"I'll be staying here for a while, and Silas will, too," Calliope announced, glancing around the living room at her brothers. "You guys don't mind if Silas stays, right?" she asked hopefully. "He really wants to get to know you all better, and I figured it'd be good for everyone."
Quentin, Norton, and Julius exchanged subtle glances. They were more than a little curious about Silas, perhaps even a bit suspicious. They hadn't paid much attention to Calliope's former partner, Gideon; they'd assumed Calliope had good taste and she'd always been fiercely protective of him. Consequently, no one had properly scrutinized Gideon. That, it turned out, was a mistake. Gideon's disastrous wedding had left everyone furious. This time, they intended to thoroughly vet Silas, assessing whether he was genuinely good for Calliope. If not, they would ensure Calliope knew.
"Of course," Quentin replied immediately, flashing a reassuring grin. "Let him stay. Family under one roof—it's the best way to get comfortable with each other."
"Yeah, we'd like to get to know him, too," Norton chimed in, nodding.
"Callie, you don't mind if we… test him a bit?" Julius asked, half-joking, half-serious, giving her a heads-up. He didn't want Calliope upset if her brothers subjected Silas to some gentle questioning.
"It's fine," Calliope said, waving it off. "Silas said you guys can test him all you want." She knew her brothers wouldn't go too far, so she wasn't worried.
"So, dinner tonight?" Quentin suggested. "Is he eating here with us?"
"Actually, tonight we're having dinner at the Baker family's old house," Calliope explained. "But tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, we'll all eat here together."
"So, looks like it's just us for dinner tonight then," Norton said with a shrug.
"Yeah, that works." The brothers understood Calliope had reserved time specifically for them, and as long as she was staying at the house, there would be plenty of opportunities to spend time together. After all, the Bakers were her in-laws now; it was only right to spend time with them as well.
After a while, they decided to go grocery shopping. With three handsome brothers in tow, and Julius being a famous actor, even with a baseball cap and mask, people still recognized him. Everywhere they went, people stared, some even taking photos, clearly thinking the group resembled a collection of movie stars. Feeling the attention, they moved quickly, stocking up on snacks, steaks, and party food, then hurried back home.
Shortly afterward, Silas arrived to pick up Calliope for dinner at the Bakers' house, their large family meal before Christmas. He greeted Quentin and the others politely before leaving with Calliope. He was charming and respectful, already making a better impression than Gideon ever had. The brothers, for now, were satisfied.
Calliope and Silas soon arrived at the Bakers' old colonial home. Eamon Baker was waiting. The rest of the family was trickling in—her in-laws' large, boisterous clan, minus Gideon's family. Verity spotted her and rushed over with a hug.
"Callie! Thank god you're here, I was bored out of my mind," she gushed. "Oh, and remember that face cream you gave me last time? It's amazing! Did you make it yourself? Is there anywhere I can buy more?"