River’s black SUV pulls up the driveway as I stand at the front porch. Babies Greer and Kirby are back in Shasta. This is the first time Shelby’s been away from her daughter, and I expect her to be emotional.
Instead, she appears from the SUV, wearing a “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” shirt over a swimsuit. With her flip-flops clapping, she hurries over to me and gives me a nod.
“Nice digs, Leroux. Miss me?”
“Every damn day.”
“Yeah, I know Shelby-withdrawal can be the worst,” she says, hugging me.
“Goliath!” Desi cries, running outside.
“It’s like I’m invisible,” Shelby mutters while my daughter bounces around the giant man who leans over to hear what she’s saying.
“I only see you,” I say, staring hard at her face.
“Maude,” Max says, drawing my focus away.
“Invisible once again.”
“I see you,” Sidonie says, frowning at Shelby.
“Ooh, a future fan.”
I reintroduce the two and manage to point at a fleeing Summer.
“Bronco makes good-looking kids,” Shelby says, pretending not to see him walking past us. “Only girls, though. Hmm, a testicle injury in his youth, perhaps? I read that girl sperm is tougher, so that’s probably it.”
Bronco just keeps on walking, having plenty of experience with mouthy women. He makes chitchat with River and Goliath while Desi tugs Max into the house.
“Are you okay?” my sister asks as if I might need to signal for help by blinking.
“I’m in love and have four happy girls. It’s all good.”
Max sighs, unconvinced. I’m too far away from Shasta. The Executioners are the bad guys. My hormones are blinding me to Bronco’s true nature.
“I made a friend too,” I tell Max.
“A lesser version of me, no doubt,” Shelby says, checking her phone. “Kirby misses me. Look at her telling me that with her eyes.”
I smile at the image Mom sent Shelby. “Her left eye is saying she misses her daddy. Her right eye is all you, though.”
Goliath doesn’t want to smile, but he really likes being a dad. Glancing at the picture, he nods. Yeah, he sees her missing him too.
The next few minutes are a little chaotic, with people talking in small groups. Desi tugs Shelby and Max upstairs to see the rooms.
“Mine is lavender, which is a kind of purple. I have a canopy on my bed and pink lace,” she whispers, bouncing her way up each step. “Carina is sleeping. We have to be very, very quiet.”
Shelby zips her mouth shut and gives my daughter a wink. Sidonie follows us around, curious about my sister—who she wants as an aunt—and my bestie—who she isn’t sure about. I do notice how Bronco’s girls are totally unbothered by the sight of large men. I remember how intimidated I felt when a whole bunch of Reapers showed up at the Victorian. For Summer and Sidonie, large, tatted men are commonplace.
“Holy princess paradise, Batman,” Shelby mumbles when we enter the playroom. “I need to hang out in here for a while.”
Sidonie smiles at me, both proud of showing off her room and liking how Shelby wants to play dolls.
Before they end up in the tent together, I suggest we head back downstairs. “I want to keep an eye on the men,” I say, hinting at Max and Shelby.
“Killjoy,” the latter says and then smiles at the girls. “Why don’t you get your suits on so we can swim?”
The girls bounce, which finally puts a smile on my sister’s face. She and her friends are world-renowned happy bouncers themselves.
“I’m not swimming,” Max says immediately despite her smile. “I’m too bloated to be in a swimsuit.”
“Oh, please,” Shelby says, waving off Max’s concerns. Leaning closer, she adds in a whisper, “You were hot enough for your man to make you moan like a horny cat this morning.”
“You don’t even live in the Victorian anymore, so how would you know?” Max asks, trying to stand up to the troublemaker.
“That’s just how loud you were. Dean asked me what that scary noise was, and I explained it was Go-Go’s big stick in your taco fiesta.” Max flushes beet red while I laugh at Shelby’s smug little smile. “The point is you’re hot, Max. Show that shit off.”
“Yeah,” Desi adds, not really knowing or caring what we’re talking about. “So, can we swim?”
“Of course,” I say, hoping if everyone’s focused on the pool that today can feel like a vacation rather than a job interview. “Let’s get changed.”
Though Max still refuses to swim, she does return downstairs where River, Goliath, and Bronco stand in the kitchen talking about motorcycles.