Free A Texas Family Reunion by Judy Christenberry

job, and his mother certainly enjoys her share of the profits.”
    “Does she have a job?” Vanessa asked.
    Alex laughed. “Absolutely not. That’s what men are for.”
    “Oh, dear. I don’t think I like her, either.”
    Alex frowned. “I shouldn’t have said so much. I’m probably a little biased. David has accomplished so much, but I’m not sure he gets credit for it.”
    “I won’t say anything,” Vanessa promised.
    Alex relaxed. She figured Vanessa would keep her word, like David and Jim. It seemed to be a Barlow trait.
    David called her over and introduced her to his twin sisters, too. She liked both of them. And, as Carrie had pointed out, all David’s sisters were beauties. Alex wassurprised, however, when Rebecca pointed out that she looked a lot like them.
    “Oh, no, I can’t compare with you three,” she protested.
    “I think she does,” David said. “I always thought of the three of you when I was around Alex.”
    “Well, you certainly didn’t show it!” Alex exclaimed.
    Everyone laughed.
    “No, I didn’t,” David agreed. “I was trying hard not to remember my old family.”
    “Why, David?” Jim asked.
    It took several moments for David to answer. “Mom told me I should never think about my birth family. I was disloyal to her and Dad if I did.”
    “How terrible!” Vivian exclaimed.
    “Yes. I should’ve ignored her,” David said, his head down.
    Jim crossed to David’s side. “No, Vivian didn’t mean you were terrible. She means your mother was terrible to tell you that. I bet you were just a little boy when she began telling you that.”
    “Of course I wasn’t talking about you when I said that was terrible,” Vivian said. “I think it was very wrong of your mother to try to get rid of your memories!”
    David raised his head. “I appreciate your understanding my situation. I…I need to forgive myself. And be grateful that you found me.”
    Alex stood aside as the Barlows participated in awarm group hug. She thought about David’s old rigidity about his adopted mother. Maybe now she understood. Even when her mom was upset with her, Alex had never doubted her mother’s love. It seemed David didn’t have that security.
    Betty returned and told them dinner was served.
    David moved to Alex’s side. “Sorry if I embarrassed you,” he murmured.
    She took his hand. “Of course you didn’t. Aunt June’s behavior was awful.”
    “That’s why I didn’t want to acknowledge Jim when we first met. I figured he’d hate me for not having done anything about finding him or the others.”
    “Now you know differently. They all love you,” Alex whispered.
    David took her hand to go into the dining room. “I haven’t done anything to make them love me.”
    “That’s the great thing about family. They love you no matter what.”
    He squeezed her hand but said nothing else.
     
    T HEY STAYED at Will and Vivian’s much later than planned. David had felt sure the evening would not last long, but he hadn’t counted on finding a loving family just waiting for his appearance.
    “They’re incredible, aren’t they?” he asked as they drove away from the party.
    “Yes, they are. You’re very lucky.”
    “I know I am. But you are, too, aren’t you? I mean, your mom is nice and you have Janet, Susan and me.”
    “Yes, of course,” she agreed.
    “Okay, so you and your mom aren’t that close and Janet…well, no one’s close to Janet except Mom. But you have Susan and me.”
    “Yes, and I appreciate that.”
    A cell phone rang. Alex, driving, frowned and looked around her.
    “That’s my cell,” David said. “I left it in your car while we were inside. Do you mind if I answer it?”
    “Of course not.” She continued driving while he held the phone to his ear and said little.
    When he closed the phone and remained silent, she asked, “David, is something wrong?”
    “What time is it?”
    “It’s almost eleven-thirty. Why? Is your mom expecting you to do something