Just as they wander into the living room, Aiden and Ashlyn enter behind them. Both look as if they’re holding in a secret.
Mustering up a bright smile, I reach out to hug Ashlyn, who looks as if I may attack her. She stands perfectly still as I wrap my arms around her. “Welcome to family dinner!” I say, but she’s frozen still.
“Uh, thanks for having me.”
Aiden pulls her back into his chest and kisses me swiftly on the opposite cheek as Ryan. “Hey, Mom…” His eyes narrow above my head. “Dad.”
“Hello,” Xavier answers, voice smooth as ice. “And hello, Ashlyn.”
“Hi.”
The silence stretches until I link my arm through hers andlead her into the living room. “Your cousin’s already here with Ryan. You know Henry, my youngest son, and this is Alice, our youngest daughter.”
The smell of roast and garlic bread softens the tension. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge,” I tell her, trying to warm her up.
Olivia and Valen enter like smoke—shy smiles, fingers intertwined. My heart swells seeing them happy. I just wish Xavier and Aiden could find that same rhythm. They’re too alike. One of them has to bend, and it’s never going to be my husband.
Sitting down, I pour some wine for Olivia and me, then offer some to Ashlyn. She stares at me, wide-eyed.
“I’m too young for that.” But she says it like a test.
“Oh, all right. But if you change your mind?—”
Aiden reaches over, grabs the bottle, and pours her a glass anyway, eyes locked on his father.
“So, Ashlyn,” Xavier starts, casual but sharp. Like he hasn’t done all the research on her already. “What are you studying?”
“Architecture. I just changed this semester.”
“Huh.”
“So I appreciate the Eames pieces,” she says quickly. “And the lines in here—really well done.”
Xavier leans back and sips his beer. “It’s Marissa’s concept, but yes. I like it, too.”
“It’s a little like our house,” she adds.
“Yeah, it is. Similar design.”
Aiden smiles, that cocky Cardell smile. One that says he has a winning hand he’s about to lay down. “Ashlyn designed it, Dad.”
Xavier startles. “She designed your house? The earthen modern mansion?”
“A long time ago,” Aiden replies, pulling her closer to himon the bench seat. He presses a kiss to her temple, and she gives a soft grin to her mashed potatoes.
“Impressive. We’ll have to discuss our favorite architects sometime.”
Ashlyn lights up. “Yeah. Definitely.”
She shoves in another bite, opposite of Olivia, who’s taking neat little nibbles. Valen’s only watching my daughter. Ryan and Pippi are in a heated conversation with Henry about some Greek house problem. But Ashlyn seems veryawareof everything. Just like Aiden.
“This food is amazing,” she says graciously between chews. “So good… Was it a, um, chef?” She glances around the kitchen.
“No. That’s all me,” Xavier answers, flicking me a sidelong look that asks,Could I like her?
I give him the tiniest nod.You’re doing fine.
Dinner hums along. The kids trade stories, jokes fly, and no one raises their voice. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted—a moment where every Cardell, for once, feels whole.