“You have to call me Marlene. Or Mom. Or Ma. Really. You’re family, so Mrs. Kelly just won’t do.”
Swanny had the same befuddled look on his face that most people did when encountering the storm that was Nathan’s mother. He looked torn between bemusement and wanting to hug the woman.
It had taken a lot of persuading to get Swanny to agree to
have dinner with the Kellys. He was self-conscious about his face, but then Marlene blithely ignored the scarring. She kissed, patted and otherwise made it a point to let Swanny know she didn’t care. He’d instantly become another of her children.
“You boys want to retire to the living room and have a beer? There’s a baseball game on,” Frank Kelly said. “Leave the dishes, Marlene. I’ll get them later.”
Nathan grinned. His dad still treated them like they were…boys. His boys. No matter how old they got. They were still the children of Marlene and Frank Kelly no matter what.
Joe tossed down his napkin and rose. “Beer sounds good. Baseball sounds even better.”
Rusty smiled impishly and darted a glance toward Frank. “Yeah, beer sounds great!”
Frank gave her a get-real look. “Very funny, young lady. You get lemonade.”
“Hey, I’m eighteen now!”
“And?” Marlene asked.
Rusty rolled her eyes. “And it means I have three more years until I’m legally allowed to imbibe.”
Nathan stood, as did Swanny, and they started to follow Frank and Joe into the living room. Rusty waited until Marlene had left to go get drinks then hurriedly rose and touched Nathan on the arm.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked in a low voice.
Nathan frowned but hung back after motioning for Swanny to follow Nathan’s dad and brother.
Rusty looked a little nervous and hesitant, neither of which were qualities usually attributed to her.
“What’s up?” Nathan asked.
Things had come a long way in Rusty’s relationship with the Kellys. His brothers to be specific. But Nathan had always been more…understanding…so she naturally gravitated toward him more than his siblings.
Another of Marlene’s strays, Rusty had been taken in at the time when Rachel had been rescued and brought home after a year of being thought dead. The family situation had been volatile at best, and Rusty had added tension. She’d been defensive, bratty and sullen, but over time she’d earned her place and now she was as fiercely protective of the family as any natural-born Kelly.
“Look, I wasn’t supposed to ask you this. I mean Marlene and Frank didn’t want me to pressure you. I’m supposed to back off and let you breathe and stuff.”
Nathan lifted an eyebrow. One would think he was a hair from barking at the moon in full werewolf gear.
She hurried on in a rush. “But I really want you there. I mean like more than everyone else. Not that I don’t want everyone else there too, but it would be really great if you could make it as well.”
He put his hand on her arm. “Rusty.”
She quieted immediately, and her cheeks reddened.
“Just spit it out. Where do you want me to be?”
“Graduation,” she mumbled. “It’s this week. I would have said something earlier, I mean I didn’t want to just spring it on you like this, but Marlene didn’t want me to pressure you—”
“Of course I’ll come.”
“I know the crowd issue and that you don’t like being around so many people since you got home and all—”
“Rusty, I’ll come. I wouldn’t miss it.”
She looked up in surprise. Then a wide smile flashed on her face. “Really? I mean if you don’t want to. Or if it’s too much, I totally understand.”
He smiled. “You only graduate once, kiddo. I’ll suffer through it.”
Her lips turned down and her expression grew worried.
“I was kidding. Of course I’ll be there. The whole Kelly clan will be there. I’m sure Ma wants to frame that diploma. Has she already planned a party that includes the entire county?”
Rusty’s eyes shone with relief. Her smile returned and she jiggled with excitement. Then to Nathan’s surprise, she launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing tight.
“I wanted you there the most.”
The words were muffled by the fact that her face was planted against his chest. He smiled and then hugged her back.
As she pulled away, she glanced back toward the kitchen. “Just don’t tell Marlene I asked. Okay?”
“Lips are sealed.”
As they started toward the living room, Rusty hesitated once more and turned serious blue eyes on him. “I’m so glad you’re