Page 7

Just then, my mom’s car pulled up into the drive and Camden came out the side door with the girls to greet her.
Everyone was all smiles and the air suddenly smelled of barbecue chicken as well as my mom’s perfume as she came over with Elizabeth in her arms. I lived for these moments. I just knew they never lasted.
At six o’clock on the money, Sofia showed up at my front door, looking pale and exhausted, not a stitch of her customary makeup on, so she looked so young and fragile as she stared up at me with her big brown eyes.
“Hey,” she said, her voice tinier than her barely five-foot dancer’s frame.
“Hey.”
I closed the door and turned toward her as she set down her denim and leather bag and faced me. That’s when I took in more details. The dark circles under her eyes. The wrinkles in her oversized pink t-shirt. The messy bundle of hair that looked like it needed a wash. “You really don’t have to do this. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know. I want to. It’s better than sitting around by myself, worrying about him when there’s literally nothing I can do but wait and hope he calls.”
“Have you heard anything from your family? Has he reached out to any of them?”
She shook her head sadly.
“Sofa!” Elizabeth barreled into the room, hollering for her with her version of Sofia’s name, making her smile, which was a relief to see.
Sofia scooped her up and they touched foreheads and noses. “Lizzy Bear!”
“Okay, well...” I moved toward the door, checking the time on my phone. I’d make it to the restaurant in time if I hustled. “I won’t be gone long.”
“No problem.”
“Call me if you need anything.”
But they were already heading toward the kitchen for snacks, so I let myself out, locking the door behind me and jogging to my car as fast as my heeled boots would allow.
I was the last one to arrive at La Hacienda, but I found my raucous group easily enough by following the sounds of cackling laughter to a large table near the bar. Whitney was sitting next to her little sister, Wendy, giggling at something Deanna said, while Jamie chatted it up with my cousins’ wives, Genevieve, Harper, and Eden. In between them all was already a huge plate of loaded nachos and two pitchers of margaritas.
“Start without me?” I said, sliding into the only free seat between Whitney and Vanessa, who was sitting quietly, taking it in with a smile, sipping her water.
Whitney whipped around at that and shoved an already full glass of margarita my way. “Took you long enough.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to come at all.” I sipped and let myself relax.
“What happened?” Whitney asked as she reached for a nacho.
I felt everyone lean in as I gave the most basic explanation I could of what happened with Sofia, knowing not everyone there knew her well.
“Shit,” Deanna said. “I didn’t even know she had a brother.” She glanced around at Whitney and Jamie. “Did y’all?” They shook their heads. “Goes to show how well we know our girl.”
“I know,” I murmured.
“Well, you let her know we’re here for her, whatever she needs,” she added. “And I’ll check on her tomorrow.”
I nodded just as our waiter showed up.
Harper took the bull by the horns and ordered another pitcher of drinks and another monster plate of nachos with extra jalapenos then, God bless her, steered the conversation elsewhere.
“So... I think I want to have another baby.”
Eden nearly choked on her chip but coughed through it before staring at her as wide-eyed as the rest of us. “Say what?”
Harper grinned wide. “I’ve been hitting on Levi like every night, asking him to knock me up. He’s all for the sex, not so sure on the baby part.”
“What if you have twins again?” Genevieve asked.