"Hi," he said, shaking her hand.
She moved on to Fury, who did likewise.
"I couldn't find those diet cakes for you, Bride," her mother said as she went to the oven to check the turkey. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Mom," Bride said. "I'd rather eat your pie anyway."
Her mother looked a bit surprised, but didn't say anything. As she stepped back, two cats came running through the kitchen, chasing each other.
"Professor! Marianne!" her mother called, handing her dishtowel to Bride.
"Oh, good grief, I better get them before they run into Bart and he eats them." Her mother ran off outside.
"Bart?" Fury asked Bride.
"The gator who lives in the backyard. Dad fixed him up last year after a poacher almost killed him in a trap, and he keeps getting out of his pen."
Fury scratched his cheek. "Man, I wish I'd known your dad when I got caught in a trap, I'm still" Fury's voice trailed off as he realized Deirdre had turned toward him with an arch look. "Never mind."
"Hey, Bride!"
Vane stiffened as an extremely large, muscular man came barreling through the back door to pick Bride up and squeeze her hard.
Bride laughed. "Put me down, Patrick!"
He growled at her as he did so. "Don't get feisty on me, woman. I'll hold you down and frog your arm."
Bride scoffed at that as Vane saw red.
"You better not touch her."
Bride looked up at the growling sincerity she heard in Vane's tone. By the expression on his face, she actually feared for her brother's safety. "It's okay, Vane," she hastened to assure him. "He's just teasing. He hasn't really hurt me since we were kids and even then it was an accident."
"That's the story I'm sticking to anyway," Patrick said as he offered his hand to Vane. "I'm glad to see my sister's in good hands. Patrick McTierney."
"Vane Kattalakis."
"Nice to meet you, Vane. Don't worry. I'd cut my arm off before I ever hurt one of my sisters."
Vane noticeably relaxed.
"You must be the brother," Patrick said. "Fury?"
"Hi," Fury said, shaking hands. "I know, the names suck."
Patrick laughed. "You guys want a beer?"
Fury looked to Vane for the answer.
"That'd be great," Vane said.
Patrick ducked into the fridge and pulled out two longnecks, then handed them off.
While they opened them, Patrick stuck his finger into the potato salad.
"Get out of that!" Deirdre snapped, popping his hand with a spoon.
"Ow!" he said, jerking his hand back and then sucking his fingers.