She thought Jolene was beginning to know her, too.
“And I finally have a big sister!” Danielle Langley was a beautiful, very self-assured young woman. Not yet twenty, she was attending college back in Abilene, where she was pursuing a degree in early childhood education. She came home occasionally, and Rachel was happy she’d come home today in time for this celebration.
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” Rachel said.
They hugged, and then Danielle turned to her brother and gave him a light rap on the arm with her fist. “Good job, doofus.”
“Thanks, dweeb.” Brother and sister grinned at each other, and Jolene just rolled her eyes.
Tasha, Gord, and Clay arrived, and the hugs she received from each of them meant more to her than she could say.
“Congratulations!” Tasha beamed as she hugged first Brandon and then Trace. “I’m so excited for the three of you.”
“Apparently there’s a tradition,” Clay said. “So gentlemen, be warned. Take good care of this woman, or you’ll have to deal with us.”
Both Brandon and Trace grinned. Then Brandon nodded. “Trace and I are very grateful for the help and support y’all have been to Rachel, before we arrived. We’ll always count you as special friends.”
“We’re family,” Gord said. He nodded over to where the girls—Libby and Bonnie—were sitting. “After all, our daughters are sisters.”
The Jessops arrived—not only Brandon’s parents but also the senior Doctors Jessop and Pam, as well as Anna and her husbands, Craig and Jackson.
Colleen was excited to see Brandon who, Jillian said, had just supplanted Marc as her favorite male who was not one of her daddies. She put her hands up to him, and of course, he picked her up.
“You’re my fav’rit brover,” Colleen declared. This was a beloved bit of banter, and everyone within hearing smiled.
“You’re my favorite baby sister.”
“I’m not a baby. I’m a big girl.”
“So you are. You’re still my favorite.”
They’d had Colleen overnight a few times, and Libby had adored having the little girl there. The reality of the relationship—once she married Brandon, Libby would actually become Colleen’s niece—would likely be a source of hijinks for them both in the future. But for right now, Colleen and Libby treated each other like sisters.
“Libby!”
Clearly being held in Brandon’s arms had given the little one enough elevation to see around the dining room. She began to wiggle, and Brandon looked over at his mother.
“Just put her down. She’s safe in here.”
Brandon did then shook his head as Colleen Cassandra Jessop made a beeline toward Libby and Bonnie.
“This all reminds me of when we were the ones starting families,” Pamela said. “The aunts, uncles, and grandparents would sit by and just smile as parents kept their eyes on the wee ones.”
“Grandma, you know you love being surrounded by your grandchildren,” Brandon said. “Though I don’t know who goes the softest over them—you or the granddads.”
“It’s neck and neck and neck,” David Jessop said.
“You won’t hear any of us argue the point,” Adam Jessop said.
The senior docs shook hands with her men and then hugged Rachel. “We consider Libby our first great-grandchild,” Adam Jessop said. “She’s a remarkable young lady, my dear. That she is certainly speaks volumes about the love and devotion with which she was raised.”
“Thank you, sir,” Rachel said. His eyes twinkled, and he shot an assessing look at Brandon.
“Now, if my grandson should give you a hard time, feel free to let me know. James and I will set him straight.”
“We will, indeed,” James said.
“Sirs, I promise that Trace and I will treat Rachel right.”
Rachel smiled, feeling included as the men all played their parts—the older ones putting the younger ones on notice. She knew this was a family tradition, and it was one she loved.
There was warmth and true welcome in the greetings and good wishes extended by Anna, Craig, and Jackson. Rachel felt as if she really belonged to this amazing family.
All of the senior Jessops, two triads who were cousins, headed over to grab seats and indulge in the buffet.
There were Benedicts and Kendalls arriving, of course, and a couple of surprises. Bailey, with Chance and Logan, arrived with a young woman Rachel didn’t know.
After the congratulations and the hugs, Bailey took over the introductions. “This is my sister-in-law, Alice Benedict. She’s come to stay with us for a while.”
Alice’s smile begged Rachel’s in return. “Congratulations,” Alice said. “I hope you’ll all be happy together. Just like the guys here and Bailey.”
Rachel didn’t doubt her sincerity, but she could also see that Alice was mystified by the situation.
Rachel leaned in and lowered her voice. “It is hard to wrap your head around, isn’t it?”
“I know, right? And I mean no offence, it’s just that, I’m having trouble finding one Y-chromosome carrier worth the effort, let alone two—or three!”
“I thought the very same thing myself when I first came to Lusty.” Rachel nodded.
There was just the slightest shimmer of tears in Alice’s eyes. She’s likely here to get over a breakup.
Rachel would make an effort to be a friend to the young woman.
The same way she was befriended by the two women who came into Lusty Appetites and rushed right over to her.
“It’s this town!” Mercy Quest-Carter proclaimed. She gave Rachel a hug and hugged the guys, too. Rachel didn’t miss the look between Mercy, and then Iris Kendall, and their respective Doms, nor the discreet nods of permission the men gave.
“We’re going to give it a while,” Brandon said. He was talking to the men—Damion and Chance and Rich and Donny, who were the husbands of her besties. “Once we’ve sorted out our dynamic, we may come and play. It’s definitely an experience we want Rachel to have.”
“Well now, we were thinking of building a private dungeon at our place,” Rich said. “If you’d like to get in on it, that would be three families.
