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His sister put down the T-shirt she’d been folding. “You’re in love with her.”
Words he didn’t want to hear but wouldn’t run from. “Yes.”
She smiled. “Good for you.”
“Not if she leaves.”
His sister picked up the shirt. “I want to tell you to convince her to stay, but we both know that won’t work. She has to want to make a home here or not.”
“I won’t try to influence her decision. Not after Cori.”
Because when his ex-girlfriend had started to express doubts about them and their future, he’d done everything he could to convince her she would be happy in Wishing Tree. He’d pushed and she’d pushed back. They’d ended up fighting way too much. By the time they’d broken up, the fighting had ended. There hadn’t been anything left to say.
With time and maturity, he’d seen that. Now he knew that Shaye had to make her own decision based on what she believed to be best for herself. If she wanted to stay, then he would woo her until she fell in love with him or told him it wasn’t going to work. But if she left, he would let her go without saying a word. There would be no attempts to change her mind.
“I wish I knew which way she was leaning,” he admitted.
“Bring her to dinner Sunday,” his sister offered.
“With the family? No way.”
“Why not? It’s big and loud, and she’ll have fun. And you’ll see her in a different setting. If she can’t handle the craziness, then she’s never going to marry you anyway, so you might as well find out now.”
“I’m not ready to share my time with her.” If she was leaving, there weren’t that many days left. Selfishly he wanted to spend them all with her.
Adien’s gaze was steady. “You know I’m right. Invite her to dinner and see what happens. The evening will answer a lot of questions.”
His sister was right—a fact he didn’t much like. “I’ll see if she wants to join us.”
“Try to be at least a little enthusiastic when you ask her,” she teased.
“With any luck, she’ll say no.”
Shaye absolutely should have said no, she thought as she walked beside Lawson. It was too soon to be meeting the parents, not to mention the other members of his family. But when he’d asked, she’d been swept by an incredible longing to be a part of what he’d described as general chaos over a rib roast. She’d been on her own long enough that the thought of real family time was irresistible.
She’d taken over Kathy’s kitchen for the morning and had made sugar cookies that she’d carefully iced and decorated. Given that it was Christmas in July, she’d created Santa hats, Christmas trees and ornaments, then had wondered if they would see the humor in her gift or just think she was weird.
Thankfully the delivery of the newly painted red car had been a nice distraction. She’d spent the afternoon starting the reassembly process before having to stop to get ready for her date.
Lawson’s parents lived close to what had been the old downtown, before the retail area had moved to The Wreath. The house was a big, sprawling, three-story beauty on an oversize lot in a neighborhood filled with families. The front yard was dotted with tricycles and balls. A stuffed bear sat by the front door.
As they climbed the porch steps, Lawson looked at her. “I need to tell you something.”
Her already nervous stomach clenched. “Yes?”
“We’re not having a roast. My folks are barbecuing burgers. There will be some salads and stuff, but there’s no roast. I hope that’s okay.”
She stared at his serious expression. “I don’t know. That changes everything. Maybe I should come back another time.”
“Understandable. I lured you here with false pretenses. I’m sorry.”
Before she could think of something funny to say in return, the front door opened, and a dark-haired woman in her fifties waved them inside.
“Lawson, what are you doing? You don’t leave your guest on the porch like that. What will she think about how I raised you?” The woman smiled. “You’re Shaye, yes? I’m Norma. Come on, come on. The party’s in back.”
Shaye found herself hustled through the house to the kitchen. She passed through large, comfortable rooms and high ceilings, then she was in what was obviously the heart of the home.
Adien stood at the biggest stove Shaye had ever seen, stirring a huge pot. Another woman, about her age, had a baby on her hip. Through the big bay window, Shaye could see more children running through the backyard.
