More introductions were made to her sisters-in-law and then the kids. Tuesday got them both a glass of iced tea and then her father rolled in.

Greg Easton was a barrel-chested man. His hair, what little there was left, was gray at the temples. He was six feet tall and when she’d been a little girl her dad’s hands had seemed big enough to battle monsters on her behalf.

He pulled her into a big hug. “Happy birthday, sweetie pie.”

She hugged him back. “Thanks, Dad.”

It was good to be there. That feeling would wear off as the night went on, but for that moment, she was glad to be there in the kitchen she’d grown up in, surrounded by people who cared about her, about to eat a seriously delicious dinner her mother most likely spent most of the day making.

“I’m Greg Easton.” He held out a hand to Ezra, who took it, and they had some sort of shake that she hoped wasn’t too loose or too tight or whatever her father deemed less than acceptable.

“Ezra Hurley. Thank you for having me in your home, sir.”

“Our daughter wanted you here. Walk with me, son, and we’ll talk about what that means.”

“Dad. No. Come on. This is silly.”

Ezra kissed her temple. “We’ll be back.”

* * *

“MMM. WELL NOW, that boy is a tasty bite.” Her mother watched them walk away. “Ezra, too,” her mother said with a wink when she turned back around.

“Nat will be here soon. She stopped at Radiance for her favorite shampoo. If you like that brother wait till you see her version. In my opinion, I have the superior model, but hers sure isn’t a chore to look at.”

“It’s been way too long since you’ve been here.” Her mother’s gaze narrowed, taking her daughter in. “Come along then.” With a very Di flourish, she turned and headed to the stove where multiple things were bubbling and smelling really yummy.

Shawn snorted. “You look good, Tuesday. You’re dating a rock star.”

“He’s a rancher mostly, but yeah, sometimes during the year he’s also a rock star. They’re all pretty normal, but you see them onstage and it’s mind-blowing.”

They walked in their mother’s wake, not keeping her waiting once she’d delivered an edict that they follow her to the stove.

“He’s white,” Shawn said.

“Oh my god!” She paused, slapping a hand over her heart. “He is?”

Her mother chuckled.

Tuesday held a finger up. “I’ll continue in a second but for this moment I need to smell stuff.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “I am going to get a gold medal in eating my dinner tonight.”

She looked back to Shawn. “Is that a problem? Ezra being white? Like your wife is white?”

He flipped her off out of their mother’s line of sight. “So listen to me because I know what I’m talking about maybe? Such a brat.”

She mouthed, suck it, and he rolled his eyes.

“I just want you to be careful. Our biggest challenge is how people might react at the kids’ school or whatever. With you two? This guy is in the public eye. That means a lot of attention and some of it won’t be pretty. I’m worried about you.”

This moment only underlined why she hadn’t mentioned the situation with the feed store and wanted to spare them the Heywood stuff. Though Tina might think to call Tuesday’s siblings as she had before so maybe she should warn them off.

Tuesday would bring it up with Nat later to see what she thought.

“Thank you. I’m sorry I was bratty. You’re right. We get a little attention. He doesn’t notice because I think he’s used to being looked at a lot anyway.”

Her mother’s knowing laugh broke the last bit of tension left in the room.

GJ handed her an envelope. Inside was a rather sizeble check.

“Um, I think you added a few zeros too many. I’ll take your money, no lie, but not this much of it.”

He whacked the back of her head. “You kidding me? I don’t have that kind of cash to be giving you for your birthday. I got a kid with braces. It’s yours. When Eric died you got a check from one of the policies he had. Remember? It was for a few thousand bucks. I took it and invested it. That’s what it’s all worth now.”

This money in her hand would enable her to put in the new display cases for her pieces at the gallery. She could afford to play around with some of the stones she’d dreamed of for some more expensive pieces. And she could get her transmission fixed. Even after she paid off bills she’d have a little left to put back into savings.

She hugged him. “You’re awesome. Thank you so much.”

He grinned when she let him go, a little embarrassed at the edges. “It’s my job as your big brother. That’s all. Don’t get tears on my shirt.”

“Sure.”

Shawn bumped her with his hip. “Tell us about this new gallery thing.”

“Boys, watch that rice. I need to have a chat with Tuesday.” Her mother waved a wooden spoon and GJ stepped in to take it. Alana and Tisha came in with the kids so there were more hugs and kisses before her mother just sort of steamrollered the two of them out of the kitchen and into the sunroom beyond.

“Oh hey, new curtains.”

“Your father has decided he doesn’t need to wear any pants on the weekends. It was a way to save the neighbors the sight of his boxers at three in the afternoon as they tried to barbecue.”