“Oh, please,” I argued as I dressed Olive. “They liked you fine. The only reason they would’ve been pissed was because you left me, and since there’s no love lost there—they didn’t care.”
I paused as Mark’s hand wrapped around the bottom of my jaw, turning my head gently toward him.
“You’re wrong about that,” he said, his thumb smoothing over my skin.
“I guess we’ll see,” I replied with a shrug.
Lifting Olive, I got to my feet and ran my hand through my hair, tousling it. “I’m ready.”
“Seriously, woman,” Forrest said, shaking his head. “Damn.”
“Seriously, Forrest,” Mark said. “Shut the fuck up.” He was grinning.
My confidence boosted by Forrest’s words and the look in Mark’s eyes, I scooted past the man in the doorway and led them toward the main room of the clubhouse.
Makeup had never made me feel pretty—or at least not any prettier than I was without it. It was just window dressing, like wearing a dress instead of sweats. Instead, each step of the makeup process made me feel braver. Strong. Prepared. It was armor, and it was fully intact as I stepped into the room full of people sitting at tables and filling their plates with food from the row of platters on the bar top.
“Steady,” Mark murmured in my ear as he threw his arm over my shoulders and kissed the side of my head. “Anybody gives you shit, just remember I’m right behind you… staring at your ass in those pants. Mmm.”
I laughed and elbowed him in the side as he led me across the room.
“CeeCee!” a young voice squealed.
Turning toward the sound, I grinned as my baby sister Charlie threaded through the tables toward me.
“Hey,” I said as she threw her arms around me, careful of Olive as she laid her head on my shoulder. “I missed you, kid.”
“I didn’t know you were coming!” she said, leaning back. “You had a baby?”
“I did,” I said with a chuckle.
“What the fuck?” she asked, her face screwed up in confusion. “Did Mom and Dad know?”
“She’s definitely your sister,” Mark said, trying to hide his laugh with a cough.
“No, they didn’t,” I replied to Charlie. “Surprise.”
“Oh, man,” she said, grimacing. “Is this the dad?”
I rolled my lips inward to keep from giggling. Mark was right, she reminded me a lot of me at her age.
“No, he’s not.”
“But he’s your boyfriend, right?” she asked out of the side of her mouth. “He’s got his hands all over you. He knows he’s not the dad, right?”
“I’m aware,” Mark said dryly. “And if I hadn’t been, the cat would’ve been out of the bag now.”
Charlie snorted.
“You remember Mark, right?” I said, gesturing to him. “I know he’s been back to visit a few times.”
“We’ve probably met,” she said with a shrug.
“It’s been a few years,” Mark said. “Good to see you, Charlie.”
“Well, he clearly remembers me,” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Mark mumbled. “You look exactly like your sister, so yeah, I could pick you out of a crowd.”
Charlie cocked her head to the side. “Eh, I don’t see it.”
“Stop bein’ a pain in the ass,” my dad said, pulling on Charlie’s ponytail. “You and Cecilia both look just like your mother, and you know it.”
“Hey, Dad,” I greeted.
“Hey, sweetheart. You get some sleep?” he asked, putting his hand gently on Olive’s back.
“A little.”
“Well, bring Olive to me later. She can hang with Papa so you can get a nap.”
“Aren’t you guys going to the house to unload the truck?” I asked, ignoring the sight of my cousin Rose at the corner of my eye. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at me, so I deliberately kept my eyes averted.
“Where we going?” Cam asked as he joined our little huddle.
“CeeCee’s stuff is here,” my dad answered. “We’re gonna put it in the garage at the house.”
“Oh, cool. Let me know when you’re leavin.’” Cam looked down at Charlie. “You seen the boys?”
“Yeah.” She looked at me. “You’re staying for a while right?”
“Yep.”
“Cool, I’ll see you later.” She turned to Cam. “They’re eating outside with Reb and Kara,” Charlie said as they walked away.
“It’s pissin’ rain,” Cam replied.
I didn’t hear what Charlie said back, but it made Cam shake with laughter.
“I thought the youngest would be the easiest,” my dad said, jerking his head toward my brother and sister. “Apparently, it doesn’t work that way.”
“You can’t improve on perfection,” I said with a wide smile and a tiny curtsy.
Dad laughed. “You two go get some food,” he said, shaking his head. “We’re gonna head out in half an hour.”
“Sounds good,” Mark replied.
We made our way over to the mostly deserted bar and stood behind my cousin Tommy’s wife Heather while she stared at a platter of pancakes.
After waiting for a while, Mark cleared his throat. “Uh, you need some help?”