Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers, #1)(81)

“Hi. I’m Lizzy, Matt’s sister. I’m sure he’s told you all about me.”

“Oh, he has,” Abby said nervously.

“I was joking. I’m way too smart for my idiot brother to understand.”

“I heard that,” Matt said.

“I’m Sarah, Patrick’s wife.”

Matt moved close to Abby as he continued the introductions. She tried her best to remember names and match faces.

She was hugged and offered food and drink. The men came up from the basement, greeted Matt and kissed Abby on the cheek. Matt pulled his hand away from Annie to shake hands and slap his brothers on the back, then took Abby’s cold hand and squeezed.

Matt’s mother had disappeared into the kitchen. Because of me?

“Don’t worry, honey, you don’t have to remember all the names. They all answer to ‘dumb’ or ‘dumber.’ Or their number. I’m number two.”

“Don’t forget who’s number one.” Tony walked in from the kitchen, holding up one finger.

“Like you’d ever let us forget,” Matt said.

It was nice the way they laughed and teased each other. Charlie began taking peeks but hid whenever someone spoke to him, making a game of it now.

After a few minutes, Matt insisted she sit down and put her feet up.

Beth backed him up. “Doctor’s orders. Come on.” She led Abby to a forest-green couch and pulled over an ottoman. “It’s a good idea after the plane ride.”

“I’m fine, really.”

“Don’t be silly,” Matt’s dad said. “We pamper all the pregnant women.”

“And we take full advantage of it, since after the birth all the attention shifts to the baby,” Lizzy added.

Abby had no choice but to sit.

Matt joined her on the couch with Annie squeezed between them. He kicked back and stretched his arm around them both. “See, I’ll even put my feet up too. Just to make you feel better.”

“Right,” his sister said. “You’re all about the sacrifice.”

“Yep, that’s me. Could you get me a beer while you’re up?”

“In your dreams,” she said, but Abby noticed she brought him one when she came back from the kitchen.

The grayish-blue walls were covered with framed eight-by-tens, yearly family photos, faded except for the bright smiles. A basket of toys sat next to the fireplace, beside it a giant turkey nutcracker, minus an arm. Newer pictures in silver frames crowded the end table.

She snuck a glance at Matt. He was happy here, at ease. He knew about family; they all did. In that regard, she was the odd man out. But Matt’s fingers making lazy circles on her shoulder helped.

Family members came and went from the kitchen, bringing drinks and small plates of finger food. They sat around in chairs or on the floor. Abby felt uncomfortable just sitting here, letting people bring her things, but Matt insisted.

Gracie returned from the kitchen covered in flour and carrying a large plate of cookies.

“Did you make these?” Matt asked, stuffing a sugar cookie into his mouth.

“No, Grandma made them and dere’s wots more. Annie, you should help us. And you know what else?” she asked, eyes wide with wonder. “Dere’s a cousin.”

Abby caught a couple of quick looks passing between Matt’s family. She wondered what he’d told them about her background and thus her children’s lack of extended family. It didn’t make sense, but it was hard for kids going through the system not to grow up thinking there was something wrong with them, something about them that had caused them to not have a family like everyone else. Something that made them unwanted.

Until now. Matt gave her neck a squeeze, and without looking, she smiled. Matt wanted her.

Marge came in carrying a huge platter of more cookies and other yummies, followed by a little girl Abby assumed was the cousin.

“Hey, Louisa.” Matt grinned at his niece. “Don’t you want to give Uncle Matt a hug?”

“No,” she said, with a pouty face.

Tony looked over. “She’s still mad you wouldn’t let her paint that wall.”

Matt grabbed his niece into a hug with one arm anyway, making her squeal.

“Don’t let that girl near paint,” Beth said.

The adults ate, drank, and watched football while the kids played upstairs and down. Matt’s mother still hadn’t said much. Maybe she was just busy. Or maybe she was disappointed with Matt’s choice.





Chapter 33


Thanksgiving lunch was followed by the serious business of the annual Thanksgiving football game in the backyard. As always, the score was tied at halftime since his mother was the referee. Matt, with Charlie and Gracie perched in his arms, passed Andrew on his way into the house.

“Hey, man,” Andrew said. “Hey, short stuff. You want a cookie?”

Gracie beamed at Andrew, then at Patrick and Tony all standing around the kitchen.

Matt set the kids down and grabbed their little coats, hanging on the kitchen chairs.

“Where’s J.T.?” Matt asked. “Our team needs a quarterback. A good one,” he added with a smirk at Tony.

“Whatever. You couldn’t catch a jar of honey if I put it right in your hands.”