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was no heat to Phil’s statement. Matter of fact, there was a lightness to Phil that the family hadn’t seen in years. He would like to think it had to do with Phil finally cutting the dead weight—by the name of Linda—from around his neck a few months ago.
    No one really knew what happened, or why, and frankly no one really cared. Ben knew it was harsh to think like that. Phil had been with Linda for over five years, but personally, Ben didn’t care for her.
    As for his two brothers working together all day, he had been to their office, and it definitely got crazy there from time to time. Though, Alec was on site more often than not since he ran the construction side, leaving Phil in the office since he was an architect.
    But that didn’t mean they didn’t still get on each other’s nerves. In the end, they always came together. Always worked it out and always got the job done, and done right. Must be the twin bond thing.
    Thoughts of that only brought up memories of Trent. Memories he would rather keep locked away for the day. Locked away altogether, if truth be known. But he couldn’t do that. Instead he had to face them. And he was trying. A little each day, but not today. Today was for family.
    His attention turned to the doorway for the entrance of his sister, Kaitlin, followed by Ryan. Almost immediately Phil and Alec stopped going at each other and went after Ryan. “Here comes pretty boy,” Alec said, chuckling.
    Kaitlin, true to form, rolled her eyes and walked past her older brothers and sat next to Ben on the couch. “How is my favorite brother?”
    Ben tugged a lock of her hair playfully. He and Kaitlin had always been close, despite their four-year age difference. Where Phil and Alec had each other, he and Kaitlin did, too. He wouldn't have had it any other way.
    He put his arm around her, pulling her close. “He is doing just fine.” He kissed her forehead and then frowned at Ryan for good measure. He could gang up on Ryan, too. United front. That’s what Ben and his brothers had always had.
    Ryan ignored Ben’s frown, walked over and sat on the other side of Kaitlin. He pulled her close and kissed her on the lips, just to spite him, Ben knew. Ben was okay with it. Deep down, Ryan was a great guy, though he didn’t like to admit it often.
    When their mother walked into the room, all the joking and goofing off stopped immediately. It always had. She didn’t even have to say a word.
    “Dinner’s ready. Let’s go eat,” Isabel said, looking around the room. “That means you, too, William. Try to move off the recliner if you can,” she said, poking fun at Ben’s father. Everyone knew William Harper preferred to stay in his favorite recliner all day when not working. However, like everyone else in the room, he started moving the minute Isabel told him to.
    “We have an announcement to make,” Kaitlin said once everyone was seated at the table.
    The dread dropped into Ben’s stomach like a brick. It better not be what he thought it was. Thankfully Alec blurted it out first, saving Ben from getting a dirty look. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
    When Kaitlin’s eyes softened, Ben really started to sweat. He expected her to deny it. Thankfully she did. “No, not yet. We have a wedding date,” she said instead.
    “That’s wonderful,” Isabel said, reaching over and clasping Kaitlin’s hand. Ben still wasn’t sure it was so wonderful, but he smiled anyway. He was happy for Kaitlin. He really was. But he would prefer to not think about her getting married. Letting go of his baby sister wasn’t easy.
    “When is it?” William asked. “How soon do I need to break out my checkbook?” He winked, causing everyone to laugh, including Ryan.
    “January seventeenth,” Kaitlin said cheerfully. “This January, less than three months away.” She turned sharply to Ben this time. “No, I’m not pregnant. Nobody ask me again.” Then her face softened. “But I want to be, and I don’t