“Hello,” a male voice said. “You must be Magnolia and Willow.”
I saw a gorgeous, dark-haired man, who I estimated to be in his early thirties. He walked through the snow wearing a smart navy overcoat, dark jeans and boots.
“Hi!” Willow ran past him. “Look, I made footprints!”
“I’m your cousin, Julian.” He smiled. “Thomas is my father.”
“Hello, Julian.” I nodded, recalling that Thomas had given me a rundown on the current Drake family. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He walked over and extended a hand. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, Magnolia.”
“Oh, honey please, call me Maggie.” I automatically shook his hand. “Only my mama called me Magnolia.” I smiled politely, met his eyes, and felt a jolt go all the way to my toes. My cousin’s eyes were a startling combination of blue and brown. One eye had a ring of brown against the electric blue, and the other iris was brown with patches of that same bright blue color.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“Your eyes,” I said, tugging him a bit closer. “Sectoral heterochromia.” I’d seen eyes like his before.
“Hi cousin Thomas!” Willow launched herself at the older man, who’d suddenly arrived. To my surprise, he scooped her up despite his elegant clothes and settled her—snowy boots and all—on his hip.
“Hello Princess,” Thomas said, smiling fondly at her. “How was your trip?”
“We drove forever!” Willow declared.
I finally remembered to release Julian’s hand. “Well, I guess I’ve got the answer to the question that’s puzzled me for the past four years.” I unlocked the trunk and raised it.
Julian cocked his head. “Oh, what question is that?”
“I’d always wondered where my daughter’s unusual eye coloring came from.” I gestured to where Thomas stood with Willow. “Now I have my answer.”
Thomas walked closer, and Julian glanced over at Willow. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, and slowly, he began to smile.
Willow’s right eye was blue, and her left was almost equally divided between both brown and sky-blue colors.
“Her eyes are like mine.” Julian sounded awed.
“It’s a Drake family trait,” Thomas said to me. “Phillip—your grandfather, had the same mixture of eye colors.”
“Funny old world, isn’t it?” I put my hands on my hips as I looked from Julian to my daughter. For some reason, all the nerves that had been dancing in my belly smoothed out.
Julian laughed and tugged a suitcase from the trunk. “Welcome home, cousin.”
***
Thomas led the way down the front walk with Willow’s hand in his. He stopped long enough on the tiny front porch to open the door. Willow rushed inside with an excited shout, and I followed behind them hauling my suitcase and purse. Julian was right behind me and was carting in the rest.
The cottage was charming as advertised and smelled sweet of lavender. It was, as I’d been told, furnished in comfortable and child-friendly furniture. The kitchen was U shaped, on the small side, but gorgeous with cabinets in a soft blue-green with crystal knobs. The countertops were white flecked with gray, and the white subway tile backsplash gave it all a crisp, clean look.
There was just room enough for a drop leaf table, and my eyes widened at seeing the obviously new appliances. Someone had placed a small vase of daisies on the counter and it made me smile.
A loud knock sounded on the cottage door and before I finished turning around, a pretty brunette in a bright royal blue coat let herself right in. “You’re here!” she cried and moved directly to me with her arms out.
“Er…hello.” I managed, then found myself in a surprising but welcoming embrace. I recognized her from her social media page. Autumn Bishop—my cousin on my grandmother’s side and my first bridal client in William’s Ford.
“Finally!” She pulled back and held me at arm’s length. Her green eyes shone behind trendy glasses. “Good god, you’re totally gorgeous, aren’t you?” she said. “You’ve got the same dark hair as Julian.” Before I could respond, she was turning and speaking to a blonde man who’d come in with her. “Duncan, come meet your cousin.”
“Hello, Magnolia,” Duncan said, and held out a hand.
“Please, call me Maggie,” I said, and when Autumn released me, I stuck my hand out.
“Maggie.” Duncan smiled and took my hand, and I found myself being measured by my new cousin. His blue eyes were intense but smiling. His casual work clothes and old bomber jacket, in comparison to the rest of the Drake family’s elegant apparel, had me relaxing slightly.
“I’ll take your suitcases to the bedrooms for you,” Julian announced, and carried them to the back.
“Oh, thank you,” I managed.
Willow discovered that all her toys and dolls were unpacked and promptly hauled Thomas off to go see them. Before I realized what had happened, Autumn had cheerfully herded me to the kitchen and put on the water for some tea. She filled up the cottage with energy and enthusiasm.
“This isn’t necessary,” I tried to tell her, but found that my words fell on deaf ears.
“I made sure they stocked the pantry and fridge for you,” she said, and proceeded to show me the staples in the cabinets.
“Thank you,” I said, peering in the refrigerator, and seeing eggs, juice, milk, butter and fresh fruit. “That was very considerate.”
Autumn turned and bumped into me. “Oops, sorry. Have a seat, sit down and relax.”
“Well, I—” My voice trailed off as she steered me to the table and pulled out a chair. Amused, I sat.
Only after she’d poured me a mug of tea, and had plied Willow with cookies and juice, did she decide we were all right to be left on our own. “Now, if you need anything, you have my cell phone number, right?”
“I do.” I nodded.
“I’ll let the two of you settle in, and we’ll see you both at dinner tonight.”
“If you want to walk over,” Julian said, “follow the path from the back porch and through the gardens. We had it cleared.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Be at home,” Thomas said with a small smile.
Autumn shooed the
