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“Will you keep your voice down?”
Levi gasps. "Wait, are you doing it tonight? Where?"
My oldest brother knows about my plan to officially pop the question to Pepper. The way she deserves.
On one knee, I'll remind her how incredible she is. How brave and strong she's been. How she's changed me. Tell her how ironic it is that she came back here looking for a place to stay but ended being home to me.
We haven’t made any progress on finding her parents. But the search will go on. For as long as it takes. Pepper asked if we could do it quietly to keep them safe in case they are out there somewhere. Noah reluctantly agreed, stating that could prolongate the search. But Pepper and I both agreed that if it means they’ll be prosecuted once found or…something worse, then we’d rather not know.
“Backyard,” I say.
Noah scoffs, catching on. “That’s going to be a big fat no when she finds out you stole her ring.”
And they used to call me the least romantic brother.
The doorbell rings as Pepper races back into the kitchen. “Babe, will you get that? I need to check the oven again.”
I pick up the pitcher and nudge Levi. “I ordered dessert for later. Can you get that?”
“Dessert? I like dessert. Jackson, go wash your hands.”
I set the pitcher on the coffee table as Levi pulls the front door open.
Tessa is in pajamas and an oversized wool coat. She holds up a large paper bag. “Someone order blueberry pie?”
“Tess, come on in,” I call. When I asked Dad about the blueberry pie he’d sent over that night I went looking for Pepper, he said that was something Tessa added to the menu and she’s the only one who makes it.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, no. This is a family thing, I don’t want to—”
“Oh hey, Tess,” Dad calls, stepping in from the backyard. “Come on in. Do I smell your blueberry pie?”
Tessa smiles. “Yep.”
“Nice PJs,” Levi comments dryly.
There’s no quick-witted comeback, like ‘least I look good in plaid, cowboy.’ Tessa just hands the bag to Levi and steps back. “I was just getting ready to call it a night. Enjoy.” She calls to everyone inside.
Levi checks his watch. “It’s six o’clock.”
Jesus.
“Come in, Tess,” I insist, stepping up to the door and pulling it open all the way.
“I’m not really dressed.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Pepper calls behind me. “I’ll change too, we’ll make it a PJ party. Come on in.”
Tess hesitates then steps in glancing at Levi. “Maybe for a little.”
"I'll take your coat," Levi practically grits. Then shoots me a look that says, why don't we just invite all the outlaws in town?
Pepper gives our guests a five-minute warning for dinner and to stop filling up on eggnog.
Pepper, Dad, and Jackson did ninety percent of the talking during dinner. During dessert, Tessa chimed in with other baked goods of hers we need to try since we love her pies so much.
It took Jackson all of six seconds to convince Grandpa to add them to the menu at the Inn so he could try them all.
I step onto our newly extended backyard. Dad was out here earlier hanging tree lights with Jackson. It's simple, yet perfect for tonight.
