I helped Cami, Emmy, and Dee set out the food. They were all excited over my cakes, having heard from various people how delicious they were.
“Not that anyone thought to bring us home a slice,” Emmy stated dryly.
Bentley, who was never far from his wife’s side, reached over and tucked her shawl closer. “I tried, Freddy, but there’s never any left.” He kissed the side of her head. “Honest.” He threw a wink my way, and I tried not to laugh. Ronan told me Bentley took a massive slice every time a cake showed up and always went back for more.
I smiled at Emmy. “I can hook you up now.”
She laughed. “See, Rigid, it’s all about who you know.”
“As usual, you are correct.” He took a platter from her hands and set it on the table and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He smiled as he brushed past me, squeezing my shoulder gently. “I’ll get the coffee.”
She watched him, love in her gaze. I noticed the marked difference in him from the stern-faced man in the boardroom. He was gentle and loving with her and his family. His entire family, which, it seemed, included me now.
I cast my gaze over the huge amount of food. Platters of fresh scones and biscuits. Plates of ham, bacon, and sausage. Bowls of scrambled eggs. A large selection of frittatas. A massive dish of hash browns. On the side, there were toasters with boards of bread and bagels to make. They even had a waffle maker like you saw in hotels.
Evan was going to have a field day.
I carried the last two cakes over and set them in the dessert area. I had made five, and I hoped it was enough. I wasn’t totally prepared for such a large number of people.
Cami clapped her hands. “Brunch is ready!” She turned to me. “We don’t stand on ceremony here. But you and Evan, Paige and Lucy go first. The women follow, and then it’s a free-for-all.” She smiled. “By the time the boys are through their first go-round, we’ll have to fill up the containers.”
“You have more food?” I asked, shocked.
“Yep. All ready in the kitchen. The boys, all of them, can eat.” She winked. “You’ll get used to it.” She handed me a plate. “We sit everywhere for brunch. Just help yourself and enjoy.”
I sat beside Ronan’s nan, Sandy, on one of the large sofas, balancing my plate on my lap. Paige and Lucy sat across from us. Evan sat with Ronan and his brothers, thrilled to be “one of the boys” on the floor, gathered around one of the coffee tables, their plates piled high. Aiden joined them, sitting next to Evan, who looked thrilled to be between Ronan and his dad. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, but still, every so often, Ronan glanced over to check on me. Diane and Kim sat across from us on another sofa, and the rest of the group scattered all around the vast room on sofas and chairs, or some, like the boys, cross-legged on the floor, using whatever was close as a table.
The laughter was loud, the conversations around us never-ending. I was fascinated watching Ronan. Not only did he eat with his usual gusto, he was different from what I was used to seeing him. He and his brothers were a comedy trio, loud and funny, making everyone chuckle. Sandy smiled and tapped her lips with her napkin.
“I’m sure you find this all rather overwhelming.”
“Actually, I find it wonderful,” I admitted. “I haven’t seen Evan smile like this since—” I swallowed “—since before our parents died.”
She patted my hand. “We’re a close-knit bunch. None of my boys had a family growing up—not one of them. They made this place and this group their family, determined no one they cared about would ever feel the way they did as children growing up without love.”
I sipped my coffee as I listened to her. Ronan had told me she was the assistant slash den mother to the BAM boys for years.
“Without her, they would have fallen apart. She became the glue that held them together. She means so much to everyone,” he explained.
He had also told me some of the history of the family, especially that of his mom and dad, thinking that his father’s upbringing and early childhood struggles might help him connect with Evan in order to help him. Seeing the way Evan was conversing with Aiden, I had the feeling he was right.
There was another burst of laughter from the group, making me smile when I could hear Evan’s amusement mingle with theirs.
“They are quite the comedic tag team, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” I watched Ronan, fascinated by this side of him. He was always funny and charming, but this was different. Another layer of his already captivating character.