Chapter 1
Trey
“Mom! I’ve decided I want one!” I announced, placing two mimosas on the table.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, Son,” Mom said with a laugh. “Maybe you can start with what it is you want, and was it something I should have put in your Easter basket?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Mom,” I said, taking a seat at the table next to her. “Can I please have one?”
“You haven’t said what it is you want, have you?” She sipped on her mimosa.
“You know what I want. Why are you making me say it?” I turned in my chair to look directly at her. “I want my own Mia.”
“Am I to surprise you like I did with Parker?” Mom smiled behind her glass. “Because I don’t think you would be surprised, if that’s what you want.”
“Yes, very humorous, Mother,” I deadpanned, and we both started laughing.
“Trey, you’ve always had a wonderful way with women. Your reputation in the tabloids over the years is proof of that,” Mom said, taking another light sip. “Why would you need a mail-order bride?”
“That’s just it — models, actresses, and socialites,” I said, topping off our glasses. “I’m ready to be in love. I want what Parker has and it has to be because of her. So, I want Mia.”
“Your brother might have something to say about that. I think he’s rather fond of his wife.” She pushed her glass to the middle of the table. “Are you trying to get me drunk to get your way?”
“Not on purpose, but if it would help...” I pretended to reach for her glass.
“Now who’s being funny?” She slapped at my hand. “So, tell me again what it is you’re asking for? I’ve forgotten already from the mimosa.”
“I want my own Mia,” I stated, inches from her face. “Work your magic and get me one too.”
“There’s only one Mia, my dear big brother,” Murphy, my baby sister, said on a yawn as she slid into a chair at the breakfast table next to me. “You just hate that you didn’t win the girl for the first time in your life. It’s time to get over it.”
“What are you going on about? I didn’t even try to win the girl from him,” I corrected. “Of course, if I had tried, I would have won.”
“Oh, please. Get over yourself, Three. There was no way you were going to get Mia from Parker,” Murphy argued.
“Come on, you two. It’s Easter weekend,” Mom scolded, standing and putting her glass in the sink. “I have things to get done before the rest of the family gets here.”
“Mom,” I called out as she headed for the door, “I’m serious. I want one too.”
“Oh, I know you’re serious. But just because Parker got one, doesn’t mean you get one.” She stopped at the door and turned. “Besides, Parker isn’t like you.”
“You got one for August too,” I mumbled. “That’s not fair.”
“No, Trey, I got one for Asher to get this family out of the tabloids and make our investors happy,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “August just stole her from Asher. I suppose you could steal her from August.”
“You’re a barrel of laughs today. Maybe we should set up a stage so you can do a full stand-up,” I said, walking around the counter to hug her. “Don’t you want your oldest child to be happily married?”
“You’ve always tried to get your way by hugging me. I’d have thought you would have learned it doesn’t work by now,” she smiled, taking my face in her hands. “I do love the hugs though. I may need a bunch more all weekend.”
“Mom!” I heard myself whine, then laughed. “Please.”
“Let me think about it, okay?” Mom paused in the doorway. “I do have something you can do for me though. That is, if you want to be in my good graces.”
“On that note, I’m off to the shower before everyone gets here,” Murphy said quickly, grabbing a muffin. “I’m going to win the Easter egg hunt this year, Three.”
“You can try, Brat, but you know it’s not happening. Neither is the egg decorating prize,” I called out to her as she left the room.
I watched my mother stare at me out of the corner of my eye as I grabbed a muffin and broke a piece off.. I leaned my back on the counter and met her gaze
“Oh boy, I’m not sure I like that look in your eyes, Mother Dear,” I said when Murphy left the room. “Go ahead, tell me what you want from me.”
“I just need you to wear a little costume for me for about thirty minutes,” Mom said. “Nothing to it.”
“I should’ve known you had something planned behind all that talk. Where? When? Why?” I asked hesitantly.
“This afternoon when Parker and Mia arrive. Here at the house. No big deal, just the family. Because I want to do something nice for Mia’s niece,” Mom said. “What do you say? The costume is in the study if you want to look at it first.”
“You already had this planned,” I said on a sigh. “I’ve been duped by a master.”
“Trey, not duped,” She replied soothingly, placing a kiss on my cheek. “Just a good son who loves kids. And Mia’s sister and niece are visiting from Australia. I wanted to do something special for the little girl.”
“I’d love to do that, Mom,” I said. “It’s a great idea and very thoughtful, as always. Does that maybe now mean you’ll owe me a favor?”
“Are we keeping tabs now on favors?” Mom asked, still in the doorway. “You do remember how good I am at keeping records of everything.”
“No way,” I said in disbelief. “You haven’t kept track of that all these years.”
“Are you sure?” She walked away laughing. “I’ll be down in a few minutes, but your brothers are about to walk in the front door.”
She left me standing in the kitchen, trying to think back and work up a tally, when I heard a commotion in the foyer that could only be the twins.
“That’s not what I said,” was all I heard. It had to be Asher and August arguing. No matter how old they were, there was always arguing, mostly because of something Asher did or said. I braced myself for whatever their problem was and walked into the foyer to greet them.
“Well, Happy Easter to you two. I kinda thought this nonsense would end once you got married, August.” I walked toward them. “Where is that lovely bride of yours, Asher? Oops, no, I meant August. That is who ended up with her, right?”
“Oh, shut up,” Asher and August said in unison without looking in my direction.
“Shut up? Did you both just say, ‘shut up’?” I stepped in between them and what promised to be another long-winded twin argument.
“Stay out of it, Trey,” August said through gritted teeth.
“Come on now, August. Why are you letting this punk get you this mad?” I placed my arm across his shoulder. “Let me handle him today. Where is that beautiful wife of yours? The one he didn’t get…”