Halfway to You(67)

Natalie halted when she reached a family settled into a cluster of couches by the window. “Look who’s here,” she announced. Thankfully, Keith and Barbara’s presence buffered my arrival; they shared a flurry of hugs and greetings while I waited with Todd off to the side.

(I apologize in advance, Maggie, if it’s uncomfortable for me to talk about your family in detail. I hope you’ll keep in mind that these were my personal interpretations—yes?)

From knowing Keith so long, I was familiar with their names, but Todd kindly whispered who was who. Keith’s parents, Hugh and Una, were easy to spot, as their age gave them away. I had already met Natalie, which meant the slightly rounder version of her must be Natalie’s twin sister, Tracey. She was married to Bob, a stocky bald man clutching a newspaper. Natalie’s husband, Jackson—tall with chestnut hair—had stood to greet Keith, slapping his back with enthusiasm. The kids—Iris, along with Natalie and Jackson’s twins, Beatrice and Barrett—had already run off to play in front of the fireplace.

Just as it had gone with Natalie in front of the elevators, everyone greeted Todd next, commenting on how long it’d been, how good he looked, how happy he seemed.

Natalie threw an arm around my shoulders and walked me forward, presenting me to the group. “Everyone, this is Ann Fawkes. Can you believe a famous author is joining us for Christmas?”

Trying not to outwardly cringe at the “famous author” label—the pressure that put on me, the otherness—I offered a little wave. “Thank you so much for including me in your holiday. It’s wonderful to finally meet everyone, Keith is such an important person in my life.” Barbara clasped her hands sweetly while Keith leaned in to kiss my temple. Todd rubbed my back a little, and for a moment I was completely bowled over by the attention and joy and warm physical touch.

“Did Keith tell you to say that?” Jackson asked, and everyone laughed.

So far so good.

“Sit, sit,” Natalie said, tugging me onto the couch between her and her twin. Tracey shifted over to make room.

Todd took a seat on the couch opposite, lined up with Keith, Jackson, and Bob. He held my gaze in that steady, familiar way, signaling that he was there for me and I would be just fine.

“So, tell us about yourself, Ann,” Natalie said, shifting her knees toward me. “Keith has told us absolutely nothing—he’s a terrible gossip.”

“That isn’t a bad thing,” Tracey said, defending her brother.

Natalie rolled her eyes, then touched my arm. “Tell us about Rome! Jackson and I went to France for our honeymoon, but I think Italy should be our next big trip—once the twins are older, of course.”

“Rome is . . . enchanting,” I said.

“You’re quite the jet-setter, so it must be particularly great for you to stay there so long,” Jackson said.

“We’ve read your articles in Condé Nast Traveler,” Una added, patting Hugh’s hand.

I pressed my lips into a smile while my nails scraped the insides of my palms. All their eyes were on me, watching, waiting for me to be charming.

“Do you think you’ll ever settle down?” Barbara asked.

I was about to tell her that I was settled, but Natalie cut in. “She’s clearly too cool for diapers and PTAs.”

Though I didn’t see myself in the role she described, the assumption smarted a little. Did I not seem cut out for that sort of life? I wanted to glance at Todd to gauge his response, but I feared what I might see.

“What the best place you’ve been, Ann? Your all-time favorite?” Natalie asked.

The answer came easily. “Venice.”

Todd’s lips curved into a soft smile.

Natalie clasped her hands and bounced on the couch cushion. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to see Venice.”

“What about you?” I asked Natalie. “What’s your favorite destination?”

I expected an immediate answer, but instead, she sat back against the couch and thought. Tracey studied me, and I pretended not to notice.

“Maui,” Natalie said finally, appearing very pleased with her choice, if a little wistful.

The others did not appear so happy. Una stiffened, Jackson shifted in his seat, and Keith and Todd both looked away. What’s uncomfortable about Hawaii?

I tried a neutral follow-up question. “When did you go?”

More shifty gazes—except Natalie, who visibly brightened. “Years and years ago,” she said. “Before the twins. We all went—including Penny.”

You probably see where this is going, Maggie, but I’d never heard of Penny.

“Natalie,” Tracey hissed. “Why did you have to say that?”

“What?” Natalie fixed Tracey with a harsh glare—and then, like the snap of fingers, her intensity disappeared, and she addressed me again. “Some of my happiest memories are from Maui. The beaches, the sea turtles, the blue water.”

The rest of the family didn’t appear so nostalgic. Una was covering her mouth and staring out the window; Hugh and Bob were suddenly very interested in their newspaper pages; Tracey was downright prickly; and, on the other side of the couch, Barbara took great interest in a nonexistent thread on her sleeve. I met Keith’s eyes, and he glanced away. Todd stared at his hands.

Jackson was the only one to acknowledge Natalie’s choice. “Maui was special,” he said to me. “Natalie and I had just started dating, and it was my first time meeting her family. She invited me on this trip, and I thought, I don’t even know these people yet. Do I really want to go on a whole vacation with them?” He chuckled. “I was crazy about her, so I agreed. It was so much fun. Everyone was so welcoming.”