“We all are, baby. We all are,” he murmured. “Don’t you trouble yourself with none of that anymore.”
Her brothers were next and her heart was bursting with love and gratitude. She turned in time to see her mother give Whitney a warm hug and Connor lift her father off his feet in a bear hug. A laugh burst out of her. She was glad his sister had never succeeded in changing him.
“So, what now?” she asked.
Whitney trotted over to her. “I’d tell you, but you’d never believe it.”
Still dabbing tears from the corners of her eyes, Angelina’s mother said, “It sounded crazy when Connor first suggested it, but the whole town has come out to welcome you home and be a part of this.” She nodded toward Connor. “He’s a keeper. You could have done a lot worse.”
With a laugh, Connor said, “I tell her the same thing.”
Angelina slipped beneath his arm and hugged him. “Definitely a keeper.”
Her father cleared his throat. “We should probably head over. Everyone is already there.”
They began to make their way toward where her family had parked their trucks. Whitney chose to ride with his grandparents. Angelina and Connor climbed into the front seat of her brother Jared’s truck. She took the middle spot as she had so many times in the past. The smells were familiar. The country music was as well. For a moment it felt like no time had passed since she’d left.
And for once, that wasn’t a bad thing.
She looked from her brother to Connor and back. “So, which one of you is going to give me a hint about what’s going on?”
She shouldn’t have asked because to avoid her question they both started singing along with the radio, and neither of them had much skill with it. Given no other choice, she joined in and found herself feeling younger, freer, and not at all embarrassed that she also couldn’t carry a tune.
She wondered what Aunt Rudi would have thought of her in that moment. It might have been her imagination, but she would have bet her left scone her aunt was smiling down in approval.
As they drove along, Angelina kept trying to guess where they were going. They didn’t take the road to her parents’ home. They weren’t headed toward downtown.
When she saw the sign for a pond she’d spent most of her childhood swimming in, she was confused. What were they doing there that the town all wanted to be part of? A barbecue? The road leading to the pond was lined with cars. The parking lot beside the pond was full.
And just as Whitney had said, there was a cameraman filming their arrival. When she climbed out of the truck and looked around, she swayed on her feet and clutched Connor’s hand. Everyone she loved was there.
Aly and Joanna.
Kimmie, Javier, and Linda.
Clay and Lexi.
Bradford.
Most of the town—so many familiar faces and all of them smiling.
She greeted each of them, introducing Connor as she went. Some were excited to be meeting a celebrity. Some seemed more excited to simply see Angelina again. It was a better homecoming than she’d ever dared imagine.
Connor introduced her to a few of his friends from his hometown. She couldn’t help but think he’d only gather everyone they knew for one reason. One magical reason.
When several black SUVs pulled into the parking lot, a hush fell over the crowd as all eyes turned toward the arrivals. The first ones out looked like well-dressed, paid security. They fanned out over the area then the door of the second SUV opened and Sophie Barrington stepped out, accompanied by her husband. After that, Barringtons of all ages streamed out of the other vehicles.
“Ready to meet more of my family?” Connor asked.
Angelina nodded and walked over to them with him. Sophie held out her hands in greeting. Angelina took both of them in hers.
Sophie said, “Look at you. Absolutely stunning. I knew you would be. And you’re glowing.”
Angelina glanced at Connor. “I have a lot to be happy about.”
Sophie’s smile was so welcoming Angelina saw why Connor adored her. “You take good care of him, Angelina. I love that boy.”
“I will,” Angelina promised before greeting Dale politely.
Connor gave Sophie a hug that swung her up into the air and had her laughing. “It means a lot to me that you’re here, Sophie.”
She laid a hand on his cheek. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Now, promise me none of my sons will drown today.”
“We’re keeping to shallow ground because there are so many newbies,” Connor answered.
“And the snakes?”
“Ian had the area swept clean of anything that the locals say make this exciting, but it’ll still be entertaining.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Dale said in a dry voice. “I can’t say there’s enough money on the planet to get me to put my hand in a hole for a fish to swallow.”
“Hang on,” Angelina said with a gasp. “We’re noodling today? That’s what we’re doing here?”
“Of course,” Connor said. “What did you think we were doing?”
Angelina tried not to give in to the disappointment nipping at her heels. For a moment there she’d started to think Connor had gathered everyone together to propose to her. She shook her head to clear that thought out. Just because it wasn’t what she thought it was about, didn’t make it a less-amazing day.
Connor had found a way to smooth things over between her and her parents.
He’d done what she’d thought was impossible . . . brought her home in a way that was actually not painfully awkward. After that day, she could see herself being able to easily return to see her family. Holidays. Vacations.
Angelina wrapped her arms around Connor and hugged him with all the love welling within her. So what if the day didn’t end in an engagement? It was already life changing in a wonderful way.
And this man had given her that gift.
He is definitely getting oral sex as soon as we’re alone.
“What did you say?” Connor asked.
Angelina’s chest clenched. “Did I just say something out loud?”
“I think so,” he said in her ear. “But you were mumbling. Still I thought I heard the word sex.”
Oh my God. She forced a smile and said in a loud voice, “I said six. That’s how many times I’ve gone noodling. Six times. So, watch out. I know what I’m doing.”
If Sophie or Dale had heard differently, they didn’t say a word. Either way, the rest of their clan came over and soon Angelina was being introduced to so many Barringtons she worried she’d never remember all their names.
A short time later, most of the people attending were gathered on the shore of the pond. Everyone who had paired up with the intention of noodling was waist deep in the water listening to Angelina’s brothers give instructions on how to not only catch a catfish, but also how to survive a possible violent underwater tussle with one.
Grant and Andrew were the first to go. Jared led them over to a hole beside a large rock. “Andrew, stick your hand in there. Go real slow. Being that this is your first time and all, we did our best to make sure there’s no snapping turtles or poisonous snakes in there, but it ain’t like any of us got X-ray vision. Anything could have swum in there while we weren’t looking. Don’t worry, most body parts can be sewn back on.”