Page 105 of Old Habits

“Of course, it does!” My mother launches off the loveseat and rushes over to Jovie. “Come here!”

Jovie can barely stand up the whole way before Mom throws her arms around her. I release her hand to stop myself from being sucked into my mother’s vortex of an embrace as she rattles Jovie back and forth.

She suddenly pulls back and nudges Jovie’s chin. “See? What did I tell you? My boy adores you.”

I squint with confusion but I let it slide.

“Dave—” My mother twists around. “Do we have champagne? We need champagne.”

I hold up a hand. “Mom, we don’t need champagne.”

Dad shakes his head once. “We don’t have champagne.”

“Can we get champagne?” she asks.

“Mom…” I stand up and gently pull Jovie from her shaking grasp. “The wine will do just fine, all right?”

She slaps my shoulder. “And you wanted me to make spaghetti?”

I exhale with defeat as Andy tugs on my pant leg. “Yeah, buddy?” I ask him.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I kneel as Mom yanks Jovie into another choke-hold. “Jovie and I are getting married,” I explain. “Like grandma and grandpa and your mom and dad. We’re partners. Does that make sense?”

He glances around as his eyes grow wide. “Am I getting a cousin to play with?”

I hesitate. “Um…”

“Have you two picked a date yet?” my mother asks.

“No,” I answer, withdrawing from Andy’s question. “We haven’t had a chance to hammer down details at all.”

“But, it’ll be soon,” Jovie says, smiling. “We’ve already applied for our license.”

My mother squeals while I glance at Sara’s horrified expression hidden behind her wineglass.

“You’re definitely here to stay, then!”

Jovie gives a sly nod. “Clover is my home. I want to be a part of it again. Even if it doesn’t want me back…”

“Oh, they’ll get used to you once they see how much you’ve grown up.”

“I’d like to get more involved in town committees,” Jovie continues, “but I seem to be getting a lot of doors shut in my face.”

“Well, that’s not very Cloverly. Oh—!” Mom claps once. “I have a great idea! Sara, you should invite Jovie to join the party planning committee.”

Jovie beams in triumph. “That is a wonderful suggestion, Rachel.” Her face slowly turns toward my sister’s growing scowl. “I would love to join the party planning committee.”

Sara rises from her chair. “Will, can I talk to you in the other room?”

I wince on the inside. “Well, we’re kind of—”

“Kitchen. Now.”

She marches into the hallway and we all pause, listening to the sound of her heels as they clack into the kitchen.

Mom snorts and reaches for her wineglass. “She’s slowly becoming me, isn’t she?”