Page 90 of If It's You

“Yeah,” he said with a nod. He knew that all too well. He’d had to grow up overnight after his dad had died, and it had changed him. He used to be laid back about life, but now all he did was worry. The only time he truly relaxed was when he was with Maizie.

“Have you been having a good time down here?” Uncle Dan asked while spearing his own hamburger from the grill.

“Yes sir. I love the farm.” Movement behind Uncle Dan caught his attention, and he watched Maizie throw the baby girl up into the air. Nothing but pure joy on her face. She gave the baby back to her mother and headed for the food line.

“Yeah, it’s the farm you love.” Uncle Dan gave him a knowing nod.

Christian let out a breath and swiped his forehead. It was a hot day, and it was even hotter by the grill. Or was it just this hot because he was being interrogated by Maizie’s sheriff uncle?

“I . . .” He cleared his throat.

“I’m just messing with you, kid. But if you ever want to be a part of the department for real, let me know.” Uncle Dan left with a knowing wink, and Christian rubbed at the sweat trickling down the back of his neck. First Grandma, then Hugh, now Uncle Dan, none of whom really knew him but thought they knew something he’d only figured out himself. He scratched at the stubble of hair on his chin.

“Oh, look, you finally have some peach fuzz growing.” Jayce rammed into his side and poked his chin with a laugh.

“More than you.” Christian swatted him away with the spatula, and Jayce stepped back, nearly knocking over Maizie who was holding out a plate ready to be served.

“I like it,” Maizie said.

Christian’s eyebrows shot to the sky, and he found his lips curling up of their own accord.What did she say?

Maizie’s face turned scarlet, and she darted away before he could ask.

“What was that?” Jayce looked back at him.

“I don’t know.” Christian turned back to the grill, serving up burgers until he could get his own. Maizie avoided looking at him for the rest of dinner, and he tried to do the same, but he couldn’t forget her previous comment. Did she like his facial hair or him?

By the time he finished his hamburger, he’d been introduced to at least forty new cousins, and the remaining fourteen uncles and aunts he hadn’t yet met. All the cousins close to his age were guys. The only girls around his age were either a few years younger or older.

Imagine if he really had hurt Maizie. There were at least fifteen male cousins here who would all take a turn pounding their fists into him for fun. And the Jensen’s were tall. Like freaking giants. Maizie was a shrimp compared to them. So was he, for that matter.

After dinner, came the games, and if he thought Sunday night games were dangerous, July Fourth games were even worse. Everyone brave enough gathered in a circle and chose a state. Christian chose Montana. Hugh stood in the middle with a rolled-up newspaper and rushed to hit whoever’s state was called before they called someone else’s state.

For the first few rounds, no one called his state but then everyone did. He jumped up attempting to call out other states before he was hit, but he was too slow and got hit multiple times.

He took his place in the middle and faced Jayce, who started the next round.

“Hawaii,” Jayce said.

Who was Hawaii? But before Christian could figure it out, they had moved on to New York.

He scrambled after all the wrong people.

“Utah.” He knew who that was. He slapped Hugh on the knee.

“Ow!” Hugh yelled, taking his place in the center again. From across the circle, Jayce mouthed something to him and pointed at Maizie who sat with her head down.

“Idaho,” Christian said.

Maizie jumped to her feet and yelled someone’s state, but it came right back to her, again and again. The whole family had teamed up on her.

“Montana.” She looked at him.

“Idaho.”

“Montana,” she said again.

“Idaho” he said with a wink in her direction.