Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42

ZAYN

I watched Marigold slip down the hallway. Her retreat felt more like a vanishing act. The mansion was big enough to swallow anyone whole, and that seemed to be exactly what she needed right now—some space, a moment to herself. But the way she left, so suddenly and without explanation, had my mind racing, trying to piece together if I'd done something wrong.

Something was off. I could feel it deep in my bones, a tension humming beneath the surface that I couldn't quite place. Maybe it was just the weight of the day, the expectations, or maybe it was something else.

I knew my family could be a little much. We were huge and everyone knew each other and things could get a little rowdy.

"Everything going alright?"

Kameron's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see my older brother standing beside me, his expression a mix of concern and that usual judgment he carried like a second skin.

"Yeah, all good," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Right on track."

Kameron's gaze didn't waver, his eyes boring into mine as if he could see straight through the facade. "Should I be worried at how easily you can lie?" he asked, his jaw tight, his tone just as tight.

I shrugged, trying to shake off the unease. "Maybe. Or you could let me crash and burn on my own. If that's where this is headed, so be it. But it's worth a shot. Hudson deserves that at least, don't you think?"

Hudson. The mention of our brother was enough to make Kameron's expression soften, just a bit. This whole venture—this nonprofit we were trying to get off the ground—was as much about Hudson as it was about anything else. He'd struggled with alcoholism for so long, clawing his way out of the dark only after Diana came into his life and gave him something worth fighting for. Now, being sober, working on this project had given him a new sense of purpose, something to pour his soul into. Something he was proud of.

The last thing I wanted was to be the faulty pillar that made it all crumble. I could be a lot of things, but I couldn't be that. Not to Hudson. This was how I could fix it, how I could hold it all together.

Kameron sighed, finally relenting. "Hudson's worth lying for," he admitted, the corners of his mouth pulling down into a frown.

"You think?" I asked with resignation.

He smirked. "I told you to make sure this wouldn't mess with what was really important."

"I know which is why I didn't tell everyone," I said. "I would appreciate it if you continued keeping this to yourself."

"Only Hudson and Hayes know, right?"

"Yes. They are the ones that put me up to this."

He nodded slowly. "Dangerous."

"I know."

"Seems like there is more than just a fake thing going on here," he said.

"Maybe."

Feeling a bit more willing to open up now that Kameron and I were on the same page, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. "I've been worried about Marigold lately," I said, keeping my voice low. "Her friend not so graciously warned me that she was falling."

"Falling?" Kameron asked, his eyebrows shooting up. "For you?"

"Yes, as hard as that might be for you to believe, you ass." I tried to keep my tone light, but there was an edge of anxiety there that I couldn't quite shake. The truth was, I hadn't been expecting this—her, us, any of it. But now that we were here, it felt like I was falling as well. I couldn't quite figure out if I wanted to go all in or cut and run.

Kameron's surprise quickly gave way to amusement. He chuckled, which morphed into bigger laughter, shaking his head like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Sounds like you're heading for all kinds of heartache," he said, clapping me on the shoulder with a bit too much force.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I muttered, though I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.

Just as I was starting to relax, Marigold returned, looking more refreshed, her smile bright and genuine. I met her halfway, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. She squeezed back, and just like that, the tension in my chest eased.

"Everything okay?" I asked, my voice soft so the others couldn't hear.

"Yeah," she replied, her smile never wavering. "Just needed a moment to collect myself."

I nodded, understanding that more than she probably realized. But before I could say anything else, we were called into the dining room for dinner.

The rest of the family started gathering around the giant, beautifully decorated table, ready to dig into the feast that Kathy, a small staff, and some of the women had spent the day preparing. The smell of roasted turkey made my stomach growl in anticipation.

As everyone took their seats, my dad stood up at the head of the table, a glass of wine in hand. Kathy sat beside him, her eyes bright with happiness. She was already beaming, but she didn't seem to notice that my dad had that look in his eye, the one that said something big was about to happen.

We all knew, but I was certain she was about to be surprised.

I hoped her heart was good.

"To family," Dad said. His voice was loud and clear, carrying across the long table and over the smaller kids' table at the back. "To love, and to the many blessings we've been given this year."

We all lifted our glasses, echoing the sentiment, but before anyone could take a sip, my dad continued.

"And to new beginnings," he added, his gaze locking onto Kathy's. "Kathy, you've made this house a home for us, our children, and their children. You've brought light into our lives, and I can't imagine a future without you by my side."

Kathy's smile faltered for a moment, as if she couldn't quite believe what was happening. But then, as Dad reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, her eyes filled with tears.

"Kathy," he said, his voice thick with emotion as he opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

The room fell silent, everyone holding their breath as Kathy stared at the ring, her hands trembling. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she nodded, tears streaming down her face.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Yes, of course."

The room erupted into cheers and applause as Dad slipped the ring onto Kathy's finger. He pulled her to her feet and pulled her in for a deep, loving kiss. The joy in the room was palpable. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them. My dad deserved this—he deserved happiness, love, a second chance. And Kathy? Well, she was the perfect woman to give it to him.

"That's beautiful," Marigold whispered beside me, her eyes shimmering with tears as she watched Dad and Kathy. "Their love is beautiful."

I glanced at her, my heart lurching in my chest. Seeing her like this stirred something deep inside me. Something I wasn't sure I was ready to face. But there it was, undeniable and real, just like her.

Before I could say anything, one of the kids groaned loudly, breaking the moment. "Can we eat now?"

Everyone laughed, the tension in the room melting away as we all turned our attention to the feast before us. Plates were passed, food was piled high, and the sound of clinking silverware filled the room. Conversation flowed easily, everyone caught up in the warmth and joy of the day.

"Any interesting cases?" Kameron asked Jett. Our brother was a PI, on a mission to solve every missing dog and cheating husband case in the Vancouver area. Although he had recently moved on to bigger and far more dangerous cases.

"Interesting? You wouldn't believe it if I told you." Jett leaned back in his chair, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

There was a collective lean-in from those gathered around the table. Winslet, his wife and partner, rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Don't brag."

"I got this call last week," he began, swirling the mashed potatoes on his plate thoughtfully. "A woman claimed her husband was replaced by an alien."

Kameron chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, you're kidding."

"Nope," Jett replied seriously.

Winslet slapped his arm. "You're so bad."

I looked at Grayson, who was Kathy's oldest. He had a little bit of gray at his temples. His wife, Hannah, was sitting beside him. The two of them were talking about one of their kids.

"Have you guys adopted any more dogs, Thea?" Zara asked.

Reese groaned, pretending he was in pain. "She's trying."

"Do you adopt a lot of dogs?" Marigold asked innocently.

"She runs an animal shelter," I explained.

"Really?" Marigold looked thrilled at the prospect. "I've always wanted to volunteer at one."

"Then you're welcome anytime," Thea responded, beaming at her. "We can always use more hands. The animals love new faces."

"They live in Vancouver," I clarified.

"Well, I might just have to come and visit," Marigold said with a laugh.

She was fitting in well, not just with me but with my entire family. It gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.

Dane tossed a piece of a roll at me. "Is this thanks to my restaurant?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"One of your first dates was at my restaurant, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, something like that."

I wasn't going to give him all the details.

As the meal went on, Kameron and Hudson were talking about some of our childhood antics. The memories felt like they belonged to a different lifetime.

Mason, Kathy's third oldest son, shared some of his own stories. Mason was the black sheep on that side. But his wife, Adelaide, had calmed him a lot. I heard a lot of stories about him growing up. He was a Harley-riding, leather-wearing hellraiser.

The room erupted into laughter again as Mason regaled us with tales of his wild and reckless youth. "I once rode my Harley through the hallways of my high school," he admitted, a hint of pride in his voice.

Adelaide rolled her eyes affectionately, patting his arm. "And that's why our daughter is not getting a motorcycle," she quipped causing another round of laughter.

Later on, as dessert was being served, Marigold leaned over and whispered in my ear. "This is nice, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Her hand brushed against mine every so often, sending a jolt of electricity through me each time.

"You seem a little lost in thought," Marigold said softly, leaning closer so only I could hear.

I looked at her, trying to find the right words. "Just thinking about everything. How much has changed. How much is still changing."

She nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I admitted, my voice a little hoarse. "It is."