“Okay.” She leans up on her tip toes with a smile that I kiss away before I let her go.

I go join my brothers and the kids, but head back and forth to check on her every once in a while, to make sure she’s okay and that she doesn’t need any help. Of course, the girls all kick me out each and every time or give me a hard time about being obsessed with Franny, and since I am absolutely obsessed, I don’t deny it. I also think it’s laughable since my brothers are just as bad as I am about staying away from their wives.

When her parents and her brother arrive a little while later, I introduce everyone, and it’s not surprising Barrett has heard of Clay because of the amount of money he’s brought into the state with his business. He is also familiar with Tucker and Miles due to their jobs with the FBI and a case they had not that long ago that made national news.

As the evening carries on and everyone sits around talking, it’s not lost on me that there is no awkwardness. As easily as my family accepted Franny, Barrett and Betsy embrace my brothers and their wives, and instantly fall in love with their kids.

By the time the evening is coming to an end, Jacob, who is supposed to graduate next year from college, has charmed Clay into offering him a job when he finishes school, and Betsy has immersed herself in the role of Grandma to my brother’s kids. Plus, Barrett has taken full advantage of Betsy being distracted and has eaten like he hasn’t had food in years, something I overhear him tell his daughter to be quiet about when she catches him with another plate of food after already having three.

It’s a great night, and I know as we walk Franny’s parents out to their car and they hug us goodbye that they feel the same.

“Are you okay?” I look down at Franny when her parents pull away and she tips her head back and smiles while leaning deeper into my side.

“Yeah, I’m glad everyone got along.”

“Me too.” I kiss the top of her head then lead her inside and take her upstairs with PJ following behind us.

As we go through our regular nightly routine and start getting ready for bed, it hits me that I almost missed out on this.