“We’re very much in love,” I said, smiling sweetly. “I can’t wait to get married to that man of mine, and be his wife.”
Connor winked. “He’s a lucky guy.”
“Everything’s moving so quickly, but when you’re as deeply in love as we are, why wait?”
“True. So, are you two going to commute back and forth between LA and that crazy cabin he’s renovating? What’s your schedule going to be like?”
I had to admit to Connor that I had no idea.
He didn’t find this unusual at all, saying that most actors live with a suitcase packed at all times, their lives arranged around intense shooting schedules and appearances. Since I was marrying into that lifestyle, it was good that I seemed ready for anything.
The next hour passed quickly, with Connor telling me about their production schedule for the show and some of the plans he had on the back burner.
My life seemed rather small and simple in comparison, but he insisted he was interested in hearing about all my family members who were part of town history, as well as my current job at the bookstore.
We were so engrossed in conversation, I didn’t notice my parents had arrived until my mother tapped me on the shoulder. They were both frowning at Connor, looking worried.
My mother leaned down and whispered in my ear, “He looks different from what I remembered.”
They hadn’t seen Dalton since my cousin Marita’s wedding, and were understandably confused by me dining with this other man, who looked so similar.
I quickly explained that Connor was the other main actor on Dalton’s show. My parents took the news in stride and joined us at the table.
We were just looking at menus when Dalton and his father joined us, both wearing shirts this time.
Dalton spotted Connor and greeted him with a complicated handshake, then introduced him to his father before asking why he was at the resort.
Connor said, “Funny story. I’ll tell you in private.”
Dalton circled around the table to my side and gave my mother a big hug. “So good to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe.” He shook my father’s hand and sheepishly muttered an apology for not doing the “traditional thing” and formally asking for permission to wed their daughter.
Dalton took a seat next to me, and the six of us looked back and forth at each other, the majority of us waiting for Jake to say something scandalous.
Jake, who was at the head of the table, opposite my father, took a long look at Connor, then at Dalton.
Jake was the one who’d invited Connor there, so he knew the connection, but wasn’t letting on.
Slowly, he said, “Look at you two. That’s some good casting. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you two were brothers. What do you say, there, Connor? Remind me again what your mother looks like. Is she a pretty lady who enjoyed some Big Dick before he got the ol’ snip-snip? What I’m asking is, do you look like your daddy who raised ya?”
My mother laughed uncomfortably, then everyone grew silent and leaned in.
Connor’s jaw moved up and down, but no words came out. I couldn’t handle the suspense, or everyone thinking what they were thinking.
They knew there was a surprise family member coming, and I could just FEEL them jumping to the wrong conclusions.
Unable to handle the misunderstanding any longer, I blurted out, “Connor and Dalton are cousins! Connor’s mother was sisters to Dalton’s mother!”
As soon as I said the words, I realized that revelation didn’t rule out the other possibility that had been raised. I turned to Jake, aghast. Were the guys cousins as well as half-brothers?
“Hmm,” Jake said, narrowing his eyes at Connor.
Connor burst out laughing. “Jake Blake, you may be a genuine motherfucker, but I’m pretty sure you didn’t fuck my mother.”
The waitress who had come to our table said, “I’ll come back in a minute,” and disappeared.
“We’re cousins?” Dalton asked, staring with wide eyes at Connor. “No shit. So that means Jamie is…”
“Aunt Jamie.”
Dalton nodded his head forward and held the back of his hand to his mouth, as if he might throw up. After a moment, everyone at the table’s eyes on him, Dalton looked up and said, “I was invited to audition, and it seemed odd at the time.”
Next to me, my mother murmured, “The family connection.”
Dalton shook his head, his cheeks colorless and face smooth. He’d shaved, and looked so young in that moment. Softly, he said, “I have a family.”
I reached over and squeezed his hand.
He turned to me, eyes wide with surprise, as if he’d forgotten I was there.
He continued, saying directly to me, “And now you’ll be my family.” He looked over to my mother and father. “And both of you, too. All of us.”