A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"I already brought all this out. Wouldn't it be weird to make me put it back?"

“Just take it, okay? You're just like Portia. If I'm giving it to her, then you guys should get it too!"

Crispin looked resolute, clearly not about to take back the envelopes.

At his words, Calliope and Mavis exchanged a glance, then finally accepted the envelopes.

Not long after, Quentin and the others came out of the kitchen.

Once the brothers had ditched their aprons, each of them pulled out an envelope as well.

They handed them out to Calliope, Portia, and Mavis, one by one.

"Oh gosh, you guys really didn't have to!" Portia said, though her hands were already busy tearing open her envelope to sneak a peek at what was inside.

Everyone burst out laughing.

more reserved. She thanked them, then

gotten a Christmas stocking or anything like this before. But every year, if she spent the holidays with Calliope,

envelope in her hands, feeling the weight of it in her heart too. Her eyes stung. She might not have the best family, but she had the best friend, and her friend's brothers were the

not about to cry, are you?" Calliope teased, coming over to tickle her. "What, is it not enough? Are our brothers too

too stingy," Quentin

than enough. Honestly, it's almost too much for me to handle," Mavis said, her eyes shiny with tears. She looked up at Quentin and the others. "Thank

so formal with us!" Julius replied with a grin. "Don't be sad, we get it. We know about your family. You're

an envelope, just like Callie and Portia. And when you get married one day, we'll be your family, helping you out

up their minds. No way would they let Callie handle all the wedding gifts by herself. What were her brothers for,

was it. Mavis burst

real family would never do that."

wrapping Mavis in a hug. "You're my family. And my family is your family,

in. "We're all family here. But hey, don't cry too much, you'll mess up your

"It's dark out, and these fireworks are insane. Quentin even made a couple of them