Page 258 of The Maxwell Brothers

DECLAN

As soon asI entered my parents’ house, I realized it was going to be a whole-family event. They never ceased to surprise me with their ability to make these huge impromptu get-togethers work. I’d called Mom only an hour ago, and she’d gotten the whole family here, judging by all the cars in the driveway. Gran didn't like to organize anything at her place, claiming it was too small.

I heard voices from the kitchen and knew I would find everyone there. Family gatherings always took place in the kitchen. Mom would improvise dinner with whatever she had in the fridge, and each person had tasks appointed to them.

When I entered the kitchen, everyone was already around the island.

Travis grinned at me. "Told you we’d get here first."

"How did you manage it?" I asked.

"Broke some speed limits, obviously."

“I tried to keep him in check, but I failed spectacularly,” Kimberly said. I shook my head. They were going to drive me crazy. As a lawyer, I tried to adhere to legal regulations, and I expected my siblings to do so as well.

I looked at Mom. "Mom, what's the plan?"

"Oh, we’re making risotto with everything I have in the fridge, which is primarily veggies, so everyone's chopping. Grab something from the center of the island and make yourself useful, son."

"Sure thing," I said.

“Sam, what do you want to drink?” Mom asked.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “So we’ve all got to work except Sam?”

“Yeah, he used to do the grunt work with us mortals until he left,” Travis complained.

Mom glared at him.

“I’m good, Mom,” Sam cut in. “I don’t need anything to drink. Put me to work, or you’ll have an angry mob to deal with.”

I chuckled, looking around the room. Reese was standing between me and Luke. Tate was here with his daughter and his fiancée, Lexi. Tyler and his fiancée, Kendra, were also here.

“What’s the order of tasks?” I asked.

Luke chuckled. “Trying to optimize everything again, are you, brother?”

“While not doing dick yourself?” Travis added helpfully.

"Hey, watch your language. My daughter is here," Tate said.

"Oh, Dad, I'm old enough to know what swearing is," Paisley said.

Tate blinked. "You're still my little girl to me."

Paisley laughed. "Maybe I'll swear in front of you just for fun, so you get used to it."

Tate glared at Travis, then looked back to his daughter. “Paisley, sweetie, let’s not do that.”

As she nodded, Reese elbowed Travis. “Watch out. Tate’s getting as good as Declan at glaring.”

Although Reese had been determined to tell Gran by herself when Liz came with the donuts, she eventually said it might bebest if the whole family was there. That way, we could all comfort her.

I looked at Reese, who raised a questioning brow but then nodded, and I knew exactly what she meant. I wanted to make sure she was all for going ahead with the plan. I nodded too, signaling my agreement. It was better to get this over with. The very reason I'd insisted on this dinner was because I knew that otherwise, things would prolong themselves unnecessarily.

"I, for one, am glad that we managed to get the whole gang together,” Gran said. “Reese, tell me everything about Paris.”

"Oh, it was amazing," Reese said. The sound of chopping slowed as everyone listened. "The city is the most romantic place I've ever been to, and our Kimberly has a great life there. So great that I have no clue when she'll want to move back, if ever.”