Ruffian took in the scene and then smiled. “Shit. I thought someone was getting murdered in here.”

After Teddi set her feet down, she bounced up and turned around so she could give Austin a hug like a koala. He supported her with an arm around her waist, but continued talking to Mike as if he wasn’t carrying a person at all.

“Made good time!” Mike leaned in to hug Austin and they smooshed Teddi in between them. She did hilarious jazz hands and acted like she was getting compacted.

Austin responded while keeping Teddi trapped, “We did. You know, go fast, pass on the right as Mom always says.”

Ronna stepped in and swatted Austin’s arm. “You know I hate that saying.”

Mike and Austin responded at the same time, “We know.”

She put her hands on her hips and surveyed the crowd. “Well, I’m thrilled I shopped in Costco yesterday. Everybody interested in a BBQ dinner?”

The cheers picked up again. The gamers started chanting, “Chicken! Chicken!”

She waved her hands above her head to get them to stop. “Any allergies? Vegetarians? Vegans?”

There were a few things mentioned and she pulled her phone out of the front of her shirt, where I assumed she was keeping it safe during her painting to take notes.

Teddi and I jump-hugged each other.

She was exuberant and gorgeous, as usual. “How the hell are you? I can’t believe you’re living with Austin. We need to have a sleepover. You’re staying here tonight, right? Dad’s making a fire, and Milt’s guys are going to set up a blowup screen outside. It’s too cold for the pool, but it will be fine anyway.”

“You’re making to-do lists in your head, aren’t you?” I put my hands on her cheeks as I watched her rev up into her plan.

“Always. You know that.”

We all herded upstairs where Ronna swung into mass feeding mode. We got assigned jobs and Teddi helped her mother dole out supplies and orders.

I was peeling potatoes for a salad and Austin stepped up next to me to join while the pasta cooked for his famous mac and cheese. We both used the peelers and saved the peels for the compost. I tried not to frame us as a happy couple visiting his parents in my head and failed. I had done it so many times over the years. When our elbows touched, I met his eyes and he winked at me. Just us in on our special secret.

When Peaches arrived, Teddi’s whooping let us all know like an alarm.

Austin handed me a towel to wipe my hands. “Go. Do the thing. You know you have to.”

I set down my peeler and did as he said before turning toward the front door.