Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Back-Ups - Carol Moncado Page 0,39
brothers took seats across from the girls.
“First, I don’t believe that,” Sean started. “Even if you didn’t play a mean tenor sax, just like Papa Beach, how many times did someone ask if the three of you were triplets or at least if you and Madi were twins when Madi had her dark hair?”
Mia just sniffled some more.
“Second, even if Dad wasn’t your biological father, it wouldn’t matter to any of us.” Sean leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped between them.
Madi thought he looked like a dad or a teacher when he did that. Appropriate?
“Third, Mom and Dad have issues. They have for a very long time.” His head hung for a moment. “I vaguely remember them being happier. Madi might, too. But something happened, and they haven’t been happy since. Mom having an affair - or even both of them having one, which seems more likely to me over the course of the last twenty-five years or so - might be part of their problem, but it’s not all of it. There’s far more going on there than just whatever happened to make it a possibility that you’re our half-sibling.”
Madi squeezed her sister’s shoulders. “He’s right. Mom and Dad’s issues are far deeper than what a DNA test would say.”
With another sniffle, this one accompanied by a nod, Mia leaned into Madi some. “I know. And I love you guys. I’m glad you’re my brothers and sisters.”
“We’re glad you’re our sister,” Gray told her. “Even if you still haven’t given me and Tessa a wedding gift yet.”
That made Mia laugh. “I did, too.”
Gray shook his head. “No. You took us out to dinner. That’s not a wedding gift.”
Sean heaved an abnormally heavy sigh. “She hasn’t gotten me one yet either. Taking Lexi and I out for dinner doesn’t count either. We both got you and Eli a wedding present.”
That broke the tension in the room and made all three sisters laugh. Sean and Gray were notorious for giving random gifts that made little sense, often found at flea markets or yard sales. The three sisters had been planning to give them epic wedding presents they’d found at a flea market, but not until after Sean and Lexi’s actual wedding. Maybe even at the actual Christmas get-together or later if the girls couldn’t get out to go shopping together before then.
“You’ll get them.” Mia sucked in a deep breath. “We should probably head back out to the living room. All of our spouses are probably giving poor Wyatt a hard time. I know Eli, Tessa, and Lexi are fans.”
“Harrison barely knows who he is,” Lani told them. “Only because I made him watch the Series, really.”
Madi winced. “I hope you told him Wyatt’s really a lot better than that.”
A grimace crossed Lani’s face. “When I wasn’t yelling at him through the screen. He stunk it up pretty good after having an amazing year.”
“I know I did.”
They all turned to see Wyatt leading the rest of the crew.
“Sorry.” Lani sounded contrite. Madi felt sure she was. “I know you’re a great guy in person and perfect for my sister, but it’s a good thing you’re not a free agent right now instead of next year.”
Wyatt managed to give them a smile, though Madi could tell it upset him. “You’re right. I’m hoping that next year I can plan my worst seven games a bit better and spread them out to one a month or so.”
“That would be great,” Sean told him, standing up and smacking him on the back. “It would make it a lot easier to wear my signed Wyatt Carson jersey in November.”
Madi blinked. “You have a signed jersey? Where did you get that?”
Sean grinned. “I don’t have one. Yet. I figure being this dude’s brother-in-law might come in handy somehow.” He held up three fingers. “I promise not to sell it online, but it’ll definitely give me bragging rights at work.”
For what had to be the thousandth time, Madi wondered what kind of work her brother did for Jonathan Langley-Cranston, but had resigned herself to never knowing. It didn’t seem like the kind of job where people showed up wearing baseball jerseys, but what did she know?
“I hate to say it,” Wyatt told them. “But if we don’t go back out in the living room, I’m pretty sure Madi and I are going to be read the riot act by the producers. There’s no sound today, thankfully, but purposely avoiding the cameras