“Good. Great job, Dad.” She took a sip of her wine. “You coming to join the rest of us? Also, you should’ve told Mom your friend is gay. She’s trying to fix him up with one of her guests. A woman.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Also, Sadie, remember what the doctor said. Smiling could just be a reflex, you know?”

“No, Jules, it wasn’t. I asked him if he liked Pepper, and she licked his hand, and he smiled. That’s significant.”

“Sure.”

“What is with you? Did he beat you or lock you in the cellar before I was born? Why aren’t you more excited?”

“He’s asleep now. You gonna join us or what?”

I closed my eyes briefly, then looked at my father. He was asleep, Pepper’s head on his leg. I covered them both with a soft throw and followed my sister into the back. “You look good, by the way,” I told her.

“Are you making fun of me?” She jerked to a stop in the hallway and turned to glare at me.

“No! Why? Should I have said you look like shit? You just look . . . pretty. I’m sorry. Was that a wrong thing to say? No. It’s not. I revoke my apology.”

“Can you do me one favor? Be nice to Mom.”

“I . . . okay. Check.”

Carter saw me first and gave me a big bear hug. “I’ve missed you so desperately! How are you, precious?” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Why does your mother think I’m straight? Will she stone me if I tell her I like boys?”

“She’s very accepting, if obtuse. I’m so sorry. I missed you, too!” I kissed him on the cheek. “We’re still on for tomorrow morning, right?”

“What’s tomorrow morning?”

“I show you my house, you wave your magical Queer Eye wand and boom! It’s beautiful, and we go out for brunch with Alexander.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I’m going to the casino tomorrow with Josh. He loves the craps table.”

“You brought Josh?”

“He’s coming tomorrow.” Carter paused for effect. “It’s official. He’s my boyfriend, and we’re getting matching tattoos. Now come. Mingle, and break the news to your mother that I won’t be dating that nice girl in the corner.”

The family room was two steps down, and there were more people here than I’d expected. Oliver (smiling, ever smiling, which shouldn’t irritate me as much as it did), Caro and her boo, Ted or Theo or Tim, I could never remember, and . . .

Oh, crap. Noah. And (not crap) Mickey and their baby. Little Marcus was being cooed over by my mother at the moment.