"This is Maggie, my girlfriend," Hayden said.
The word shouldn't have jolted me, but it did.
I wondered if I'd ever get tired of hearing that.
"Girlfriend?" his father repeated. "Now, there's a surprise."
"I'll say," his Uncle Louis put in. He was just as slick-looking as in the photos. "Finally done sowing your wild oats, huh? It's about time."
Hayden gave an easy smile. "Nice to see you, too, Uncle."
"We weren't expecting you," one of his aunts said. I thought it was Beatrix but couldn't be sure; they were twins after all.
"I suppose he didn't have time between all the girls and gallivanting to RSVP," the other aunt added. She clucked her tongue. "How rude."
"Very impolite."
Hayden's smile widened. "Aunt Beatrix and Aunt Bobbie, I missed you both so much.Also, I didn't get an invitation. It must've gotten lost in the mail. But I told Gigi I was coming."
Grandma Constance nodded as all eyes went to her. "You did, but I wasn't sure you'd show. Let alone bring a plus one."
"I gave you my word."
"Like that means anything," one of the twins said.
"Beatrix!" Constance snapped. "That's enough."
Her daughter shrugged as if she'd done nothing wrong.
"Anyway," Hayden said, "I said I'd come, so I came."
"Yes, you did," Constance said with a smile, pulling up the corners of her lips, then her eyes settled on me. "Magnolia, wasn't it? Didn't think I'd see you again. Pleasure."
"Good memory, Mrs. Davenport. It's nice to see you as well," I said. "I assume you planned the wedding. Everything is so gorgeous."
"Of course," she said, "and thank you. That's very kind."
"Magnolia is kind," Hayden said. "She's a good person."
Bobbie laughed. "Then how'd she end up with you?"
"My question exactly," Uncle Louis muttered.
Ooh, these people. I wanted to knock every one of them out, but again, Hayden simply grinned.
"Oh, I missed this," he said. "I can't believe I didn't come home sooner."
"Your mother will be happy to see you," Hayden's father said.
Looking around, Hayden asked, "Where is Mom anyway? I thought I just saw her."
"She stepped away for a moment."
"Needed a breather from all the pleasant conversation?"
"Hayden."
"Bart," a new voice said, "stop teasing him. Keep it up and Hayden might leave again."
