Love Slave for Two

Chapter 21

Karen was four years older than Thomas and looked most like him. Tall and lanky, her shoulder-length brown hair was sprinkled with grey. Thomas made the introduction when his sister walked in, her arms full of groceries. Nevvie mustered a nervous smile and accepted Karen’s warm hug after she’d set the groceries on the counter.

“It’s nice to meet you, Nevvie. There’s always room at the table.” She turned to Thomas. “Where’s Blue Eyes? I need help unloading.”

“I’ll help.”

“If I wanted to look at you, bro, I woulda asked you for help.”

“Quit putting moves on him, Karen. He’s taken.” Thomas winked at Nevvie, who stifled her nervous giggle.

“Tyler!” Karen bellowed. “Where the hell are you?”

Peggy winced. “Watch your volume, missy. You weren’t born in a barn.”

“You screeched?” Tyler appeared in the kitchen doorway, and Karen’s eyes lit up. She flew into his arms.

“There you are!”

He gave her a perfunctory hug and Nevvie noticed Peggy glanced at her before looking at her daughter.

Thomas nervously shifted his weight. “Uh, sis, we need to talk.”

“You’re breaking up, and I can have him?”

Tyler had sidled around the table to stand by Nevvie, slipping his arm around her waist. Best to get it over with.

“Not exactly. We’ve added to our family.”

Two plus two equaled seven in Karen’s mind. She squealed with joy. “A surrogate? You’re going to have a baby? That’s gr—”

“No, Kar,” he said. “She’s not our surrogate.”

Tyler held up Nevvie’s left hand, displaying the ring. “Surprise.”

Stunned, Karen looked at Thomas, then Tyler, then Nevvie’s ring, then her mother. “Momma,” she finally whispered after several long moments, “do you have any bourbon?”

“Top cabinet, sugar. Use a large glass. You’ll need it.”

“Kar, we love her,” Thomas said to his sister’s back as she retrieved the bottle. “We both love her.”

Karen nodded and poured three fingers, thought about it, then added another splash. She leaned against the counter and took a sip. “Momma, how long have you known?”

Peggy glanced at the clock. “About three hours.”

Karen nodded and took another sip. “Right.” Sip. “What does this mean? What are you, like, reverse Mormons or something?”

Tyler smiled. “Not quite. I believe the appropriate term is ‘polyamorous.’”

“Right.” Sip.

Nevvie hoped Karen would be staying a while and didn’t live far, the way she was drinking.

“Momma, are you okay with this?” Karen hesitantly asked.

“I wouldn’t have asked them to stay if I wasn’t. That’s why Tommy insisted on going to a hotel. He was scared how I’d react. I talked them into staying.”

“Right.” Sip.

Thomas touched Karen’s shoulder. “You okay?”

Karen’s eyes widened as she still tried to process the news. “Sure.” Sip. She was halfway through what she’d poured.

“I love her. I love her as much as I love Tyler. He loves her, and she loves us. It just happened.”

Karen closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Okay. You didn’t, like, start a cult or something?”

He smirked. “No. The only potential future additions will be born into our family, not married into it.”

“Too much information, Tom.”

Tyler’s arm tightened around Nevvie’s waist, reassuring her. One down, four to go.

Karen looked at Thomas. “Em and Kate are gonna shit bricks. I gotta be there when you tell them. I can’t wait to see their faces.” She drained the rest of the glass in one gulp, wincing. “That’s enough of that. Okay, so who’s gonna help me stagger out to the car and get the rest of the groceries?”

The boys walked outside with Karen. Nevvie, shaking from nerves, leaned against the counter. Peggy patted her shoulder.

“She’ll be fine once the booze wears off. Good news is, she was probably the one you needed to worry most about. He was closest to her, like twins, even though April was closer in age.”

“I hope this doesn’t get nasty.”

“Darlin, there’s nothing to get nasty about. They like it or lump it. They’ll behave themselves whether they want to or not. It’s my house.”

“I still can’t believe you’re taking this so well.”

Something shifted in Peggy’s eyes and her face took on a sad expression. “Life’s way too short. If Tyler and you make him happy, then what more can I ask? Like I said, don’t be offended if I don’t brag about what y’all are doing.”

Nevvie smiled. “I understand. Thank you.”

Peggy hugged her. “You didn’t have a close family growing up, did you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Honey, I’ve seen beat dogs less scared than you.”

Karen promised not to tell anyone and stayed to help with the preparations. An hour later Thomas drove her home in her car, with Tyler following in the Ridgeline.

Nevvie grabbed a shower, and by the time the boys returned she was ready for bed, chatting with Peggy in the living room. Nevvie said good night and each man gave her a hug and fairly chaste kiss.

It was weird having her own bed. Not bad, but…

Lonely.

It was also weird sleeping with clothes on, even if it was only a T-shirt and an old pair of Thomas’ boxers. She’d grown used to the three of them piling together, warm skin on skin, the contact soothing her to sleep and keeping her nightmares at bay. Since their new arrangement she hadn’t had a single bad dream.

She was drifting to sleep when her bedroom door opened, then someone slipped into bed with her. Instinctively she snuggled against the warm body.

Tyler.

His scent, subtly different from Thomas, betrayed him even before his arm slipped around her waist.

“Are you asleep, love?”

“Not yet, but I’m tired.”

He kissed the back of her neck. “Not that. We didn’t want you sleeping alone.”

“Thank you.”

Nevvie quickly fell asleep with Tyler wrapped around her. At one point in the night she felt the mattress dip, but it wasn’t until a little before dawn she awoke and realized she was sandwiched between the two men.

She nudged Thomas, who muttered in his sleep. “Get up,” she whispered.

He tried to roll over, like he would in their huge bed at home. Unfortunately the full-size mattress was much smaller than their king-sized bed, and he landed on the floor with a thud.

Startled, Tyler sat up. “What was that?”

Thomas groaned from the floor. “Me.”

Nevvie looked over the edge. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll live.” He climbed to his feet. “I guess I’m awake.”

“You guys need to go back to your room before Mom wakes up!” she hissed.

Thomas rubbed the back of his head, yawning. “What time is it?”

“Almost five-thirty.”

“She’s already up, sugar. She’s usually up by five. She’ll be waking us up for breakfast soon.” He climbed back into bed. “Besides, she didn’t say she didn’t want us sleeping together, she asked for discretion. That means she doesn’t want to hear anything. She said if we tried sleeping three in a bed one of us would fall out.”

Tyler pulled Nevvie tightly against him to give Thomas more room. “She was right. Go back to sleep for a little while, sweetheart. We don’t need to get up yet. We’ll behave, we promise.”

Nevvie managed to grab a little more sleep. Around six-thirty they heard a soft knock on the door. “Nevvie, sugar, I’ve got coffee and fresh sweet rolls in the kitchen.”

She froze. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll be right out.”

There was a pause. “You too, boys. I’m assuming you’re in there?”

Thomas laughed, then reached over and swatted Tyler, who snickered. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome.”

Thomas kissed them and left the room. Nevvie snuggled with Tyler. “Promise me I’m going to survive this weekend.”

He kissed the back of her neck. “Of course you will. I remember how terrified I felt. It gets easier, trust me.”

She might share a bond of southern culture with Thomas, but feeling like a stranger tightly melded her to Tyler.

“Let’s get up before you get me up and I want to play.”

She started to say something and he kissed her before she could utter it. “And,” he growled warningly, “no slave girl voice. Please. You can torture us on the way home.”

“How’d you know?”

“You always get that evil, cheeky gleam in your eye. You know it gives us both instant erections. Please, play nice this weekend.”

“All right. I will.”

He kissed her one more time. “That’s my good girl.” He stood, offering his hand. “Come along, love.” Once on her feet he pulled her to him and whispered in her ear. “If it’s too much, look to me, right?”

She nodded, reluctant to let him go. This was how she needed Tyler. She could always lean on Thomas, but in this way Tyler was her steady rock.

Nevvie pulled on her robe and followed Tyler. The kitchen smelled warm and inviting, cinnamon and caramel and coffee. The rolls were hand-made, not from a can. Thomas leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee.

“Morning.” Peggy smiled. “Did you sleep well?”

Tyler guided Nevvie to a chair at the table and prepared their coffee. “Yes, like a rock, thank you,” Nevvie said.

“I’m guessing you didn’t need an extra quilt on the bed last night, Nevvie?”

Nevvie blushed, but Peggy’s smile reassured her. “I was out-voted.” She accepted a mug from Tyler, then he made his own. “What’s the plan for today?”

“We need to start the turkey and get things cooking. Everyone will show up throughout the afternoon, but supper’s set for five. Karen said she’ll be here this morning by eight.”

“If she’s not too hung-over,” Thomas snarked.

Tyler laughed. “She was rather soused last night.”

“Let’s eat. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”

They were showered and ready by the time Karen arrived, not looking too worse for wear. The boys were outside retrieving a folding table and chairs from the storage shed when Karen walked into the kitchen. Nevvie tensed, hoping Karen still accepted the situation.

Nevvie’s hands were buried in a pan of dressing. Karen put an arm around her and hugged her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at my best last night.”

“It’s okay. I totally understand.”

Karen looked her in the eye. “You’re planning on staying around for the long haul, right?”

Nevvie nodded. “I love them.”

Karen patted her on the shoulder. “Okay then.” She leaned in and dropped her voice so Peggy couldn’t hear. “You can’t expect me to quit drooling over Tyler.”

Nevvie smiled. “I understand.”

“Good. No problem with that, right?”

“No.”

Having at least one sister on her side, Nevvie relaxed and enjoyed the morning. With similar personalities, Karen and Thomas kept everyone in stitches. A house full of laughter wasn’t something Nevvie experienced growing up. At one point she slipped away to the bathroom to be alone.

She opened the door and jumped. Tyler leaned against the doorframe, his blue eyes full of concern. “Everything all right, sweetheart?”

Nevvie nodded. He pushed her into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, locked it, and pulled her into his arms.

“Don’t try to hold it in, it makes it worse.”

She relaxed in his arms. “How’d you know?”

“I nearly hyperventilated my first weekend.”

She pulled herself together and washed her face. He met her eyes in the mirror, searching.

“I’m okay.”

“Are you, love?”

“I will be. I’m just overwhelmed.”

He stood behind her, his arms around her waist, still looking at her in the mirror. “Remember, lean on me. Or Thomas.”

“He won’t understand.”

“I know. They’re his family.” He kissed her neck and opened the door. “Deep breaths. You’re doing fine. I love you.”

Nevvie mustered a smile. “I love you, too.”

April arrived next, around ten-thirty. Single and currently without a boyfriend, she drove up alone. Thomas was outside and broke the news. Nevvie watched from the kitchen window, where she washed pots in the sink. She froze, holding her breath and praying, when April’s face dropped in stunned disbelief. Nevvie jumped at the feel of Tyler’s hand on her back.

“What is it?” he murmured.

She pointed with a soapy hand. Tyler frowned, watching the scene play out in the yard.

Thomas talked. April sat on the picnic table bench, obviously digesting the information as Thomas knelt in front of her, still talking. Tyler slipped an arm around Nevvie’s waist and kissed her neck.

“He’s persuasive, love. Just wait.”

“What’s going on?” Peggy walked over.

Tyler nodded at the window. Peggy stood on Nevvie’s other side and joined their vigil. After a few minutes April nodded and stood, then hugged Thomas. Hopefully all was well.

Peggy let out a long breath. “Two down.”

A few nervous minutes later, Thomas returned to the kitchen, followed by April. Nevvie turned from the sink. She dried her hands and forced another anxious smile.

“April, this is Nevvie. Nevvie, my sister, April.”

“Nice to meet you, April. Thomas has told me a lot about you.”

April’s cautious, cool smile was expected. “Hi. Uh, welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.”

“Hello, Tyler.”

He still stood firmly planted at Nevvie’s side. “Nice to see you again, April.”

Karen looked up from where she sat peeling apples at the table. “Jesus, April, it’s fine. Chill out.” Karen had added a splash of bourbon to her coffee. “It’s not like they’re going to have sex in the middle of the living room before dessert.”

Nevvie nearly choked, while Tyler and Thomas roared with laughter. Peggy shook her head. “I can see I’m gonna have to lock that cabinet, you keep that up, missy.”

But the comment put a smile on April’s face and she relaxed, walking over to hug Nevvie, then Tyler. “I’m sorry. I’m just—”

“In shock?” Tyler suggested.

“Yeah.”

Karen wasn’t through. “Maybe we can get her drunk later and get details about Tyler.”

Thomas grinned. “Now you listen, he’s taken times two. You can stop trying to steal him.”

“Says who, baby brother?” Karen stuck her tongue out at him.

It took a little longer, but the undercurrent of tension dissipated as Nevvie and April both relaxed. Cheryl and her husband didn’t have any children. Katie’s two sons were spending the day with her ex-husband, and she was bringing her boyfriend to dinner. Emily’s twins, a boy and girl, were in college and spending the weekend skiing in Colorado with friends from school.

In other words, no children to worry about explaining the situation to. Thomas decided to wait until after dinner to tell the others. Tyler disagreed, wanting it out in the open, but Thomas thought it would be easier for the others to take the news after spending the day getting to know Nevvie.

Peggy and the other sisters stayed out of it. Tyler left the decision up to Thomas.

Thomas stubbornly shook his head. “After dinner.” He looked at Peggy. “I mean, if I tell her before dinner you know Em’ll pitch a fit and ruin the day.”

Peggy held up her hands. “I told you, I’m staying out of it, Tommy. It’s your call.” She patted Nevvie’s shoulder.

Nevvie struggled not to throw up from her nerves, and refused to let anyone else take a turn washing dishes. It was the only thing she could do to keep herself remotely calm and distracted.

Cheryl and Pete arrived after noon. Tyler caught Nevvie longingly eyeing the incredible shrinking bourbon bottle and shook his head, a half-smile caressing his face.

No, he silently mouthed, then winked.

Nevvie tried to spend her time with Peggy, mostly in the kitchen, practically glued to her. Nevvie felt relatively secure with her new “mother-in-law” and didn’t want to do anything to screw up around the rest of the family. When Emily and her husband, Clay, arrived a short while later, Thomas made the introductions. Nevvie didn’t miss the suspicious glance the eldest Kinsey girl shot her way.

Trouble.

Katie and Shaun drove up a little after three. The men took over the living room and tuned the TV to football. Tyler made several trips to the kitchen to “help” and made eye-contact with Nevvie, trying to calm her.

It didn’t help.

The chill in the air around Emily didn’t go unnoticed. Ever helpful, Karen had stopped drinking but her snark remained fully intact. “Em, sheesh, what the hell is wrong with you today? Someone jam a stick up your ass?”

Nevvie, at the sink washing dishes, clamped her lips together and tried to calm her rolling stomach. At least when washing dishes she didn’t have to face as many people and it gave her an excuse to hide out in the kitchen.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Nevvie glanced at the window and the glass reflected Emily’s blue eyes glaring at her back.

Tyler unfortunately chose that moment to reappear. “How is everything? Need any help?”

Peggy sensed the impending storm. “Everything’s fine, Tyler. Go sit and watch football with the boys and stay out of trouble.”

Nevvie slowed her hands, submerging the baking dish and scrubbing at non-existent grime, biding her time. In the window she watched Tyler’s reflection hesitate, then finally retreat down the hallway.

April put the finishing touches on a casserole and gently nudged into the sink next to Nevvie to wash her hands. “Why don’t you come help me set the table?” she whispered.

Nevvie anxiously nodded and finished with the last pot, rushing to follow April.

In the dining room, April caught Nevvie’s eye across the table and smiled as they spread one of the table cloths.

“It’s okay,” April whispered. “It’ll be fine.”

Nevvie nodded, fighting yet another bout of nervous tears. Ever vigilant, Tyler appeared in the dining room and took one look at Nevvie.

“April, may I borrow my girl for a moment?”

“See if you can calm her down, Ty.”

Tyler took Nevvie’s hand and quickly led her down the hall, away from the kitchen to the back door, onto the porch. Out of sight of the others, Tyler wrapped his arms around Nevvie, whispering to her, kissing her, trying to soothe her.

“Emily hates me already. I can feel it.”

“It doesn’t matter, love. Truly.”

“It matters to me. I wish he’d tell her and get it over with—”

“What’s going on?” Nevvie jumped at the sound of Emily’s strident voice, ripping herself out of Tyler’s arms and turning to wipe her face.

Tyler faced Emily and headed her off. “Nothing, everything’s fine, Em. Holidays are rough on her…”

Nevvie lost their voices as Tyler wrangled Emily into the house. Spying the back steps, Nevvie raced off the porch, down the hill to the pond, losing sight of the house. Wearing only jeans and a T-shirt in the chilly air, she shivered. She sat on an upturned canoe and drew her legs to her chest. With her arms wrapped around her knees she rocked, trying to comfort herself.

This was a mistake. A huge mistake.

She didn’t know how long she sat there when she heard footsteps in the dried grass behind her. Sensing it was one of her boys she didn’t turn to see who. He stood behind her—Thomas—and she closed her eyes as he draped his jacket over her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her.

“You okay, sugar?”

“No.”

“Don’t worry about Emily.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“It’s all right. Come back to the house. Please? Look, I promise, as soon as we finish dinner, I’ll tell them.”

She looked at him. “You’re scared of Em, aren’t you?”

He shrugged. “Not scared. But I remember how she reacted when I broke the news about Tyler.” He hesitated. “I’m hoping at least we can have a nice dinner before she goes storming out in a holy huff.”

She let him take her hand and lead her to the house. On the back porch he put his arms around her.

“Just breathe. It’s only a weekend. We’ll get it out in the open and go home Monday.”

“Okay.”

She stopped by the bathroom to wash her face. Again Tyler startled her when she opened the door.

“Will you quit doing that!” she angrily hissed, pushing past him.

“I’m sorry, love, but I’m concerned.”

She took a deep breath. This wasn’t his fault. “I’m sorry.”

He brushed the hair from her face. “It’s all right.” Then he kissed her forehead. “Relax.”

Nevvie gave Emily a wide berth. Katie’s previously welcoming air soon chilled after Emily had a private word with her in the dining room.

Apparently Cheryl was out of the loop because she still chatted with Nevvie.

At dinner, Thomas and Tyler flanked Nevvie, occasionally patting her leg under the table to reassure her. The other men were oblivious to any problems, chatting and joking with everyone. Emily and Katie made a point of ignoring Nevvie, other than shooting her evil looks from across the table. After everyone ate their fill, Peggy stood to clear the table and Nevvie jumped to help.

Nevvie automatically took up her secure position at the sink to wash while Peggy went back for more dishes. Nevvie heard someone walk into the kitchen. In the window reflection she spied Emily and Katie.

They walked to the sink to dump their dishes and Nevvie tried to calm her stomach as the women glared at her.

Emily finally broke the uncomfortable silence. Keeping her voice low she said, “I don’t know who the hell you are, but if you think I’m going to let you go screw up his relationship with Tyler, think again.”

Katie tag-teamed her from the other side. “Maybe you see them as a meal ticket, but he loves Tyler. They’ve had a good thing for a lot of years now. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave them the fuck alone.”

Nevvie’s heart raced, panic threatening. “What?”

“I saw you,” Emily snarled. “I saw you with Tyler on the porch, and the way he’s been watching you all afternoon. Now I don’t agree with my brother’s lifestyle, but I damn sure won’t let some skank come in and—”

“What’s going on?” Cheryl carried two serving bowls.

Katie looked at her. “We’re putting an end to something.”

“What?”

Emily pointed at Nevvie. “This little witch is trying something with Tyler.”

April and Karen entered, carrying dishes. “What’s going on?” Karen asked. April looked worried.

Cheryl shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Emily said. “We’re going to show this little tramp she can’t screw with our baby brother.”

Karen pushed in, trying to separate Emily from Nevvie. “What the hell is your problem? You leave her alone.”

“Leave her alone? She’s trying get something on with Tyler!”

April added her two cents, taking Nevvie’s other side. “You girls have the wrong end of the stick on this one, and I strongly suggest you let it go.”

Cheryl, still confused, watched them like a tennis match. “Would someone please explain what the hell is going on?”

Nevvie panicked, unable to deal with the rising voices and angry words as the women faced off. She bolted for the kitchen doorway and ran smack into Thomas, coming to investigate the fuss.

Seeing Nevvie’s state he pulled her to him. “What the hell is going on?” he yelled.

All the women quieted except Nevvie, who cried against him.

Emily glared at Nevvie. “That little tramp—”

“Don’t you dare call her that!” he yelled. Tyler rushed into the kitchen. “Take her,” Thomas said, handing Nevvie off. Tyler pulled her to him, trying to soothe her.

Thomas advanced on his sisters, pointing at Emily. “Don’t you ever talk to or about her like that again, do you hear me?”

Katie found her voice first. “Tommy, you don’t understand, Em saw her! That little bitch—”

“Belt up, both of you! Just shut your bloody gobs!” Tyler’s uncharacteristically enraged outburst brought Peggy and the others to the kitchen doorway and shocked the other women into silence. Peggy stood firm, not allowing anyone else in, hushing them.

“If anyone doesn’t understand,” Thomas growled, “it’s the two of you.”

Emily tried again. “Tom, I saw her and Tyler kissing on the porch!”

“Yeah,” he turned on her, “because she’s our wife.”

“Son of a bitch!” one of the men in the hall uttered. Peggy shushed him.

“I wanted to put off doing this, but let’s get it over with.” Thomas continued. “Tyler has every right to kiss her.” He put his arm around Tyler and Nevvie. “It’s the three of us. Do you understand me? Tyler and I asked her to be our wife. No, we can’t legally marry her, but she’s our wife.”

Emily’s face reddened. “You can’t do that! That’s not right!”

“You said the same thing when I brought Tyler home and you’ve accepted him.”

“That’s different!”

“No, it’s not different, Em. I love her as much as I love him. You don’t decide who I can and can’t love.”

Cheryl was slow on the uptake. “What the hell are you talking about, Tommy? You mean the two of you share her?”

“You asking for details or generalities, Cher?” Thomas shot back.

“No, I mean…Wow.” She sat, stunned.

Emily tried to enlist help and turned on April and Karen. “Are you two going to just stand there or say something?”

Karen held up her hands. “Hey, we don’t have a problem with it. We like her.”

“What?” Emily realized something else. “How the hell long have you known?

April shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. They love her.”

Katie, realizing they were no use, shook her head. “Mom, come on, help us talk some sense into Tommy.”

Peggy stepped forward. “Girls, you are apparently the only ones with a problem. It’s not our business. She’s a guest in my home. You have two choices—stay and be sociable, or leave.”

Emily’s color darkened. “You have got to be shitting me! You cannot stand there and tell me you’re fine with this!”

“It’s not our business. I think she’s sweet, and I think she loves them. They obviously love her.”

Katie leaned against the cabinet, her hands pressed to her forehead, shaking her head. “I can’t believe this. I just cannot believe this.”

Thomas turned to Cheryl. “Are you okay with this?”

Realizing he was talking to her, she looked up. “What? I don’t know.”

He turned to Katie. “Kate? How’s this going to be? Are you going to respect my decision, or are you going to keep going at her? If you can’t play nice you need to leave, or I will take her and Tyler and go to a hotel. I will not have her picked on by you two.”

Katie had drifted from righteous indignation to confusion now that her mother had weighed in. “What, are you guys like swingers or something? I can’t believe you’d—”

“Tyler and I have been faithful to each other our entire relationship. We met her and both fell in love with her. Lucky for us, she felt the same way. We’re like anyone else, except there’s three of us instead of two. This has nothing to do with sex, it’s about love. We love her, she loves us. If you can’t wrap your head around it, that’s your problem, not ours.” He turned to Emily. “That goes for you, too. Back off, or we’ll leave. Take your holier-than-thou crap and shove it up your ass.”

Peggy stood next to Tyler and Nevvie. “What’s it gonna be, girls? Can we move past this and get on with dessert?”

Katie reached for the bottle of bourbon and poured a few splashes, downing it. “I need some time with this.”

“That’s fine,” Thomas said. “I’m not asking for your approval or blessings. I’m only asking for respect and civility. For all three of us.”

Katie nodded. “Okay.”

That left Emily, who looked ready to explode. “Well?” Thomas asked.

“How dare you do this to our mother! It wasn’t bad enough you brought Tyler home, now this?”

Peggy stepped forward and shook her finger in Emily’s face. “You listen to me, lady. I love Tyler, and I think I’m going to love Nevvie, once I get to know her. Don’t you be thinking you have to fight some morality battle for me. You suck it up or get the hell outta my house.”

Emily looked shocked then stormed out of the kitchen. They heard the back door slam a moment later.

The collective relief was palpable.

Karen sighed loudly. “Well, now that the floor show’s over, can we have pie?”

Nevvie nervously laughed. Karen’s tone and inflection was so similar to Thomas, she couldn’t help it.

At first, tension filled the air. As the others settled into the news, nerves eased and eventually all relaxed. Emily returned a half-hour later. She grabbed her husband and hugged Peggy.

“I’m sorry, Momma, but I need to need to go. I’ll call you.” She left without saying goodbye to anyone else.

The mood lifted with their departure. Thomas cornered Nevvie in the kitchen a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry, Nev. I knew she’d explode one way or the other, and I was hoping maybe if she had a chance to get to know you…She’ll come around eventually, sugar. She did the same thing when I brought Tyler home.”

Nevvie glared at him.

“Okay, not quite as bad, but it took her a while to accept him. It’ll be okay. Hey, four out of five, plus Momma, that’s good.”

Tyler joined their hug, kissing the back of her neck. “Are you all right, sweet?”

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”

“Ooh! Me too!” Karen rushed across the kitchen and hugged Tyler from behind. “Hiya, Blue Eyes.”

The others laughed. Nevvie understood this was a not quite completely innocent running joke with her. “Sorry, Karen. They’re a matched set. If you take one, you’ve got to take the other.”

Karen released Tyler with a shudder. “Ick! My brother? Yuck. Thanks for the ice water on my fantasy. Blech.” But she smiled. “Don’t worry. Em’s big concern was probably that you guys would give Clay bad ideas. I swear that man is gay.”

“I doubt it,” Tyler said. “He’s never made a pass at me.”

“That means he’s blind, Ty, not straight.”

The rest of the evening was relaxed as they passed the eggnog around and the mood stayed light. With promises to get together for lunch on Sunday at the house, they all said good night a little after eleven.

Peggy smiled at Nevvie. “Could have been a lot worse, sugar. You did good today.”

“Thanks, Mom.” She wouldn’t deny it felt good calling her that.

Peggy yawned. “I’m going to bed. Whatever’s left in the kitchen, we can wash it in the morning.” She started down the hall to her bedroom when she turned.

“Oh, Tommy?”

“Yes, Momma?”

“Try not to fall out of bed again. You shook the whole house.”

They all laughed. “Yes, Momma. I’ll try.”

* * * *

The weekend flew by. All the sisters except Emily dropped by the house at various times to visit or have dinner. Nevvie relaxed and eventually felt like part of the family. The boys carefully kept their public displays of affection to a minimum around others, and the three crammed into the too-small bed to sleep every night.

Nevvie and the boys helped Peggy put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house, apparently an annual tradition. Tyler was relieved when Nevvie insisted he stay on the ground while she went on the roof with Thomas to help string lights.

Peggy watched them from the front yard, standing next to Tyler. “She’s good at that kind of stuff, isn’t she?”

“Absolutely. She loves working on the Ford with him, things like that. She’s amazing. You know I’m bloody worthless at this, always have been.”

Peggy shook her head. “Funny how this all worked out, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” He looked at her. “Now you understand.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, Tyler. I can’t say I understand. As long as y’all are happy.”

Tyler loved Peggy. He wasn’t close to his own mother, usually saw her only once a year, if that. They talked on the phone from time to time, but she always steered around the subject of Thomas like he was non-existent, treating him like the elephant in the corner. Tyler hadn’t bothered trying to tell her about Nevvie.

Peggy, however, felt like a mom to him.

“She’s had a rough life, Mom,” he said, dropping his voice. “She was adopted, then her adoptive mother basically abandoned her after her husband died and she remarried. We’re the first real family she’s had that she can count on.”

Peggy nodded. “I can tell. You two hold onto her tight. I think it would kill her to lose you.” She sat at the picnic table. “We once had this little dog, it’d been abused. Poor thing scared of its own shadow. The longer we had it, the more it settled down, but it still clung to me. If I left a room, here it’d come, on my heels. She’d get frantic if I went outside and didn’t crate her first. She’d try to look out the windows and find me.”

Peggy watched Nevvie. “She reminds me of that little dog, Tyler. She only looks comfortable if one of you are around. If you’re both there, she relaxes.” She leveled her gaze at Tyler. “Don’t go ruining this by being stupid men, either. Stay focused on the important stuff and stay away from the petty crap. Hold her tight, son.”

Tyler nodded. “Believe me, we will.”