“As always.”
“I was right, so now you owe me dinner. And, by that, I mean come have dinner at Mom and Dad’s. Dean and I just got here for a little last-minute trip. We rented a cabin along Silver Lake along with Quinn and Archer. We're just staying tonight and tomorrow before having to go back home. Mom’s watching Adam so we can get a break from our children, but insisted we have dinner together before we escape.”
“Sounds like something Mom would do,” I say with a chuckle. “She’s holding Quinn and Archer hostage too?”
“Yeah, but they don’t seem to mind when the tradeoff is a homecooked meal.”
“That is a decent tradeoff.”
“Right? And I know you probably haven’t had a homecooked meal since the last time you saw Mom, which, according to her was too long ago, so you should join us!”
“If I do, it’ll be a while. I have one last appointment today and then have a good hour’s worth of paperwork,” I say, knowing I have more than two hours’ worth of work left to do. But I can always come back and catch up. I never want to miss an opportunity to see my nephew.
“Be fast! We’re hungry!”
“I'll try my best.” I end the call and get Pongo back in his stall, and then head inside the clinic.
A Jeep with Indiana plates is parked in my parents’ driveway right behind Dean’s SUV. Assuming Quinn and Archer drove separately, I don't think much else about it as I go into the house. Rory, Dean, Quinn, and Archer are all in the kitchen, seated at the breakfast table. Adam, who's on the floor pulling everything out of Rory's purse, lights up when he sees me and unsteadily gets to his feet, toddling over.
“Hey, little guy.” I crouch down and open up my arms. I pick him up, getting a slobbery embrace. “It seems I rushed over here for nothing,” I say. “I thought you were starving and couldn't wait for me to start dinner. Unless you already ate.” I make a face, as it wouldn’t surprise me.
“Ha. And no.” My sister gets up and gives me a half-hug, reaching around Adam. “Mom had a client come in at the last minute. Come drink with us while we wait.”
“I wish I could, but I have to get back to my office after dinner to finish paperwork.”
“The paperwork's the worst,” Archer says with a sigh and picks up his beer. “I think I spent just as much time sitting at a desk this week as I did standing in the OR.”
“Since Mason is not here,” Dean starts, “I will be the one to point out it took you approximately ten seconds before you started talking about something in the medical field.”
“Ten seconds?” Rory laughs. “I’m surprised it took us that long.” She looks across the table at Archer, shaking her head. “It really was a crazy week in the OR.” Rory is a nurse and works with Archer, who is a surgeon. It's kind of funny how they're all interconnected. Our brother, Sam, shared an apartment with Archer when they were both finishing their residency a few years ago. When Rory lost her job at the small hospital here in Silver Ridge, Sam was the one who suggested she apply at the hospital Archer works at, knowing he needed new OR nurses.
And that’s how she met Dean, her husband, who just happened to be friends with Archer.
I walk the rest of the way into the kitchen and greet Dean, Archer, and Quinn. I've met Quinn and Archer only a handful of times before. Rory and her sister-in-law, Quinn, have become pretty close since she and Dean got married. Growing up with three brothers left Rory desperately wanting a sister. Now she has four sisters-in-law just from Dean’s side of the family, and Chloe is back in our lives after many years away.
“Mom’s doing alterations? It’s nearly seven-thirty on a Friday.”
Rory looks through the kitchen in the direction of our mother’s office. “She should be done soon. It was a last-minute emergency situation.”
“Yes, because getting a dress altered is such an emergency,” I say, and Archer stifles a laugh.
“Hey, I’ve been in situations where I needed a certain outfit for an event with little time to prep.” Quinn raises her eyebrows. “It seems trivial, I know, but if you don’t look the part at certain social events, it can be really awkward.”
Adam gets excited when he sees one of the barn cats slowly meandering around the backyard. I go to the window, and he starts babbling, reaching out toward the yard.
“You like animals more than people like your uncle?” I whisper, just loud enough for Rory to hear.
“Who doesn’t prefer cats to people?” Quinn quips and both Dean and Archer snicker. “What?” Quinn asks with fake innocence, and I do my best not to laugh, though I'm on her side.