Mia air-slapped him on the arm. “You might be their favorite uncle now. When Uncle Lucas comes home, he might argue with you over that. But I’m their favorite person because I’m their sister, and that takes precedence over uncles.”

“An ongoing argument in this house,” Sonny chuckled. “If you want to know the truth, Stevie, I’m the favorite over all of them. I made them smile for the first time, and yesterday Sam giggled when I was making faces at him.”

“I bet you are.” Stevie could almost feel the love the family had for one another wrapping around her like a thick, fuzzy blanket on a cold night.

“All right, everyone, I’m putting the pot on the counter, and tonight I’ll ask Jesse to say grace,” Addy said. “After that, you can line up and help yourselves.”

Jesse slipped his arm around his wife’s waist and bowed his head. “Our Father…”

Stevie didn’t hear the rest of the prayer, because she was thinking about what her mother said about being beautiful on the inside. Right then she couldn’t claim a bit of that beauty, because she was bullfrog green with jealousy.

She had heard the gossip about Mia taking off with Ricky last summer, and also the rumors about Addy when she had finally come clean and revealed Jesse was Mia’s father. True enough, the family had had their hurdles to jump over in the past, but that night they were perfect, and she wanted to be a part of something just like this—someday.

What do you mean by someday? Her mother was back while Stevie’s head was bowed for grace. Your biological clock is ticking so loud I can hear it all the way to the pearly gates, girl. If you want a family, you’d best quit wasting time.

“Amen,” Jesse said.

“Guests first.” Cody took a step back from the counter and motioned for Stevie to go first.

“Oh, no!” She shook her head. “The only thing I love better than hot rolls is Italian food. If I go first, there won’t be anything left for the rest of you.”

“Well, I’m not bashful.” Mia picked up a plate and covered one side with pasta and the other with salad, then added two hot rolls to the top.

“That’s the Ryan genes coming out in you, girl. When it comes to food, not a one of us is shy,” Cody agreed. “Mama, are you really going to let her get by with taking two hot rolls? You would have fussed at us guys for that.”

“I’m her favorite,” Mia teased as she carried her plate to the table. “And I plan to have two pieces of Nana’s chocolate sheet cake when I’m done. Feeding cattle in all this snow uses up a lot of energy.”