My mom waved that away. “You can call me Jo or JoAnn and that’s about it.”
“Right.” Veronica beamed a smile at her. The fierce Veronica was back in her box and the sweet one who won over everyone in the town was back. “Your home is beautiful. Thank you so much for letting me intrude on your family dinner.”
“Considering you’re thinking about adding one to our numbers, it’s only right.”
Vee opened her mouth, then shut it. What exactly could she say? My mother was just as much a force of nature as Veronica was. Her hold tightened on my hand as we headed into the living room.
My parents had one of those cookie cutter houses that was all open space and windows for the majority of the downstairs. The other half was the kitchen. My mother’s domain in all ways.
The television was on and my father was in his recliner. Veronica’s plate of cookies was already being plowed through. I’d probably overstated the whole too many cookies thing. All my siblings had a bottomless pit for a stomach. My father was even worse than we were.
He spotted Veronica and the footrest slammed down as he got up with the quickness. “So, you’re the one who’s finally going to give me another grandchild.”
Veronica’s eyes went wide as her neck craned back.
My dad didn’t give her a chance to even say hi, he just scooped her up in a big hug. “You might be doing things a little backwards, but I like you already.”
“Oof.” Veronica gave me a startled glance, her face buried in one of my dad’s flannel shirts.
“Hank, put the child down. There’s no bun in the oven yet.” My mother’s eyes narrowed. “Right?”
“No, Ma.”
Not that we knew of anyway.
She gave a little grunt and headed for the kitchen, but not before I caught her burying her nose in the blooms. My mom might have to be a hard-ass thanks to the men in her life, but she loved flowers. I should have thought about bringing her some myself. Veronica was always the thoughtful one for all occasions.
My dad dragged her into the living room.
“Tell me about yourself, sweetheart.” He set her in front of the couch, then sat on the edge of his chair, turned toward her.
She sat down gingerly and smoothed the skirt of her dress. “I’m a baker at Brewed Awakening.”
My dad held up a hand. “Not that part. We know that part. Who are your people?”
She blinked. “Pardon?”
“Family,” Penn said before licking the pads of his fingers with an absurdly loud groan. “These cookies are from heaven. I don’t care who your mom and dad are. I just want dozens of these to bring back to New York.”
Veronica flushed. “Why thank you.”
Penn winked at her. “Maybe I’ll just take you with me instead.”
I crossed to the couch and sat between them.
“Ow. Fucking hell, Moose.”
“You keep that city trash talk on the train, young man,” my mom hollered from the kitchen.
Penn frowned and punched me in the kidney. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of grunting even though my eyes nearly crossed. Bony-ass knuckles always hurt. I aimed a well-placed elbow into his ribs and he flicked my ear.
“All right. Take it outside or cut it out.” My dad reached for Veronica’s hand. “I’m sorry about my sons. They have no manners.”
“I didn’t do anything.” Christian reached for another cookie from the coffee table.
“Because you didn’t even introduce yourself.”
“Everyone knows who I am.” Christian nodded at her. “Nice to see you again, Vee.”