12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Kit

"Where'd they run off to?" I asked Nathan, his face buried in the newspaper like always, but Mom and Daddy were nowhere to be found.

"Hmm, who?"

I glanced around, we were the only two here plus Belle. "Nate and Mom."

"I dunno."

The wedding was a few days away and the last of the summer visitors had pulled away bright and early yesterday morning. We spent the better part of the afternoon not only enjoying the peace and quiet, but we scrubbed down every inch of the bar and kitchen. Nathan and Mom helped us, and we decided to close the bar for today to catch our breath. Personally, I looked forward to the break and just dealing with the crazy townies again. Don't get me wrong, the money was nice but in the end, we ran out of nearly everything. We had to get a rush order delivered for a handful of things but didn't go overboard knowing that we were getting ready close for a week for our honeymoon.

"I think they left your breakfast in the oven."

I opened it and sure enough there was a plate piled high with eggs, bacon, and toast. "Right on." I nearly cheered my Daddy is the best and stopped just in time.

As I finished eating, my phone chimed with a text from Daddy.

Daddy: Hey, I'm at the bar. Meet me here when you're ready.

Me: On my way.

When I opened the back door, something felt off. All the lights were off which was weird since Daddy had just texted he was here. Jelly Belly ran straight inside, and I couldn't see my hand in front of me. I felt around on the wall for the light switches and flipped them on. When I turned around, I was met with the loudest, "Surprise!" It scared the hell out of me and I screamed, but there stood every member of my family. I burst into tears and ran straight to my mom.

"Mom, you're really here. You really left. You really came. I can't believe you're really here." My thoughts and words were a jumbled mess and my heart raced like mad.

She giggled. "If you really thought I was going to miss my baby boy's wedding, you were sorely mistaken, sir. I'm so proud of you, Kit. And that man of yours," she fanned herself. "Good looking. You did well."

Nate cleared his throat beside us. "Thank you."

Mom released me and Daddy scooped me up. "How did you pull this off? How did I not know? I can't believe you did this for me."

"I was the idea behind it, but the mothers handled the execution." Daddy kissed the top of my head and I grinned. "Come on, baby, go see your family."

It had been four years since I left the commune. Four years since I saw them and now here they were. Nieces and a nephew I'd never met, brothers, sisters, mom and dad. "Wait, where's my dad?" He waved at me and as soon as I saw him, I ran and gave him a hug.

"You look well, son. Foggy Basin life suits you." I bobbed my head, unable to speak with the rush of emotions running through me. Overwhelmed but in the best way ‘cause I had the best family. This was too much, and not enough at the same time because I knew at some point they'd have to leave. But they came for me. For us. They had no idea how much that meant.

One by one I hugged them and met the newbies, held my nephew and then the twins. The little ones were shy but before they left I'd win them over. Daddy, Joanne, and Nathan went to make lunch for everyone while we got caught up. We slid enough tables together to form one long one to seat this giant family. As I glanced around, it hit me how much I missed them, and I made a promise right then and there not to go so far between visits again. I knew Nate would agree with me on that.

After the food was dished up, Nate took a seat beside me. "Did you get to meet everybody?" I asked then had a duh moment, he had to since he let them all in. "Where are they staying?"

"Your brothers and sisters are staying upstairs, your mom and dad are staying with us, and my folks are going back to their giant bus where they should have been all along." Daddy grumbled about them staying with us, but I knew deep down he missed them when they were gone.

"Oh, hush, you," his mom told him, having heard what he said. "Tell me where I belong and we'll be having words, boy." She winked. Her words were just that—words that held no venom. She adored her son, as did I.

"I met your brothers Sage and Cedar. Cedar's wife, Ashley, and their new son, Forest. I also met your sisters Marigold, Lily, and Ivy. Marigold's husband, Arden, and their two their twin girls, Juniper and July."

"Wow, so I guess teasing you with a pop quiz on who's who would be a waste of time?" I was impressed, that was a lot for any human to remember and so fast.

Nate tapped his head. "I've got a mind like a steel trap. I retain it all, baby."

"Tell that to your teachers, Mr. I barely graduated high school," Nathan joked and the room filled with laughter.

"I didn't see any vehicles. Where are they parked?"

"We're in the lot behind the bar. The RV lot, I think Nate called it. We carpooled for the most part considering we don't live too far apart. We're all still in the same general vicinity." My brother Sage said, "Since we have to leave the morning after the wedding, we were kind of hoping you'd show us around this week. Take us to the lake, show us your favorite spots and such. Catch up on what you've been doing these last four years. We've only heard what you shared with Mom so it's all secondhand."

"Well, I have a phone now. This one made sure of it," I nudged Daddy and passed my phone around. "Could you each put your numbers in there, so we don't lose contact again? It's been far too long." They readily agreed. I really had a loving family and considered myself lucky. One by one they added their contacts, and I could only imagine what my brothers titled their contacts as but that would be fun to figure out later. For now, it was face to face time and I didn't want to miss a second of that.

I was excited to see the pictures of the babies doing silly stuff that they could send me since I couldn't be there to watch them grow up firsthand. This way I'd at least get to experience it through photos.

About midway through the day, it hit me, something was off. "Where's Merle?"

"Shoot, I forgot to tell you. I closed the bar today. Figured not only could we use a break, but I wanted you to have the time with your family. With the summer rush gone I'll be able to handle it this week so you can take all the time you want with your family. Show them around our happy little town."

Our happy little town.

Our bar.

Our life.

And what a great one it was gearing up to be .

Ashley and Cedar, and Marigold and Arden took their kids up to their rooms for a nap while the rest of us went for a walk.

"Such an adorable town, Kit," Mom said as we strolled hand in hand down Main Street. "Everything you need is within reach. You're not trapped like I know you always felt at home."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I never meant to hurt you." Fuck, I was the worst son and after she stepped out of her comfort zone to come all this way to see me.

"You didn't hurt me, you were brave. You did what was best for you. You needed to get out and spread your wings, and you did. You took your time, and you've seen places I'll never see. You've done things I'll never do. If anything, I'm envious of you. You've got a wonderful man and look at the life you're building together. You own a business at twenty-two. My youngest child has done so much and come so far. Literally and figuratively," she bumped her shoulder into mine. "And don't tell anyone, but you're doing better than the rest of us."

I grinned and glanced out at the sweet town we called home when something across the street caught my eye. Took me a minute to focus then I saw it was Ezra waving at us. "Come and meet Ezra, Mom. I think you'll get a kick out of him. He did our wedding suits. "

He squealed when we walked up and Mom froze as she got a feel for his energy. "It's so good to see you, Kit. And who is this beautiful woman? Your sister?"

Couldn't deny my mother didn't look her age. She could easily pass as one of my siblings, especially since I looked exactly like her.

"Ezra, this is my mom, Daisy." Ezra being Ezra, he pulled her in for a hug. "Welcome to Beauty and the Boutique. I, of course," he waved to himself, "am the beauty. Please, take a look around. Let me know if you are interested in anything. You would look stunning in any one of these outfits, if I do say so myself."

The rest of the fam waited outside for us. Maybe this wasn't the store for them or maybe they wished to enjoy more of the perfect weather Mother Nature dazzled us with today. Who knew, but Mom was having a great time browsing through the dresses. Each time she'd look at the price tag and walk on by. Sadly, I knew that feeling all too well and wasn't about to let her get away with it. Not when I had the money to spoil her.

"Mom, I'd like to buy you a new outfit. Pick out a dress, any dress you'd like, and let me get it for you."

"No, Kit, I can't let you do that. That's not right."

"Says who?" Ezra and I said in unison .

Mom chewed on her bottom lip. I could see she was considering it, so I nudged her along. "Pick one you'd like to wear to the wedding, but that you know you'll wear again, then it's not a one-time only dress. Remember too that the wedding is casual. Nothing fancy, so it can be a simple everyday dress and anything that your heart desires."

She walked around a few racks. Ezra stayed a couple steps behind her in case she had any questions. I smiled as I watched her. This was what she missed out on, growing up as she had. She made all our clothes, her mother made hers, and my grandmother before that. She was an excellent seamstress but there's just something about having that one special dress in your closet that you didn't make. Like serving customers day in and day out. It's nice to get a break every once in a while and be served by someone else.

In the end, she decided on a beautiful linen lavender dress. It would keep her cool in the warm months. Light and airy, perfect for a northern Arizona summer on the commune.

"You will look stunning in this dress, Daisy, and I have just the accessory to go with it." Ezra went to the back and came out a few minutes later and handed her a box. Inside was an adorable wide-brim woven hat. The bow tied around it matched the color of the dress. At the front, a pin in the shape of a white daisy with a bright yellow center secured in place. "A gift from me to you."

Mom teared up when she saw it, her fingers tracing the delicate flower. "Thank you, Ezra. This is beautiful. I'll cherish it always." Ezra beamed from ear to ear. I handed him my card before she could even think about paying for any of it. I didn't bother to look at the receipt, that's not what this gift was about. This was a son finally being able to treat his mother. The woman who'd given him life, and a good one at that, and it was my turn to do something for her.

We stopped at Books, Beans and Buns and I introduced everybody to Brock. We took our time poking through the endless sea of books, and each grabbed a book or, in my case, three. My brothers and sisters didn't have any problem letting me pay for theirs. I was excited to be able to do something nice for them after this wonderful gift they gave us of coming to our wedding. Along the way back we purchased a couple trinkets for the little ones and my two siblings that had stayed behind.

"How was your day?" Daddy asked when we settled into bed after the long day.

"One I will never forget, and I owe it all to you."

"How so?" He kissed the tip of my nose .

"You brought my family here for the biggest day of our lives. You've opened your home, your business and your heart to me. Because of you I have this wonderful life and now I got to share it with my family. You should have seen the look on my mother's face when we bought that dress today." She'd made sure everyone saw it and knew what Ezra and I had gifted her. "That is something I will never forget. When I took them all for ice cream and we picked up treats, I was able to do that without having to worry about how to pay for it or my next meal. My life has completely changed since I met you and all for the better. I no longer worry about where I'm gonna sleep or if this town will hire me. Then it's on to the next, but how far away is it? Will I make it? Everything I need and want is right here, with you."