After she’d left, Judy had announced, “That means she likes you, and Alethea doesn’t like many people.”
Now that I’d experienced the same kind of welcome from Kal’s mother, I was feeling much more at ease. So was Kal.
When Riley and Gavin headed our way, I was eager to meet them. My enthusiasm must have shown on my face because Riley greeted me with a hug. “Jade, I’m Riley. Dismiss whatever Kal told you about me because, between the two of us, I’m the one who is right more often.”
Kal laughed. “There you go, starting crap right away.” He shook hands with Gavin. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.” Gavin smiled and put his arm around Riley. “I’m glad you came. I know it means a lot to your sister.”
Kal took a deep breath. “It means as much to me to be here.” He glanced at me. “This is Jade.”
Gavin shook my hand as well. “I hear you were flown in Corisi style.”
I smiled. “I was. It was definitely different than I’m used to.”
Riley leaned forward. “It’s the same for us. Even Gavin, and he didn’t grow up in the neighborhood Kal and I did.”
Kal shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad.”
In unison Kal and Riley chanted, “Missing my bike as I go to sleep. My ride is not yours to keep. If I see you ride it by, you’ll be the next one to cry.” Then both laughed.
Kal glanced down at me and said, “We made that up the year we got new bikes for our birthday, and they were stolen out of the hallway of our building the first week.”
Riley said, “We had two rides on them.”
“Two,” Kal repeated. “We never did find out who took them . . .”
“But we plotted their demise many times,” Riley finished.
Kal nodded. “It’s a lovely neighborhood.”
Riley sighed. “It really is. A lot of good people there.”
“That’s the truth and it definitely prepared us for anything,” Kal responded. “There are perks of not having anything. You know what we never had in that neighborhood?”
Gavin shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“Pickpockets,” Riley supplied with a smile.
Kal said, “You always ruin my punchlines.”
“Because I can read your mind.” She laughed then her expression sobered. “And you can always tell when I’m lying. I’m sorry I lied to you about seeing the Corisis. I know that put you in a tough spot with Mom.”
Kal and his sister shared a long look, then he said, “And I’m sorry I wasn’t ready to go on that adventure with you. You were right to want to meet them, but it took me a while to see that.”
The silence that followed was a little heavy, so I asked, “Riley, do you know who Richard D’Argenson is?”
“I don’t,” Riley said. “But there are a lot of people here I don’t know yet. Many are friends of the Corisis. Why? Who is he?”
Gavin looked around then said, “A master chef. I’ve eaten at his restaurants—incredible food. I didn’t realize he was here. I’d definitely like to meet him.”
Riley pointed toward one group of people on the far side of the lawn. “We haven’t hit that section yet, but I believe they’re the Andrades. Dominic talks about them a lot and has shown me a few photos of them. Our sister Nicole married Stephan Andrade. Have you met her yet, Kal?”
“No.”
“Want to?” Riley was already waving a woman over.
“Sure.” Kal tensed then relaxed at my side.
The couple who joined us were magazine cover polished. She was tall and lean, long, straight black hair with Kal’s eyes. The man beside her carried himself like he belonged in this wealthy group, but he was also tanned as if he had an outdoor lifestyle as well.
After introductions, Nicole and Kal stepped away together for a moment to speak.
Stephan nodded toward Kal and Nicole. “It must be strange, but also kind of wonderful, to go from having one sister to two.”
Riley moved closer to me. “And from one brother to three. It does take time to get used to, but they’re good people. Nicole was so warm and welcoming from the first time we met.”
Stephan nodded toward his wife as he said, “It was just as strange for Nicole to hear about you and Kal. She spent many years feeling she was alone. You can’t imagine how much joy finding more family brings her.”
Gavin added, “I get the same sense about Dominic.”
That warmed my heart to hear. “Kal needed to see all of you together.”
Riley nodded. “Mom told me Kal is done with dancing and is moving down to Florida with you.”
My face warmed. “That’s the plan.”
“He looks happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. I’m glad he found you.”
“Me too.” I met her gaze. “He loves you so much.”
“I know,” Riley said as she wrapped an arm around Gavin. “See, I told you it would all work out.”
He rolled his eyes skyward and joked, “Is this what I’m signing up for? A lifetime of you being right?”
Riley laughed. “Is that such a bad thing?”
He kissed her cheek and said, “Not at all. The world is actually much more bearable when I look at it through your eyes.”
I liked that and how Riley and Gavin were together. Remembering our side goal for the day, I asked Stephan, “Do you know Richard D’Argenson?”
“Sure,” he said with an easy smile. “He’s married to my cousin Maddy and he’s here; would you like to meet him?”
I lowered my voice. “Kal and I would. Do you think he’d go out to dinner with us tomorrow night if we asked him to?”
Stephan shot me an apologetic smile. “When I spoke to him earlier, he said he and Maddy were flying out first thing tomorrow morning. I don’t know if they have plans that can be changed.”
“Oh.”
My disappointment must have shown because Riley stepped closer again. “I thought you didn’t know him.”
“I don’t.” I bit my bottom lip and wrinkled my nose. If Kal wasn’t still talking to Nicole I would have let him take the lead. This was his family, and I didn’t want to make any waves. “Okay, if I tell you what Kal and I are trying to do you have to keep it between us. It won’t have the same effect if Paul knows.”
“Absolutely,” Riley said in a stage whisper, and everyone shifted closer.
“What are we plotting?” Judy asked as she joined with Leonardo at her side. “Whatever it is, I’m in.”
“I’m on the fence until I hear the details of the endeavor,” Leonardo declared. I love that kid.
I hesitated. “It’s not a big deal, just something nice we’re trying to do for someone who has been kind to us.”
“Then why are we whispering?” Judy asked.
“It’s a surprise for Paul.”
A grin lit her face. “I love surprises. Who’s Paul?”
“Kal’s butler for the weekend.” I looked to Kal for help, but he was still deep in a conversation with Nicole. Taking a deep breath, I decided that although this was Kal’s family, if we really did build a life together, they would be mine as well. It would be good to build my own relationship with them. “He has been so kind to us. We want to do something for him. This dress, for example, was a gift from his sister. She owns Marilyn’s Closet in town. Kal’s suit was also a gift from her.”