“I’ve got three chickens cooking for dinner. My boys and my girls have a healthy appetite,” Penny said.
“You also have enough for leftovers, Pen. Don’t forget your legendary leftovers,” Derek said. He was reading the paper.
Sophie and Dawn walked into the room and took a seat on either side of her.
“So, you’re Kent’s woman?” Sophie asked, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter.
“Sophie, if you eat that and struggle with your dinner, there’ll be trouble,” Penny said, warning the others.
A cup of tea was placed in front of her.
“Mom, I’m twenty-five, not twelve.”
“You still act like a kid, Soph. Mom’s right. Don’t eat too much,” Dawn said.
Eric walked into the kitchen. Everyone was everywhere, and Lana didn’t have a clue how to keep up. “What are you looking at, Dad?”
“The results on the football,” Derek said.
“You don’t even watch the football, baby,” Penny said. A blush stained the older woman’s cheeks. “You’ve always got something better to do.”
“Ew, gross, they’re going all lovey-dovey and talking about sex. Make them stop, Dawn,” Sophie said.
“Honey, if you’ve got it as good as I have, you’ll be blushing at my age,” Penny said. “Now, are you Kent’s woman?”
Lana opened her mouth to speak, but she was beaten to it by another person.
“Of course she’s his woman. Kent never brings a woman home unless he’s serious about her. When’s the wedding?” Derek asked.
“Guys, you’re terrifying her,” Kent said, stepping behind her. “There’s no wedding. Lana and I are friends.”
“Oh dear, I think we were scaring you, weren’t we?” Penny said.
“I’m not used to a large crowd,” Lana said.
“You’ll get used to it,” Tonya said, bringing in her three children and Seth. The crowd was getting bigger and bigger.
Kent squeezed her shoulders. She took the comfort.
“Here you are, pet, a nice cup of tea. I buy the good stuff.” Penny placed a cup in front of her. Dawn and Sophie then started to add sugar and milk to her cup. “Girls! Leave the poor girl alone.”
“It’s fine,” Lana said.
He kept stroking her arm, which made it hard for her to concentrate on the conversation. His touch sent shivers up her spine. She couldn’t do anything but think about what he was doing to her body.
“I promise, Lana, you’ll get used to it, and before long, you’re having a three way conversation and managing to keep up,” Tonya said.
Lana smiled at the other woman.
****
Kent tightened his grip on Lana’s shoulders. He felt her shaking from the nerves. His family were hard to deal with at first. Growing up with all of them made it easier for him to keep up with each conversation. It was one of the reasons he believed he was a good businessman.
Tonya’s advice was nice to hear. The other woman had stopped him from going inside the house along with his brother Seth. They were worried about him because of his lack of visits to the family home. He saw the love Tonya had for his brother, and after all this time he truly believed she loved Seth.
He couldn’t force Tonya to stop loving his brother. They were never meant to be. Kent understood that now. Running his fingers up and down Lana’s arm he felt at peace. Lana was meant to be here with him. Her place was by his side even though she kept trying to run away from him.
Before coming home, he’d phoned his parents to warn them about Lana’s insecurities. They were simply being themselves around her.
Lana picked up the cup of tea. She took a sip and winced.
“Oh no, too much sugar,” Sophie said. The cup was whisked out of her hands and thrown in the sink. He watched as Sophie then started to make another drink.
“Where are your men?” he asked.
“Football,” Dawn and Sophie said.
He turned to Eric. “My woman’s shopping with the kids. They need a new costume for some school play, and you know my woman. She needs to make it herself.”
Kent nodded. The few times he’d come home for Sunday lunch he’d felt sorry for his siblings. Their lives were constantly filled with the mundane crap that came with a steady woman or man and a family.
Now, as he stood behind Lana he saw something completely different. Kent saw himself from their perspective. He saw a lonely older man with nothing but work to keep him company.
Turning around he saw Seth rubbing Tonya’s shoulders as she helped their oldest son do homework. The connection among all of them made him feel lonely.
He watched as his dad moved to where his mom was peeling potatoes for dinner. Derek put his hands on Penny’s hips and was whispering against her ear. The love he witnessed startled him.