“That’s what I’m worried about.”
Later, when we pull up outside the house, I turn off the engine and turn to the people in the car. “I mean it, go slowly. Donotoverwhelm her.”
All five passengers blink at me before Mum opens the door and darts out, barely leaving enough time for it to swing closed behind her.
Ella, Nina and Tara rush out after her, leaving only Cody sitting in his middle seat. “I don’t think all those warnings have done much,” he says solemnly.
I sigh and rub my hand over my beard. “You better help me with these bags, because I don’t think anyone else is going to.”
By the time I’ve breached the threshold with all the suitcases, Rosie is standing in the center of a Harper sandwich, all of them talking a mile a minute. I glance at Rosie’s face expecting to see a look of panic, but she’s beaming.
I take a minute to absorb it. Her cheeks are rosy red, and her smile is wide as she nods enthusiastically, allowing my mother to curl her arm around her.
“You’re drooling,” Cody snickers.
“Wait till you meet someone, bub. Then see if you can keep your mouth shut.” I mess up his mop of hair. “Alright, alright. What did I say in the car people? Slowly.” I breachthe fold and tug on Rosie’s arm until she’s free from their clutches and firmly in mine. I press a kiss to her head as I wrap my arms around her.
“Honestly,” Mum huffs exasperatedly. “You’d think we were wild animals the way he talks about us.”
Rosie giggles. “How about a tour?”
An hour later, we’re all haphazardly spread around the kitchen, leaning against counters and curled around Mum’s iPad as she shows us every picture from their Europe trip.
“This is Edinburgh castle,” Tara says, leaning over Mum to swipe through the pictures.
“Whose thumb is that?” I laugh.
My sisters groan playfully as Mum says, “I can’t tell where my thumb is! It’s not my fault.”
“It’s an iPad, mother. How is your hand anywhere near the lens?”
“Because I hold it with my right hand, Ella. How else am I supposed to hold it?”
“Like this.” Ella holds up the iPad and I pose with my arm curled around Rosie as she snaps a picture.
“That’s what I do!” Mum protests.
Rosie giggles into my side as they start to bicker. “You good, pretty girl?” I whisper in her ear.
She nods, her glasses sliding down her nose. “I’m great.”
“Where’s Cody?” Nina asks, glancing around the room.
“He’s uh—in my office. He liked the look of my setup, so I said he’s welcome to play a game.” Rosie bites her lip. “Is that okay?”
“That’s really kind of you, thank you.” Ella smiles.
“Of course. Is anyone hungry?”
“Are you going to finally tell us what that amazing smell is?” Mum asks.
Rosie flushes as she steps around the island, reachinginto the oven with her mitts and pulling out her giant pot. “It’s a Mushroom, Leek and Stilton pie.”
She lifts the lid off, and Mum and Nina lean forward.
“Oh, that smells incredible,” Nina says.
“I’ve put it on the slow cooker, so I’ll just need to cook some vegetables and it’ll be done.”
