I was on a roll and hoping I was succeeding, making Ty’s time with me as good as it could be, something I’d want to do anyway, but something I was determined to do so he’d want to be where I was instead of where he needed to be so vengeance would be his. Krystal advised me not to stick my neck out. I was doing everything in my power to stop Ty from sticking out his. I liked his neck and head where it was. And I was hoping, the more I played this game, the less important his grand plan o’ vengeance would be and Tate could do his work. Or, if Tate couldn’t, Ty would give up and just live his life and for him to do it, I had to demonstrate it was going to be a good one, worth giving up his grand plan o’ vengeance.

And so far so good. He texted but if he wasn’t at work, working out or running, which he did in the mornings of his days off, he was with me or Tate.

And he seemed content, happy even, grinning more often, chuckling a few times and, twice, I’d made him burst out laughing. I was hoping these were indications that his nightmare was fading. I was hoping these were indications that he was healing. I was hoping I was helping him to get to the other side.

So now it was early evening and I was out on the front deck watering as Betty taught me to do. Sometimes, if the day was really hot, I had to water in the mornings and evenings after the heat went off the day. I was also feeding the plants on her schedule. They were looking good, filling out, blooming and I was a stickler for pinching off the deadheads so every bit was healthy.

And I was also studying the funny look on Ty’s face. We’d been together almost a month and some of that time he’d been closed off. I knew he still held his cards close to his chest. He didn’t let his thoughts or feelings show often but he did it and I was becoming attuned to his moods.

But that look was a new one I did not get.

Until I heard shrieked, “Alexa Anne Berry! Where you at, girl?”

My heart skittered to a halt, my mouth dropped open then I closed it only to open it again in order to whisper to Ty, “Holy f**k. That’s Ella.”

“Movin’ truck just pulled in the drive, mama,” he told me.

“Aaaaaahhhlehhhhhxsaaaaaah!”

That wasn’t Ella.

That was Bessie.

My heart started hammering, I smiled bright and dazzling at Ty, dropped the hose where I stood and raced by him, around the side of the house and down the walkway. I made it to the railing to see a short, white moving truck in the driveway, Ella, Bessie and Honey standing outside and to the side of it looking up at the deck off the kitchen.

“Ohmigod!” I screeched, “What are you doing here?”

Three heads swiveled to me and three faces split into huge smiles.

“Ahhhyeeeee!” Bessie squealed then disappeared under the deck and I knew she was going to the stairs.

“Girl! Look at you!” Honey shrieked then she disappeared.

“There’s my baby!” Ella cried then she disappeared.

I raced down the deck and hit Bessie on the fly as she got to the top of the stairs, arms tight, bodies swaying. Honey hit us and burrowed in so our arms moved to accommodate her. Ella came next and we affected a group hug, giggling and swaying.

Then we disengaged but Ella kept me close with an arm around me as I looked at her.

“What are you doing here?” I asked again.

“Well, you needed your stuff. So we rented a truck and brought your stuff,” she answered.

“Got us one of those GPS’s,” Bessie added, grinning at me. “Took us right to your door.”

“Ace crib, sistah,” Honey put in. “I am no mountain girl but this place is the shit.”

“This is true but I need a cocktail. You cannot imagine what bein’ in a big truck with these two for two full days does to a woman,” Ella told me. “They weren’t my flesh and blood, I’d be facin’ time.”

I grinned at her total lie. She’d spawned Bessie and Honey, she adored them and she put up with a lot from them and me and Ronnie. She did not do this without losing her ever-lovin’ mind on a relatively frequent occasion that often included threats of murder but she would no sooner carry them out, or lift a hand, than she’d voluntarily be boiled in acid.

Caught up in the moment, the surprise, I totally forgot where I was and why I was there until I heard Honey whisper a low, stunned, supremely appreciative, “Muthafuckah.”

Bessie, Ella and my eyes went to her then went to where her eyes were aimed to see Ty was standing, arms crossed on his massive chest, just outside the open kitchen door.

“Yo.” His deep voice rumbled and I sensed rather than felt the group quiver.

Everyone was silent and still for a moment, taking in all that was Ty. Since there was a lot of him and all of it was really good, this moment lasted awhile.

Ella broke it by saying, “I see in the mountains they make mountains of brother. I wish I’d known this forty years ago.”

Ty grinned. This caused another group quiver to glide through his female audience.

I experienced my quiver right along with my family then I realized what was happening and that it was brilliant, having them there but it could be explosive, depending on their reaction to the news of why I was there.

But this was family and always would be family and Ty was my husband.

So they had to know.

And they had to accept him.

Because he was family now too.

Therefore, I decided against stealth tactics and instead to launch an all of it out there in the open offensive and take my chances.

So I disengaged from Ella, moved to Ty and reengaged with him, sliding my arms around his middle, he reciprocated by sliding his arm around my shoulders.

My family watched silent and every last one of them had their mouth open, Honey, wide open, Bessie, partially open, Ella, lips parted.

Then I said, “Ella, Bessie, Honey, this is my husband, Ty Walker. Ty,” I tipped my head back to catch his eyes, “I’ve told you about my family.”

My gaze went back to the girls as the reactions started.

“The f**k you say.” That was Bessie.

“Uh… say what?” That was Honey.

Ella didn’t say anything but her eyes had narrowed.

My body tensed. When it did, Ty gave me a squeeze.

Then he spoke and I looked back up to him. “Get these sisters inside. Give them a drink. And give them an explanation. I’ll call the boys and get them over to help unload the truck.” I stared at him and didn’t move so he gave me another squeeze and murmured, “Now, Lex.”