After they finished fussing with her, Maddie spotted her and approached, smiling broadly and giving her a quick hug. The scent of vanilla filled her nose, and she leaned into it this time, inhaling deeply and with something like relief. Maddie pulled back, her eyes filled with concern.

“You okay?” she whispered. “You seem a little…overwhelmed.”

Ryann laughed, weakly. “Is it that obvious?”

Maddie snorted. “Maybe, but don’t worry about it. I know these people, and it’s always a lot. You need a drink. Let me show you.”

Maddie grabbed her hand, and she didn’t fight it, letting her lead her back into the chaos outside the kitchen. Things were, if anything, much louder than before, and judging from the state of several of the groups, the booze was really flowing. A whiff of pot came from somewhere to her right, and she turned that way, surprised, but whoever was smoking was out of sight, possibly in a back room. It was too crowded to spot Stuart, despite the close confines, and they basically had to brush and push through the crowd.

“The fire marshal would have a field day with this,” Maddie said to her, volume just shy of a shout.

“Do I smell pot?” she asked.

Maddie grinned back. “It’s legal. There’s an enclosed porch on the side of the house if you want to go join them—some of the cousins and their friends, probably. Jai’s uncle Jake is undoubtedly out there, too. He’s the real family pothead.”

So not quite the Hallmark Channel after all.

“No. That’s okay,” she said. “Just a drink is fine.”

“Maddie!” A woman suddenly shouted to their left. “Get over here. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Maddie changed directions, still pulling her along.

“Jos!” Maddie said. Ryann hadn’t met this sister yet, who seemed older than the others. Dressed in professional attire—a skirt suit and heels—she also had her hair and makeup more carefully styled and done.

“Oh my God, Maddie,” Jos said. “It’s been like a thousand years.”

“Something like that,” Maddie said. “Almost two months, anyway. I saw you at Christmas.”

“That was ages ago.”

Jos’s voice was louder than necessary, and her eyes were slightly watery. The empty glass in her hand probably wasn’t her first.

Jos noticed her then, her eyes going wide as she stared at her. “Wow, Maddie. Who’s this?”

“This is Ryann,” Maddie said. “She’s—”

“Holy shit,” Jos said. “She’s gorgeous. I mean, you’re gorgeous, Ryann, really. Wow. Maddie always has the prettiest girlfriends. She must be dynamite in bed.”

Maddie laughed, opening her mouth to say something, but Jos was dragged away a moment later by a woman that looked suspiciously similar to her—one of the other sisters Ryann had briefly met.

“I’m sorry,” Maddie said.