“Ready?” He leaned in, pressing a sweet tender kiss on her lips. “Don’t be nervous, darlin’.”
She nodded.
Reed didn’t even knock, he merely turned the knob and walked in. Air conditioning came as a welcomed relief from the oppressive heat.
JC pinched at the fabric of her cotton summer dress, pulling it away from her sticky damp skin. Country music resonated through the surround sound, filling the elegant home with a relaxed atmosphere, but the house was empty.
“Where is everybody?” JC whispered, squeezing his hand, scanning the kitchen through a large archway.
Reed tossed her an anxious smile, making his way through the house to the backyard. Chatter gained momentum, echoing through the room as they reached the sliding glass door. Stepping beyond the glass panel revealed a deluxe outdoor living space. Kids of every age filled the pool and chased each other through the expansive yard with super soaker guns. Barstools flanked a long rectangular U-shaped bar, mimicking the ranch house with rustic posts and clay colored roof tiles.
Reed walked hastily past partygoers congregating beneath the cool misters, heading directly for the huge BBQ at the open end of the bar. A blur of smiling faces caught JC’s attention as people tapped one another’s shoulders drawing their attention to Reed. No one said a word, allowing Reed to sneak up behind the stocky man tending the grill, boisterously going on about the morning events.
Reed clasped his hand firmly on his shoulder with a hardy shake. “Don’t go breaking your arm patting yourself on the back just yet!”
Thunder erupted into a full-bodied laugh as Sam grabbed Reed’s hand, yanking him against his solid frame. “What? You think I’m gonna give you any credit? Hell no!”
Releasing Reed from his grip, Sam immediately turned his attention to JC, giving a curt nod before opening his arms wide. “Hello, sweetheart, you must be Reed’s new someone.”
JC flushed, returning the hug patting on his wide shoulder kindly, stepping back to shake his hand. “I’m JC. You must be Sam.”
A few gray hairs invaded his temple and a web of lines pleated the corner of his eyes. “Sam I am!” he boomed, giving JC and Reed a deliberate once over.
Sam wore his hospitality like a good ole country boy; big, loud and the life of the party. Orneriness shined brightly in his boyish smirk. JC adored him instantly. His wide smile carried the warmth and generosity of her favorite teddy bear growing up as a kid, always there when she needed it.
Several men joined in the welcoming committee with wives by their sides, everyone saying polite hellos, asking how Reed liked California. Reed draped his left arm over JC’s shoulder, affectionately claiming her as his own, introducing her to everyone in close proximity. She concentrated on remembering names of each couple.
As the conversation buzzed, JC noticed a few lucid glances between the women, nonchalantly sizing JC up. She’d experienced this exact greeting countless times over the last several years. It was always at this precise moment of introduction she wished no one knew her name. Most of all that no one knew her stepdad’s name. By the end of the evening, she’d be able to tally the question, “So what’s it like to be related to Tom Clemmins?”
Silently, she gave a ghost of a shudder as nerves chased across her shoulders. JC straightened her posture, shaking off the timidity and absorbing the hum of chatter taking place around her.
A petite blonde woman weaved through the crowd. “Bout time you show up.”
She raised to her toes wrapping a free arm around Reed’s neck, carefully coddling a baby between them.
“Well hello, sweetheart.” Reed’s Texas drawl hung heavily like the moisture in the air as he returned the hug, placing a courteous kiss to her cheek. She released Reed, revealing not one but two babies on her hip. Twins. A boy and a girl. Reed touched his thumb to one baby’s cheek then the other. “My gosh, look how big they’re gettin! How old are they now?”
“They’re seven months old now. You’d know that if you came home more often,” she snarked lightheartedly.
Reed jerked his head to the side with whoof, pretending she’d given him a punch to the jaw. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” He wrapped an arm around JC. “Jenny, I want you to meet JC.”
Jenny studied JC as leisurely as the armadillo they witnessed crossing the road. “Hi,” she bit through a forged smile.
“It’s nice to meet you.” JC lifted her finger toward the cooing baby girl stretching her tiny hand toward JC, beads of perspiration gathering on her delicate nose.
Jenny adjusted the weight of the two babies on her hip, keeping them out of range.