worried about getting caught by one the brothers that I forgot the one to fear the most … the mama bear.

“Good morning, Mrs. Winston.”

“Honey, I told you I would get those later. Ya’ll come out here and join everyone.”

“Mom, you are not going to do everything. Me and the girls agreed to help out.”

“You better watch out for this one, Tyler, she’s the bossy one,” Mrs. Winston says, looking over at me.

“Like mother, like daughter.” Jackie smiles.

“Seriously, no use in making this kitchen spotless. Now, go out there and join everyone and have some fun. Scoot,” she says, taking the dish towel from me.

“Fine, but if you aren’t out there with us in ten minutes, I’m coming back,” Jackie says before taking my hand and heading to the patio.

Jackie makes the introductions of her brothers and sisters there, which include wives and husbands, more kids than I can fathom, and two sets of grandparents too. She must feel the anxiety radiating off of me, being the only non-family member of this tight-knit group. That, and the old man is due to show up anytime now.

No sooner than the thought leaves my head, Mrs. Winston walks out to the patio with my father next to her. He looks as shell-shocked as I felt walking into this crowd, but he looks good. He is cleaned up, and from this distance it’s hard to tell, but he appears sober. I pray that he’s sober.

“There’s my dad. I better go say hi,” I whisper to Jackie as she talks with Holly about makeup or some shit.

“Wait, I will go with,” she says as she takes my hand once again.

Walking up to my dad hand in hand with Jackie is sure to raise questions in the old man’s mind. He was always pushing me to hook up with one of the Winston sisters, saying how I would never have to worry about anything since I would be loaded like they were. He has always been envious of them. When I look at the Winstons, I don’t see money. I see a hardworking tight-knit family. That is why we never see eye to eye.

“Dad,” I say, wondering if I offer to hug him would it be welcomed.

“Tyler, you look like you have gained some weight,” he says, allowing for the awkward hug.

“Good to see you too, Dad,” I say

“You know I’m messing with ya. You never could take a joke.” He tries saving face in front of Mrs. Winston.

“Hi, Mr. McCandless, it’s good to see you again,” Jackie says as she hangs on to my hand, offering me her comfort and support.

“Yes, you’re Holly, right?” he says and immediately he embarrasses me.

“No, sir, I’m Jackie, the one who called you the other day.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry, there are just so damn many of you.”

“Dad! Seriously?” I scold him as he embarrasses me further.

“It’s okay, a lot of people confuse us,” Jackie says as she gently squeezes my hand.

We all gather around as Officer John takes over grilling and all the ladies head inside to get everything prepared. Jackie leaves me with Mike, and I’m thankful to be in his company rather than my father’s or the judgmental eyes of Jackie’s brothers, especially Officer John. Even though he had to bust up the fight between Ben Parker and me, at his own wedding nonetheless, Mike has always been cool.

“So, you and Jackie? Are you a couple now?” Mike asks me as he hands me a beer.

“I’m not sure yet, we’re taking things slow.”

“You are? I could have sworn you were laying one hell of a lip-lock on her earlier in the hallway,” he says, giving me a mischievous grin.

“Okay, we are taking the relationship status slow for now.”

“That’s probably a good thing,” Mike says.

“Why’s that?” I look at him strangely, thinking I had found an ally since he is still fairly new to the Winston family. He’d only married Holly a few months ago.

“Look, just a piece of advice, that’s all. Make sure you know what you want. You know it wasn’t that long ago that you were pining for Julie. Jackie may act all tough, but she’s been through a lot. I just don’t want to see her get hurt. Of all her sisters, Holly is the closest to Jackie, and if she thinks for one second you are just using Jackie as a rebound girl, it won’t be pretty.” Mike warns me.

“Shit, here I thought I only had to worry about the brothers,” I try to joke.

“Trust me. The sisters are meaner,” Mike says.

“Well, you can be assured that Jackie is not a rebound girl. Sure, I cared for Julie, but I don’t know how to explain it really. Let’s just say, Jackie’s different, and the more time I spend with her, the more fond of her I become. It’s been a while since I’ve been truly happy and she’s a big part of that happiness.”

“Yeah, I wanted Tyler to join the Marines, but I guess with his knee and all, they wouldn’t take him.” I hear my old man talking about me to some of the Winston men. “He could have been something if it wasn’t for that knee. Hell, we could have been watching him on Sundays playing NFL,” he jokes, only I’m not laughing and even Mike gives me a sympathetic look.

“Now, he wants to be some kind of therapist. I told him he was just wasting time and money. At least if he was a mechanic like me, he could own the shop one day,” he boasts even louder. I’m daring him to look this way, just so he can see that I can hear every damn word he’s saying.

“I think your son is doing pretty damn good for himself. You know a physical therapist is an important job,” Officer John says as he steps in and defends me, much to my surprise.

“Yeah, and the physical therapist who worked with you after you injured your back last year had to be tougher than a Marine. You were a difficult patient, from what I hear,” one of the other Winston brothers chimes in jokingly.

“Well, maybe it will work out for him, especially now that he’s seeing your sister. It’s about time he picked a good one.” He slams me once again.

“All right, everyone, time to eat. Kids, go wash your hands now.” Maggie steps out just in time. I’m not sure how many more insults from the old man I can take.

We all get up to head inside, but a part of me wants to just jump in my truck and head back to the beach. I just can’t do that to Jackie, though. As we begin to crowd in, I feel someone touch my shoulder. At first, I think it’s Mike, showing his support and maybe warning me not to start a fight, but I look over to see that it’s Officer John.

“Don’t let him get to you, kid. You’re doing good,” he says to me before heading inside.

We all eat and I stay as far away from the old man as possible, until he finally does the decent thing and prepares to leave. I do the honorable thing and walk him out.

“So, I suppose you are headed up to that beach again,” he says to me. I know he hates the beach and always complains how it’s not the beach he grew up with.

“Yes, I have a job up there that pays pretty decent. Only until school starts, though.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you around sometime, since you still have your things at home,” he says, and for a second it appears as though he’s sad.

“I guess so,” I respond.

“Good,” he says.

“Happy Father’s Day, Dad.” I give him an awkward hug and wait for the reciprocation that never comes.

“I better be going. Lots of work to do at the shop. I’ll see you later.”