Page 124 of Between the Lines

I nod. “Yeah, I enjoy it.”

“Maybe I can see it one day,” Penny replies, and Fia gawks at her sister.

“Penny, you can’t just invite yourself over.” Fia dips her head, hand on her forehead, looking sideways at me. “I’m sorry my family is insane.”

But I just laugh. “I was actually thinking about throwing a barbecue at the end of summer.”

Fia glances at me, brows raised high. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, someone once told me that I have a perfect house for pool parties and that it was a shame I don’t entertain.”

“How fun,” Penny muses.

“Alright, I’m going to check the grill. Everything should be ready in a few.” Danny grabs a large platter and heads out back.

Fia pulls me towards the playpen where Daisy stands on her tiptoes, trying to be part of the action. Fia stares at me expectantly.

“It’s only one party. And it will be small and simple, so don’t get your hopes up,” I say, keeping my face straight, but Fia puckers her lips, suppressing a smile.

“No, no, that’s good.” She eyes me up and down. “You’re growing up, Brooks. I’m proud of you.” She winks and I grab her sides, making her burst out in laughter.

She stops and gets serious, turning away from her family. “You doing okay?” she asks softly, like she’s ready to pull me out if I need it.

I don’t have to stretch the truth for her.

“I’m doing great.” I smile down at her, and relief floods her face.

“Thanks for doing this.”

I steal a kiss when no one is watching.

“Dinner is served folks.” Danny busts through the back door with a tray full of grilled food. Fia scoops Daisy from the playpen, kissing her gently as we all make our way to the dining room.

We gather around the big oak table in the house Fia grew up in, the one that still smells faintly like lemon cleaner and old memories. It’s loud in the good way—chairs scraping, Daisy being passed to Penny’s lap, Danny animatedly telling a story about work.

I take it all in quietly. These are the people who shaped Fia, the ones who know her history without her having to say a word.

Admittedly, I watch her more than I should. She’s quiet, maybe taking the place of the youngest sibling.

“So,” I say, leaning back to drape my arm around the top of her chair, “how does it feel being back in this big house after being confined to a tiny guesthouse?”

She stills.

Not dramatically, but enough that I clock it and regret opening my mouth, hoping I didn’t put her on the spot.

Daisy bounces on Penny’s knee while Fia sets her fork down carefully.

“Well . . .” Fia laughs quietly. “It’s funny, actually . . .”

Her siblings watch her, attentive and silent.

“I love this house . . . especially now with air-conditioning that works.” She laughs, looking at me directly. “But being away from it was kinda a gift, too. I got to see what was really important. And it’s not all the stuff that Nan hoarded.” She glances at her siblings, and they smile pensively.

Fia runs her finger up the condensation on her water glass, then looks at Penny.

“Actually, I was thinking, maybe we should do an estate sale. Make more space in here.”

Penny just blinks, leaning back in her chair.