Free The Liar by Nora Roberts

last.”
    “Out, out, out.”
    “I’m working on it.”
    Before she could get around the van, kids swarming her, to open the side door, her mother came running.
    Nearly six feet, Ada Mae had long legs to cover the ground from house to van. Her yellow sundress billowed around those legs, set off her crown of red hair.
    Before Shelby could take a breath she was caught in a bear hug and surrounded by the scent of L’Air du Temps, her mother’s signature perfume.
    “Here you are! Here’s my girls! My God, Shelby Anne, you’re skinny as a snake. We’re going to fix that. For goodness’ sake, you kids give us some room here. Look at you, just look!” She cupped Shelby’s face, tilted it up. “Everything’s going to be just fine,” she said when Shelby’s eyes teared. “Don’t you go running your mascara. It’s all fine now. How do you get this door open?”
    Shelby pulled the handle so the side door slid open.
    “Gamma! Gamma!” Callie reached out, arms stretched. “Out, out!”
    “I’m going to get you out of there. How the hell do you get her out of there? Oh, just look at you!” Ada Mae covered Callie’s face with kisses as Shelby released the harness, the seat belt. “You’re pretty as a sunbeam in May. And what a pretty dress, too. Oh, give your Gamma a big hug.”
    In her yellow sling-back heels, Ada Mae turned circles in the road while Callie clung to her like a burr.
    “We’re all over the place.” Tears slid down Ada Mae’s cheeks as she circled.
    “Don’t cry, Gamma.”
    “That’s just joy spilling out, and good thing I’ve got waterproof mascara. We’re out here, in the house, out the backyard where they’ve got the big grill going already. We’ve got food to feed the army we are, and some champagne, too, to celebrate.”
    With Callie on her hip, Ada Mae pulled Shelby in for a three-generation hug. “Welcome home, baby.”
    “Thank you, Mama, more than I can say.”
    “Let’s get you inside, get you some sweet tea. The moving van was here not two hours ago.”
    “Already?”
    “Carted everything right up to Callie’s room. We’ve got it all made up so sweet and pretty. Your room’s right next to your mama’s,” she said as they walked to the house. “I put you in Clay’s old room, Shelby, as it’s bigger than the one you had. It’s been fresh painted, and we got a new mattress. The old was worn out. Callie’s in Forrest’s old room, so you know you’ll share that bath between them. We got some nice new towels in there for you. Got them from your granny’s spa, so they’re nice.”
    Shelby would’ve said she shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble, but if Ada Mae wasn’t fussing, she wasn’t breathing.
    “Gilly baked a cake, all fancy. She’s about ready to pop, but that girl can bake like Betty Crocker.”
    Her brother Clay came out. He’d gotten his parents’ height, and their father’s coloring with his dark hair and eyes. Grinning, he plucked Shelby off her feet, spun her like a top.
    “About time you got here,” he murmured in her ear.
    “Soon as I could.”
    “Give her over,” he ordered his mother, and snatched Callie. “Hey there, sunshine. Remember me?”
    “Unca Clay.”
    “Girls always remember the handsome ones. Let’s go find some trouble.”
    “If anybody can,” Ada Mae said, and wrapped an arm around Shelby’s waist. “You need a cold drink and a chair.”
    “I feel like I’ve been sitting for days, but I’d take the cold drink.”
    Family spread around the house so there were more hugs and welcomes, more yet when they reached the kitchen. Gilly—and she did look ready to pop—stood with a boy just a year younger than Callie on her hip.
    “I’ve got him.” Clay transferred his son, Jackson, to his other hip. “Got me a set now.” He took off running out the back door, letting out a war hoop that had both kids squealing.
    “Born to be a daddy. And a good thing,” Ada Mae added, giving Gilly’s belly a gentle pat.