Virtuous(87)

“Natalie,” he says, his hands on my shoulders, “welcome to our family.”

“Dad—”

“Hush, son. Let me talk to your girl.” He slides his arm around me and deftly wrests me away from Flynn.

Despite my usual wariness around strangers, there’s no way to be anything other than charmed by Max Godfrey, who takes me to the bar. “What can I get you, honey?”

“White wine would be great.”

He orders Scotch, and with our drinks in hand, he says, “Tell me all about yourself.”

“Not much to tell other than I’m from Nebraska originally and teach third grade in New York now.”

“And how did you meet Flynn?”

I tell him the story of our encounter in the park last weekend, and he howls with laughter at the part where Fluff bit his son.

“It really wasn’t funny.”

“Oh yes, it is.” He wipes his eyes. “You’ve probably seen the way people fawn over him, so the thought of a twenty-pound dog getting the better of him is definitely funny.”

“Well, as Fluff’s mother, I wasn’t amused by her bad behavior. Luckily, Flynn wasn’t hurt too badly.”

“Dad, quit hogging my date,” Flynn says as he joins us.

“We’re just getting to know each other. Leave us alone.”

Flynn puts his arm around me. “No chance of that.”

“He ruins all my fun.”

I’m absolutely in love with Max Godfrey, and I can see where his son gets his considerable charm and good humor.

I meet Flynn’s brothers-in-law—Trent, who is married to Aimee, and Hugh, who is married to Annie. I learn that Ellie, who is single, works as an executive for Quantum, Flynn’s production company. Annie is an attorney. And Aimee owns a dance studio. I’m introduced to Flynn’s nephew Ian, who is eleven and does bear a striking resemblance to his famous uncle, as well as his nieces India and Ivy, ages seven and nine, all of whom are Aimee’s children. Unlike their cousins, they have dark hair and eyes.

We’re seated for dinner, and Hugh ends up on my left and Flynn is on my right, locked in conversation with his parents. Across from me are Addie and Marlowe, and I’m thankful to have familiar faces nearby.

“Don’t let the Godfreys overwhelm you,” Hugh says in a conspiratorial whisper. “They’re harmless underneath it all.”

“Good to know, thanks.”

Without missing a beat in his conversation, Flynn finds my hand under the table and gives it a squeeze. The gesture fills me with warmth and a sense of security I haven’t experienced since I left home. It’s beginning to feel like I belong to him and he belongs to me, and I like that feeling. I like it a lot.

A sense of serenity overtakes me as I sit back and watch this amazing family interact with each other. There’s lots of laughter and teasing and talk about Flynn’s foundation. Each of his sisters apparently plans to play a role, as do his parents, which seems to please him greatly.

As we’re served a delicious Caesar salad that is made tableside, talk turns to the Globes.

“You’re going to win,” Ellie says bluntly, earning a scowl from her brother. “What? I’m just stating the facts. No one else came close to what you did in Camo, and everyone knows it.”

“I agree,” Max says.

“As do I,” Frankie adds as he joins the party.

“Me, three,” Marlowe says, smiling as she raises her glass in tribute to Flynn.

He covers his ears and pretends he can’t hear them. I adore this superstitious side of him.

Dinner consists of prime rib, huge baked potatoes and asparagus that melts in my mouth. It’s the most delicious meal I’ve ever had, a thought I share with Frankie, who beams with pleasure.

“Thank you, honey.” To Flynn, he adds, “You need to keep this one. She’s top shelf.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he says with a warm smile for me that makes my insides quiver with awareness.

“He never brings anyone to family things,” Hugh says for my ears only. “Ever.”

As I smile at him, I decide Hugh is my new best friend.

After Frankie’s attentive staff clears the dinner dishes, Flynn releases my hand and stands, glass in hand.

His sisters groan in unison.

“Here we go,” Annie says.

Ignoring them, Flynn focuses on his parents. “I just want to say happy anniversary to Max and Stella. You guys have made marriage look easy for forty-four years, and we should all be so lucky to have what you have. We love you both very much.”