Brothers of Paradise Series

I’m in shock.

There was not an ounce of pretension in her voice; it was ringing with sincerity. Is that how she sees me?

The table is quiet, including my dad, who is just staring at her. Faye smiles sweetly and picks up her wineglass. “The meal is excellent, Mrs. Marchand. Thank you for inviting me.”

My mom swallows. “There’s sherry in the sauce. That’s the secret.”

“I’ll have to try that.”

Dad is drumming his fingers along the edge of the table, for all the world the picture of ease again. His linen shirt is open at the top, his thick hair the same as his sons’, but gray now.

I meet his gaze with my own and dare him to say anything insulting back. He’s been rude enough already to Faye, but if he decides to really lay into it…

He doesn’t.

“Well,” he says finally. “Welcome to Paradise Shores, Faye.”

The table releases a collective sigh of relief-that the tension is over, that I’m not about to storm off, that Dad isn’t going to retreat to his study, that this won’t become another battle.

Under the table, I find her hand again, this time just for a light squeeze. Thank you. Faye smiles down at her plate and squeezes right back.

After dinner, my sister insists on showing Faye around the house, and I follow dutifully, watching as all kinds of things are pointed out.

“Here is our dog, we used to have one… Atlas. And this is Henry, winning the Paradise Shores Junior Sailing Regatta.” They stop at a picture of me, gawky and gangly, lifting a much-too-heavy trophy in the air.

Faye grins. “Why am I not surprised you won?”

“Because I win everything.”

Lily rolls our eyes at me and keeps going, walking through the hallway between the dining and living rooms. “Not everything, Henry. I can beat you in Monopoly.”

I nod, but when she turns around, I shake my head at Faye. “I let her win,” I mouth.

We stop at the bookshelves with our diplomas. Three identical ones from Yale. Henry Marchand, School of Architecture. Parker Marchand, School of Management. Lily Marchand, School of Art.

There is none for Rhys, but Faye doesn’t comment. She just leans in closer and reads the fine print on mine. “You weren’t valedictorian? I’m disappointed.”

I shake my head at her and follow them through my childhood home, through the nooks and crannies, listening to them talk. Despite the outburst at dinner, there’s something at peace inside me, watching Faye with my sister. I want them to like each other. I want Faye to like this place.

I want her to like me.

“Come on,” I say finally. “Let’s grab a last drink. I think Parker was talking about cards.”

Lily threads her arm through Faye’s. “Henry’s just feeling left out. Has he filled you in about tomorrow night already?”

“No, he has not.” Faye wiggles her eyebrows at me. “What’s happening?”

“Well, it’s not really a traditional bachelor and bachelorette party, but Hayden and I are splitting up. The boys will go do something-I don’t want to know what-and us girls will be at mine in the evening. Do you want to come?”

“I’d be happy to. Thanks for inviting me.”

My parents have already called it a night, but the rest of us gather around for a few rounds of rummy for old times’ sake.

Hayden pulls Lily onto his lap and ignores Parker’s and Rhys’s grumbles. “Come on, I’m marrying her on Saturday. Cut us some slack.”

My sister puts a hand on his cheek, laughing. “They’re overjoyed that you’re joining the family, don’t you worry.”

It’s such a public display of affection-not one they usually indulge in-but I can’t fault them. Lily and Hayden have been in love for years and years, and it’s only recently that they’ve gotten the happy ending they deserve.

But as Faye sits down opposite me, my hands twitch to do the same: to have her next to me, near me. It’s a dangerous impulse. She’s as deliciously competitive with my family as she is with me. I watch as she beats Parker soundly.

“A very low bar to clear,” Rhys says dryly, and we all laugh. When it’s like this, all of us together… I wonder why I’m not home more often.

We play until our drinks run low, until the summer sun slowly sinks into the horizon, setting the ocean ablaze. Faye is a natural. She fits right in, laughing and joking, and I’m the one who has to call it a night.

“All right, all right,” I say. “We’re heading out. Lily-get some sleep.”

“Some beauty sleep,” Parker interjects. “Think about your upcoming nuptials.”

Hayden slaps a hand on Parker’s shoulders. “Don’t encourage her. I don’t think I could stand it if she got more beautiful.”

We all groan at the cheesy compliment, and Rhys frowns at him. “Low-hanging fruit. You already got your ring on her finger.”

Lily slips her arm through Hayden’s. “Flattery is always welcome, so shush. Thanks for coming, Faye. I’m sorry that they’re behaving so badly.”

Faye doesn’t seem to agree at all, though. She is a living flame next to me, our fingers interlaced, her smile broad and true. “Not at all. I’ve had a fantastic time. Would have been better if I’d have won that last round, though.”This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Rhys shoots her a smile. “I couldn’t let that happen, not even for my big brother’s girlfriend. I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. I’ll win next time, though.”

“Looking forward to seeing you try.”

I shake my head at their trash talk. “We’ll see you all tomorrow.”

The door shuts behind us and we’re alone in the warm evening air. Faye is still holding on to my hand, her skin warm and soft against mine, her fingers slender. I don’t want to let her go.

“Come on,” she says. “Let’s walk along the beach back.”

“You sure? There are no lights.”

Her smile is still wide, and a little wild. “Scared, Marchand?”

It’s such a juvenile thing to say that I laugh. “No. I have the home field advantage here, in case you’d forgotten.”

“Oh, I definitely haven’t. God, your family is huge.”

“Yeah, we’re a lot of people. Careful there.” I steady her as we walk across the edge of our property, around the little driftwood fence Rhys and I built many years ago, and onto the public boardwalk.