I could practically see her planning it.
The sympathetic relatives.
The concerned expressions.
Twenty different voices gently reminding me how lucky I was to marry into the Pembroke family.
How unreasonable I had become.
How embarrassed Wade supposedly felt.
It wasn’t brunch.
It was an intervention.
Designed for one purpose.
To pressure me into obedience.
“Where should we meet?” she asked sweetly.
“I’ll send you my address.”
“Wonderful.”
“How many people are coming?”
“Oh…”
She laughed lightly.
“Only close family.”
Knowing Lorraine, that could easily mean thirty people.
I smiled to myself.
“I’ll text you the address.”
“Excellent.”
“And Lorraine?”
“Yes?”
“Please make sure everyone comes.”
She sounded pleased.
“I’m so glad you’re willing to be reasonable.”
After hanging up, I looked out across the harbor for another minute before dialing downstairs.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Alden,” the building manager answered.
“Mr. Callahan, I’ll be expecting guests on Sunday.”
“Of course.”
“There may be…quite a few.”
“No problem.”
“If anyone asks whether I rent here…”
He chuckled quietly.
“I understand.”
“They’re welcome upstairs.”
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
By Sunday morning, Boston’s sky was brilliantly clear.
Sunlight danced across the harbor, making the water sparkle like scattered glass.
I made coffee.
Prepared fresh fruit.
Ordered pastries from my favorite French bakery.
Not because I intended to entertain twenty-seven judgmental relatives.
Because I refused to let them disturb my peace.
At precisely 10:58, my security monitor chimed.
I glanced toward the screen mounted beside the kitchen.
Right on schedule.
A large black passenger van pulled beneath the Harbor Crown’s covered entrance.
Then another SUV stopped behind it.
The first person to step out was Lorraine.
Naturally.
She wore a camel-colored designer coat, oversized sunglasses, leather gloves, and heels entirely impractical for walking more than thirty feet.
Everything about her announced status.
Behind her came Wade.
He looked tired.
His eyes searched the building with visible confusion.
Then the rest of the Pembrokes emerged.
His younger sister.
Two uncles.
Three aunts.
Several cousins.
Spouses.
Teenagers.
Even elderly relatives I had only met once during our wedding.
I counted them.
Twenty-seven.
Exactly twenty-seven people.
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