Page 83 of Sing For Me

Will

“Ithink this was a mistake,” I mutter from the back of the rental car.

“Quit your bitching,” River shoots over his shoulder from the driver’s seat. “We’re almost there. Besides, Aunt Paige is making those brownies we love. What could be wrong about a vacation with those brownies?”

Eva pokes me in the side. “He has a point. Brownies make most things better.”

I can’t manage to muster up a smile. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

She rolls her eyes. “You talk like we’re going into battle, Will. It’s your family, not Napoleon’s army.”

“You might prefer Napoleon by the time the afternoon is through,” I mutter.

“You’re ridiculous.” She leans forward in between the two front seats to talk to River and Rose. “Okay, quiz me again.”

“You do not need to be quizzed, Eva,” I say, but they all ignore me.

Rose clears her throat. “Reed is married to…”

“Paige,” Eva says immediately. “And their kids are Everly, Santana, and Vega.”

“Missed Presley,” River says, and Eva swears.

“She comes between Everly and Santana?”

“You got it. Okay, next up is Cash—”

“Married to Sam,” she cuts in. “Kids are Wyatt, Will, Silas, and Cecelia.” She shoots me a smile. “Easy.”

I don’t know if I should be impressed or annoyed. I hate that she thinks she needs to impress my family. On the other hand, she looks damn cute smiling like that, all proud of herself for getting the right answer.

“Speaking of the Warner branch,” River cuts in. “Is Wyatt going to be here?”

“It doesn’t sound like he can get away.” I turn to Eva and explain. “He’s a concert pianist and he tours a lot.”

“He hasn’t been home in ages,” Rose says. “I wish he would come.”

I do too. Wyatt would take a hell of a lot of pressure off of me when it comes to our parents. As much as they bitch about my so-called absence, his are much more extensive.

I also would really like to introduce Eva to my brother. I try not to think too hard about what that might mean.

Rose and River continue to quiz Eva on the families. She gets Levi’s and Lennon’s kids right, but forgets about Ash in Daltrey’s family.

“Not bad,” Rose tells her, pleased.

“Lot of good the names will do me when I don’t know what anyone looks like.”

“If you want to get someone’s attention, just say,hey you,” Rose suggests.

“Yeah, I don’t think even my mom has gotten my name right on the first try ever in my life,” River adds.

“You’ll do great, Eva,” Rose says. “Don’t stress.”

I’m stressed enough for the both of us.

It feels like not enough time has passed before River is turning up the familiar winding driveway. “You guys really are in the middle of nowhere, aren’t you?” Eva asks as the thick forest creeps by through our windows.

“My dad always bitched about their parents buying this place,” I tell Eva. “He was not a fan of being off the grid.”