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“If he’s unhappy with me living there, though—”
“I’ll talk to him. Maybe something’s going on at work, and it has nothing to do with you. I thought he was thrilled you were coming to live with him. But he was upset after Marley mentioned the auction the other night.”
I shrugged. “He wasn’t happy about it at first, but I think he’s come around to the idea. Or he realized that he can’t fight Marley and Ireland when they have an idea.”
“Hmm,” Lori said. “None of the boys were excited about the auction, but I think it will be fun, especially for Talon and Sebastian. They’re the last two single ones.”
“You think they’ll bid on someone?” I asked, not having considered that possibility before.
Lori shrugged. “Why wouldn’t they? You said yourself he’s looking to date. It’s the perfect opportunity.”
“The dates sound wonderful.” I’d been part of the women’s text chain where they discussed locations and decorations. But I didn’t like the idea of Sebastian going on one of those dates with someone else.
“It will be so romantic and the perfect opportunity to meet someone. For you, too.”
So, Lori didn’t see me with Sebastian either. Everyone said she was a matchmaker. If she wanted us together, or thought there was something there, wouldn’t she be pushing us together, not apart? She was his mother and knew him best.
I felt a little shaky and needed to escape from the conversation. “We should probably head home. Sebastian said he’d be home early to have dinner with us.”
“Are you cooking?” Lori asked as she took Ember’s plate.
I stood and helped Ember gather her things. She’d pulled out an art project she’d completed in school to show Lori. I carefully rolled it so it wouldn’t get bent. “He said he was going to pick up something for us. I have no idea what.”
Ember frowned. “We usually have pizza on Fridays. Just the frozen stuff from the store.”
She didn’t sound excited about the prospect. “Maybe he has something special planned for us.”
I hope for her sake he did. My impression was that Sebastian was just surviving in their old home. He was doing his best as a single father. But now that he’d built his cabin and moved to the farm, it was the perfect time to start over and try new things. I had the same feeling when my roommate told me she was moving in with her boyfriend and not extending the lease.
It was a chance to take a different path, and I thought that meant looking for someone special for myself. Moving away from Sebastian and finally meeting someone new. But I was living in Sebastian’s house and taking care of his daughter. I was more entrenched in his life than ever before.
I carried Ember’s book bag and art project to the door.
Lori hugged me. “I’m so glad you’re here. You’re good for him.” Then she lowered to Ember’s level. “And I love having you close by.”
“Grandma,” Ember whined when Lori hugged her, but I could tell she enjoyed the attention.
She had me and Lori, but not her biological mother. I didn’t want her to feel abandoned, but with the way her mother disappeared from her life, it was inevitable.
We drove the short distance to Sebastian’s house, which was close to the main house but with a private feel under the cover of the woods. Since it was dusk, the lights on the porch were glowing.
“We should put a tree on the porch,” Ember said as she got out.
“That would look nice.” It was big enough for a tree. I could see us sitting out here on the rocking chairs.
“Do you think Daddy will cut down another one for us?”
“I bet there might be an extra one on the lot that one of your uncles would bring us.”
“Are you serious?” Ember asked as I unlocked the door and sent a quick message to Knox and Heath. One of them would be happy to help. I was sure of it. They adored their niece and Addy.
“Why not? I love the idea.” While we were here, I wanted to take part in all the holiday traditions. “Besides, you can never have too many trees.”
“I love you, Miss Hanna.”
“I love you, too,” I said, ruffling her hair as she hugged me. “But you don’t have to call me Miss anymore. I’ve known you my whole life, and you’re not my student.”
She nodded, then said, “I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?”
