Page 25 of Finding Isaac (Foggy Basin Season Two)

Isaac

We walked back into the kitchen where Jen was working hard at filling orders with the help of our brother Trent who was a few years younger than me. “Hey, guys,” I said.

“Well look who decided to visit,” Jen said without looking up. Tig took my hand and squeezed it, and I squeezed back so hard I worried I’d hurt him.

“Sorry I haven’t been around. I got a new job at the dryer and it’s been busy,” I said.

She took a moment away from cooking to stare at me the way Mom did when she was looking for information.

“This is Tig Sawyer. Tig, this is my other sister Jen and over there is my brother Trent.” Trent stayed over by the dishwasher and waved.

“Nice to meet you,” Tig said, just as amused by it all as he had been from when we first walked in.

“How much older are you than Isaac?” Jen asked without even looking at Tig. His eyes widened before he cleared his throat.

“Not that much,” I said before he had a chance to put his foot in it.

Jen looked between the two of us for a full minute before she looked me right in the eye. “Sure.”

“Like you can talk,” I mumbled and instantly hoped she didn’t hear me.

“What was that?” she asked and narrowed her eyes.

“Nothing. Bex just said to come back and introduce Tig,” I said and hoped that was the end of it. But of course, it wasn’t.

“My brother has not been in many relationships, mostly he does the hit and run thing. But I hear you two have been pretty cozy for the past few months.” She paused to look at the two of us while I waited on pins and needles.

“If you hurt him, I will fuck you up,” she said and shook her spatula at him.

“If I hurt him, I’ll expect you to fuck me up. I love Isaac, and I don’t want to do anything to hurt him,” Tig said, and gave me that look that made my stomach swoop.

Jen again looked between the two of us before rolling her eyes. She turned to the grill, loaded up two plates, and handed them to me. “Don’t let it get cold,” she said. “Also, I like you, Tig, take good care of him.”

“I will,” he said and the two of us walked back out to our table where our drinks were waiting. Tig immediately started eating while I was still in shock. “Are you okay?”

“What the fuck just happened?”

“I just got her blessing,” he said with a big grin around a mouthful of potatoes.

“I guess it’s a win that neither one of them threw you out,” I said and took a drink of my juice.

“Your sisters love me,” he said and looked so pleased with himself I finally relaxed.

“I was worried for you to meet them. They can be a lot to take but I think you’re immune.”

“No, I was just one of the younger ones, so I had my share of being terrorized until I got big enough to fight back. Then they left me alone, plus they were older then and it wasn’t as fun for them anymore.”

“Do you all get along now?” Jen and Bex were the oldest but even some of the younger ones were a lot to take.

“We do. You probably think I’m crazy, but I miss those times when we’d all be running around driving my parents crazy and getting into any trouble we could. Now we’re all grown up and boring.”

“I can’t wait until we’re grown up and boring,” I said, making him laugh. “You told my sister you love me.”

“Of course. They need to know I’m serious,” he said.

“I never thought I’d see Jen at a loss for words,” I mumbled because I didn’t want to say it too loud for fear one of them would hear me. Just then Trent walked by with a tray of dishes and stopped at our table.

“Isaac, are you going to family dinner this week?” He was sixteen and very shy and quiet, but also very sweet. He did not like conflicts and avoided them at all costs. Unlike every other member of my family.

“I’m not sure,” I said. We used to all get together every Sunday for a fried chicken dinner, but since I’d moved out that happened less and less for me. Trent glanced at Tig before blushing.

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” he said.

“I know, I’ll try to stop by more often.”

“Trent, you’re always welcome to meet us in Foggy Basin for dinner if you’re ever there,” Tig said. “Or you could just stop by sometime.”

I looked at Tig and wondered why he’d said that, but then I looked at Trent and it had made him so happy. “Let me know if you need a ride. I could stop by on the way home from work.”

“Thanks, Isaac, I’ll call.” He hurried to the kitchen, and I turned to find Tig staring at me wearing a happy grin.

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. He seemed to want to spend time with you and I don’t want to take time away from your family.”

“I’ve had my own place in Foggy Basin since I graduated from high school, and while family is fun for you, it’s still not all that fun for me,” I whispered.

“Sorry, I guess I got a little too excited,” he said.

“It’s okay, my parents have been threatening to disown me if I don’t go to Sunday dinner soon. Looks like you’ll be meeting the family tomorrow. All of the family.” He met my eyes and grinned again.

“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m excited.”

“You might regret those words. Just promise me you won’t dump me because my family is so freaking big.”

“I promise, baby, now tell me what I should bring.”