“They’d like me to think so, but they moved here for the town. So far two of my siblings have followed.”

“How many do you have?”

He paused on the doorstep, his hand resting on the brass knob. “Six.”

“What?” Colleen burst out. “Six? Gosh, tell me they aren’t all inside this house waiting to meet me.”

He grinned.

Colleen flinched and bit her lip. “Sorry, that came out wrong. I’d love to meet your family. I’m just not prepared.”

“I don’t believe anyone is home except my parents and you can wait out here if you’d like.”

Colleen touched his wrist, circled her fingers around it and then took his hand in hers. “I want to meet them. Six is just a lot. I have only two and I can’t seem to manage all the drama between us.”

Beckett kissed her cheek and then opened the door without knocking and called out, “Mom?”

Colleen had always wondered what it would be like to say “Mom,” as it was always “Mother” in their house. The formality matched Elizabeth’s personality, but under her breath at times when no one could hear her, Colleen had called her Mommy.

A tall woman, elegant even in jeans and a white T-shirt, came from the back of the house. She held a cell phone to her ear. “Gotta go, bug. I’ll call you later. Your brother, my favorite, is here.”

Colleen stood stunned until Beckett burst into laughter and hugged his mom. “Nina loves when you say that.”

“She’s fuming right now, crafting an e-mail about my horrid sense of humor.” The woman had long dark hair, a lined face free of makeup, and large blue eyes with eyelashes long enough to sweep up and almost touch her eyebrows. She hugged her son and then turned to Colleen. “Well, hello, sweetie, I’m Denise.”

“Hi, I’m Colleen. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

The woman’s smile bloomed larger and she set her gaze on her son. “Don’t you just love the South? If I’d known I could be called ma’am I would have moved here long, long ago.”

Beckett held out the box. “I brought this back for Dad. He said he wanted it for some tournament tomorrow. I’ll put it in the shed.”

“Just leave it in the kitchen for now. Come in and say hello to Dad, and Sylvia’s here, too. Some mess with her job.”