Eric, Jody Kaye [well read books TXT] 📗

“We’re Skyping with him tonight so he’s in on it too,” I say, watching their excitement rise.

“Nuh-uh!”

“We get to see him?”

“Why didn’t any of us think of this sooner?”

For once in the day, the overlapping voices don’t make me wish for earmuffs. We really are a raucous bunch.

Daveigh and Brier dash for the house at a near run, close enough at times to hold hands. My mix-matched sisters both have their strengths. As one darts forward a few paces, the other picks up speed. Reaching the pond, both girls slow, flipping cartwheels the way they did when we were children.

Adam and I watch the girls put their arms around each other’s backs, leading right then left like drunken sailors before Adam grabs the back of my neck for a little slap-play action. It quickly turns into the two of us throwing fake punches and slipping in and out of headlocks.

“It’ll go to B’s head, but she was right. Today we would have seen Colton at his best,” Adam concedes. “You still have the ring he gave you?”

“I do.” I put it in a safe spot in my old room at Kingsbrier so Gin wouldn’t stumble on it.

“What are you waiting for? You and Gin are doing good, right?”

“Better than I’d expected last summer. I can’t imagine his life without my son. But I don’t want Colton to miss it. I’m not sure I could go through with getting married without any of you here.”

“You can’t hold off on your life waiting for us to come home.”

I didn’t think I had been.

“He won’t think less of you for marrying her, anyway. Gin’s already family, ceremony, or not. Not everything has got to be planned out perfectly to go right. Thought you’d figured that out by now, little brother.”

We catch up to the girls and leave our muddy boots on the morning porch. Skidding into the kitchen in stocking feet, Brier lets out a low whistle. There are bottles of wine lined up on the sideboard from almost every vineyard in Texas.

“D, how do you feel about sneaking a few of these bottles up to your room?”

“Why is your primary focus planting evidence in my room?”

“It’s not. I’ve got sore muscles and you’ve got that fluffy pink comforter. We can snuggle and use alcohol as an elixir to fall asleep faster.”

“Yeah, don’t use pretend smart words to sugar coat it. The answer is still, ‘no thanks’.” Daveigh disappears down the hall.

“We don’t give Daveigh enough credit, do we?” Adam asks, watching her hold her ground.

“Nope,” I respond with a chuckle, mulling over his words from outside.

“Oh, they’re back! Come here, girls, quick!” Momma calls. She ushers them into the den where Ginny sits in front of the computer with Corey on her lap. He’s reaching out, trying to touch Colton’s face. Colton’s babbling at his nephew, remarking to Ginny about how big he’s gotten. She’s less tense with the screen separating them.

Ginny gets up. Brier and Daveigh take her place, sharing the seat of the chair and talking at the same time, asking nearly the same questions.

“Oh, my gosh, we need to do this more often,” Brier gushes. “It feels like you’re right here.”

Adam’s turn next and I excuse myself. By the time I’m back, he’s adjusted the screen, clearing the static, and making sure Colton has a view of everyone. Brier is bouncing Corey while Gin and his other auntie make silly faces at him. It’s a perfect family moment.

“I haven’t seen Eric,” Colton comments.

“I’m right here.” I tug on Ginny’s hand, pulling her onto my lap. She kisses my dirty cheek, glad to see me. “Know what we talked about at Christmas, C?” I waggle the velvet box between my thumb and forefingers.

“Dude, you better make sure Momma is in the room.” Colton grins. “You will never hear the end of it otherwise.”

“Everyone who is supposed to be here is.” I flip open the box. Ginny’s expression goes from happy to startled.

I stare at her, uncertain if Ginny is breathing.

“You have to say it.” Colton prompts after a lengthy pause. 

“Will you marry me?”

“There you go, bro. That’s how it’s done.” On the other side of the world, my brother claps for me.

I’m glad I’d been able to include him. For this, though, it would have been better if he were back at Kingsbrier.

________________

Ginny accepting my proposal was a perfect fit with Daddy’s winery announcement. Although, there is a pang of guilt when we disconnect that Colton isn’t here with us.

Cris joins us for dinner and the electricity in the room continues rising throughout the meal. The women are full of wedding planning ideas. Ross stands, clears his throat to regain the floor, and toasts the bride. I watch Ginny blush all over again. Then he expresses his appreciation to the four of us for our hard work today, announcing his plans for a Kingsbrier label wine.

Thrilled, Momma still eyes us with an air of concern as Cris and Daddy set out wine glasses and water pitchers and the multitude of wines.

“We’re celebrating.” Ross calms his wife by pouring her a large portion of a chocolate after dinner wine. He sets the bottle next to her as if it’s her own private stash. The sweetness hits her palette and she relaxes. There isn’t a treat Momma enjoys more than dark chocolate.

Her concerns aren’t unfounded. Like a toddler needing her sippy cup refilled, Brier is much too much into the tasting. She polishes off the remnants of a bottle, thinking no one is the wiser. She giggles with Daveigh, who only takes the slightest sips from her glass. Within the hour, Daveigh is hiccuping and it’s obvious my older sister can hold her liquor far better than the younger.

Daddy pops another cork. We’re sampling wines from the bigger vineyards in the area, but he’d also sent for ones from El Paso, Amarillo, and way down the Gulf Coast. Grape growing conditions differ everywhere and so do the types of grapes grown. This tasting will give everyone an idea of what other small operations produce.

“Watch out, Daddy. Brier’s liable to drink up all your profits.” Adam’s glass is the last to be poured this round. Hers is empty, again. She’s got it held in the air, patiently waiting for a refill.

“He’s makin’ me sound like a lush.”

“If the shoe fits—”

“You’re cut off, Sugar. And if I find you left this house tonight, don’t bother coming back in the morning.”

Brier’s face falls. While Daddy’s distracted, she sticks her tongue out at Adam. He returns the sentiment and they’re both cracking up by the time our father finishes pouring the next set of mouthfuls into the other glasses.

“You would not do something so unconscionable as lock me out of Kingsbrier!”

“I would if you’re not smart enough to realize the risk I’m taking by providing alcohol to minors. You want my respect, girl, you show some in return.” 

All told, the small samples that have passed her lips aren’t more than a single glass or two. I’ve been there when Brier’s drunk far more.

However, Daddy’s attempting to build something at Kingsbrier to leave for the next generation. You’re not starting on the best foot creating a legacy when your kid gets picked up for driving under the influence. 

“I understand.” Brier sets down the glass, surrendering. She’s ready to rebuild the broken from each time she’d snuck out. With a warm, genuine smile, she offers her soon to be sister-in-law to bring Corey up to bed. “If I’m done, there’s no sense spoiling your engagement party. No bride should have to miss her own soirée.”

“Eric set up the crib in his room. We’re staying here tonight, so everything the baby needs is in the duffle.” Ginny hands our fussing son over to his aunt. He sticks two fingers in his mouth, sucking them and snuggling into Brier.

“You got the touch,” Rose praises, kissing Corey’s cap of blonde. “Sleep well. We’ve got big plans for tomorrow.”

“If Daddy’ll let us off the ho—ok.” Daveigh hiccups.

“It’s unlikely I’ll help you get out of much since I’m working until lunchtime,” Gin says.

My youngest sister looks crestfallen. A true romantic, she was the first to ask when they could go browse the boutiques for wedding dresses. Cris’s son drops his favorite movie in her lap and the sparkle returns to her jade eyes.

“Want to go upstairs with me and Brier and watch this?”

“Sí.” He looks at her like she’s hung the moon.

________________

28

________________

Throughout dinner my heart had only stopped pounding when the conversation moved to the winery or what everyone was doing this week while they were home on vacation. As soon as someone brought up Eric and me marrying, the shakes, disbelief, and excitement were back full force.

Some say a wedding won’t change anything. However, after what I’ve put us through, it meant so much to hear those four words from Eric.

I’ve picked up Corey at the sitter’s after work and stopped at Richardson’s Market for groceries. The parking lot is half full and the aisles are clear. Target is a zoo at this time of day. Shopping there also wouldn’t allow enough time to get the items we need and make it to the sitter’s without having to pay a late fee for keeping him longer.

I’m glad she mentioned Corey napped well. I’m never sure when he’ll start crying in the middle of the store. It’s hard enough being a teenage mother, being the mother of a Kingsbrier baby—the type of family who has notoriety and even if you don’t know the Cavanaughs personally—are enormous shoes to fill. Even if I’m learning to ignore it, I worry someday Corey will understand the condemnation in people’s voices when they criticize my parenting.

I place the standard fare on the conveyor at the checkout; bread, milk, eggs, and some simple ingredients for a recipe Keely suggested over email I want to try out at dinner. A perk of not being married yet is Corey and I qualify for food assistance, but I pay for the things Eric needs with household cash. His energy drinks go last and are separated by a divider. He’s allowed a vice. Some husbands drink or smoke. My fiancé starts the day off with a lone slim silver can.

The bagger sticks the last plastic sack in the buggy. I say a quick “thanks”, pushing our purchases out to the parking lot. It’s raining and I pull the hood of Corey’s carrier forward to shield him from the fat droplets, tucking his blanket around him. We lucked out with front row parking.

Two guys get out of the car parked next to mine. The passenger folds his collar up so the rain doesn’t hit his neck and lets me walk by. I make sure to tell him I appreciate it. 

Corey goes straight into the backseat. I transfer the groceries from the cart to the trunk. Daveigh and Brier are busy at the ranch, but they’ll be home for the summer in a few short weeks. I don’t know how all of us will manage shuffling the vehicles between us. Eric isn’t interested in dipping into savings, even for a beater. My engagement ring must have set him back a pretty penny. I’m grateful Eric loves me and his family took me in. I’m sure if the quints figured it out, so will we. 

I shut the trunk, careful not to startle Corey and peer through the back window. He’s falling off to sleep again to the soothing pitter-pat of raindrops.

My foot hits something as I reach for the driver’s door. I squat to find I’ve kicked a brown leather wallet under the next car over. Opening it, I recognize it belongs to the man who’d let me go by.