“I am sure we can find a quiet spot to be alone,” Suzie said and winked.
“Oh yeah. No way am I sharing you all weekend,” Jared replied and he started kissing her again.
On the way to the cabin, Jared went over who everyone was that was going to be there, again. Suzie was terrible with names and with five brothers with “J” names, she constantly forgot. There was Jason the oldest, married with a one-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. His wife was Melissa. Next came Jeremy who was married to Tracey, she was pregnant with twins. Jared was the middle brother, older than his twin brother Jeff by five minutes. Jeff was also bringing a new girlfriend, though no one knew her name. And the youngest brother was Johnny. Jared’s mom and dad were retired lawyers and lived for their boys, and Jared said there would be plenty of food and beverage.
“So, this will be the first time everyone meets Jeff’s girlfriend too. Nice to know I am not alone,” Suzie said.
“You are adorable when you are nervous.” Jared looked over from the driver’s seat, grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips before returning his gaze to the road. “You will have fun, I promise.”
“I know I just always feel strange at big family events. I don’t have much practice. A weekend away with you will be nice regardless. Just no talking about work. Deal?”
“Bad meeting today?” Jared asked and then quickly backtracked. “I mean, look at that sunset.”
Suzie smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek.
When they arrived, it was dark. The lights in the house were on and there were people everywhere. Suzie gave herself a mental pep talk, reminding herself to treat them like a large group of co-workers, or clients. This would be her first weekend with a family of any sort and it was a three-day weekend.
“Come on,” Jared said after he parked his car. “Let’s go in, I’ll get Johnny to come help me with the stuff once we say hi to everyone.”
Walking up the path, with forest on either side, the house unfolded in front of them. It was the biggest cabin Suzie has ever seen. Huge log beams supported three stories and a wraparound deck above and below. It was gorgeous. As Suzie stood gaping, Jared pulled her around the side of the house towards the back door. Around back was a deck the size of their entire workplace. It had a spot to BBQ, a spot to eat, a lounge area and a hot tub.
“Sweet, I didn’t know they put the hot tub in already. Good thing we packed our swimsuits,” Jared said as they reached the door.
Before they could open the door, Jared’s mom stepped out and grabbed him in a tight hug. She looked even kinder than her picture and with her grey hair, glasses and apron she looked like an illustration of a grandmother; except she had a wine glass in her hand instead of a plate of cookies.
“Suzie, dear. So nice to meet you. Let me have a good look at you before you get mixed in with the hoard.” She hugged Suzie and held her at arm’s length, smiling. “Jared has told us so much about you. Are you ready to come in and meet everyone?” She hooked one arm around Suzie and pushed Jared into the house.
Immediately inside the door, a young girl ran up to Jared shrieking, “Uncle Jared, Uncle Jared! Fabien is in bed but I got to stay up to see you.” And she jumped into his arms. Jared threw her up in the air and caught her, then spun her around the room. At the large table in front of them sat three brothers and two wives; thankfully it would be easy to keep them apart as Tracey was very pregnant. The brothers though all looked very similar. Suzie was sure she could tell which was Johnny as he looked younger, wore a black hoodie and earphones. Jeremy and Jason looked like older versions of Jared; they all shared the same sandy hair and deep brooding eyes. Wow, Suzie thought, this was a family of gorgeous boys.
Jared’s mom, Helen was about to start introductions when the front door opened on the far other side of the open living space on the main floor. At the same time, the basement door opened and Jared’s dad walked into the room.
“The party’s here!” a voice boomed.
Looking up, Suzie saw a tall, dark-haired woman enter the room. She wore a short dress, high heels and had bright red lips. Behind her, the other brother, Jeff, stomped in.
“Everyone is here! Good. Meet Candy. Candy, this is everyone.”
Helen laughed, hugging Jeff and introducing Candy properly to the rest of the
family.
Jared’s twin was his complete opposite. Instead of smelling of cologne, and neatly dressed, Jeff wore jeans and a worn-out shirt. His eyes were the same dark brown as the rest of his brothers, but his hair was the darkest, almost black. He commanded the attention of the house as he swept in with a witty remark and hug for everyone. Before he hugged Jared, they did some strange gestures with their hands and punched each other in the shoulder. Jeff did not hug Suzie; instead he shook her hand and looked her dead in the eye.
“Nice job Jared,” Jeff said, his eyes still on Suzie. “This one looks like she keeps you in your place. And a blonde too. Well we know who is going to be having fun this weekend.”
Jared punched Jeff then leaned in close and said with an eyebrow raised, “Candy? Really?”
Jeff ignored him and walked away.
“Hey Dad, did you get the hot tub set up?” Jared asked his dad, who was sitting with his granddaughter nodding off in his lap.
“Yes, it is almost ready to go. We will fill it tomorrow, if you boys want to try it out.”
“We are still playing tomorrow right?” Johnny spoke up for the first time since Suzie got there. “You aren’t all going to pussy out because you have your women here?”
“Johnny! Language,” Helen said sternly. The brothers all laughed and started bad-talking each other and picking teams. Suzie remembered Jared told her that he would be playing paintball with his dad and brothers, three-on-three, on Saturday and that Helen had something planned for the girls. Suzie joked that Jared would owe her but was not really upset. Who was she to break up his family tradition? Must be nice now for Helen to be not so outnumbered. The boys were still arguing about teams and who
played who the last time. Meanwhile, Melissa tucked her daughter into bed and said goodnight. Tracey had snuck away a short time ago and Candy had not looked up from her phone since saying hello to everyone. Suzie was content to sit quietly beside Jared and listen to him and his brothers get egged on by their dad. Once again, she was stunned by how gorgeous all the Tiefson men were.