Another

“Momma Brandt, this is Carina. Carina this is Amelie.”

I considered offering her my hand to shake, but something told me this woman didn’t do handshakes. She stepped forward and embraced me, pulling me down to squeeze me tight and rock back and forth. I’d never had a hug from a mother, but something told me this woman did it the best.

“I’m so happy you’re here, Carina.” She stepped back but held onto my hands. “And I promise it’s not just because of that adorable squishy baby.”

“It’d be okay if it was. She’s pretty adorable.” We both laughed and then she finally gave in and held her arms out for Audrey, who Ian had just taken out of her car seat.

Amelie gushed over her orange dress and thick thigh high stockings that exposed the rolls on her chunky little legs.

“Carina, this is my husband, Luka, and I understand you know my daughter, Hanna.” A tall man stood with his arm around Ian, after some more manly hugs. He gave me a firm handshake before looking down at Audrey. Hanna lifted her wine glass from where she stood by Erik and Alexandra in greeting.

Three kids came barreling through the room, followed by four other people I discovered were Erik’s aunts, uncles, and cousins.

“Hanna, can you take their coats, please?” Amelie asked.

“Nonsense,” Ian said, winking Hanna’s way. “I know where it all goes. I’m hardly a guest here.”

I swallowed down the jealousy at Ian’s wink to Hanna and the smile she gave in return.

“Erik, when are you going to give me grandbabies?”

Erik gave a deadpanned stare like this wasn’t the first time his mother had asked. “I’m assuming Alexandra would want to finish college first.”

Alex gave a rueful smile and tucked her hair behind her ear, looking down. Sometimes I forgot how young she was. Kids probably weren’t on her twenty-year-old mind.

“Don’t worry, Amelie,” Ian said, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head as he walked by with our coats. “You’re basically her surrogate grandma.”

Amelie smiled down at Audrey, brushing their noses and talking baby-talk, getting a gummy smile in return. Her shoulders shrugged on a heavy sigh. “I guess I should hand her back so I can finish dinner.”

“Do you need help with anything?” I offered. Ian said she did it all, but I had to try, at least.

“Absolutely not. Ian, get your girl a drink and go relax.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I was bouncing Audrey in my arms, taking in the photos on the wall when Ian brought me a bottle of water. One picture had me pulling up short and leaning in to get a closer look. “Hanna’s a twin?”

“Yeah.”

Something in Ian’s tone had me turning to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were trained to the photo of the two younger-looking Hannas. His clenched jaw and haunted eyes had my mind racing. Had something happened between him and the other twin? Was I jealous of the wrong woman? Maybe he was so close to Hanna because she reminded him of who he truly wanted?

“Is she here?” I asked, my voice tight.

After a long blink, he finally answered. “No.”

“Oh.” My mind reeled trying to understand the devastated look covering Ian’s face. I felt like I was missing something. “Why not? Does she live too far away?”

His eyes were dark and blank when he finally looked at me, and I should have known the answer before he even said it. No one in this kind of family let distance keep them away. “She died.”

“Oh, shit,” I breathed. God, I felt like an asshole. I was jealous of someone who wasn’t even alive. “I’m sorry, Ian,” I said, offering comfort with my hand in his. He linked our fingers together and squeezed.

“It’s not something we really talk about.”

I opened my mouth to ask more when Amelie called from down the hall. “Dinner’s ready.”

With one last squeeze, he led me to the long table. A folding table was added to the end to accommodate all the guests. Another table stood off to the side for the kids.

We all crammed into our spots, passing food around the table, making jokes and poking fun. It was loud and controlled chaos. It was wonderful. Although, I slapped Ian’s hand more than once when he kept stealing my food.

“It tastes so much better from your plate,” he explained.

I rolled my eyes and stole a scoop of his mashed potatoes in return.

Once the meal was over, Amelie finally broke down and let a few of us help clean up. I was walking back from the restroom when I stopped at the entryway of the living room. Ian sat back on the couch a sleeping Audrey sprawled on his broad chest. While that sight always stole my breath, it was the woman sitting next to him that had me stopping in my tracks.