“Absolutely.”
“Right here.” She pointed to the driveway, and he swung in. “I won’t be but a minute.” She jogged off, turning once to give him a little wave that made his heart skip. He’d never seen her so happy.
Chapter Thirty-Three
NATALIE STOODat Orene’s front door, ready to knock. She paused when she overheard raised voices.
“You still haven’t told her?”
That sounded like Tucker’s voice.
“It’s not our place to do so,” said Orene.
Natalie smiled. Just like Orene to keep others from judging. Such a sweet woman.
“You’ve had plenty of chances. You see her all the time. You can’t just lie to her.”
Natalie blinked.ThatisTucker. Lying?Her skin crawled.
“This whole thing will blow up in your face,” he said. “I’m telling you. It’s not going to stay quiet for long. She’s driving Grandstaff around like they are best buddies. People are talking.”
Is he talking about me?Tucker’s strange attitude that day with Randy came flooding back. Every nerve in her body tingled.
“We owe him the chance to tell her himself,” Orene said.
He? Is this about Randy? Why does Tucker seem to think he needs to protect me?
“That crazy old coot is out of his mind. Family is important, but you can’t expect people to just change their history.”
“That history was ill-informed.” Orene’s words were stilted. “You need to just settle down, young man.”
Anxiety swirled in her chest, pressing so hard that she could barely inhale.
Natalie backed away from the door and ran back to the truck.
Randy was smiling when she hopped in the passenger seat.
“She wasn’t home?”
“Um. Yeah, no. Let’s go.” She buckled her seat belt.
“Are you okay?”
“Go. Drive. Please.” She smiled, but she could tell by the wrinkle on his forehead he wasn’t buying her less-than-Oscar-worthy act.
They drove back to the cabin in complete silence. Randy got out of the truck.
“You don’t have to walk me back,” she said, anxious to find a spot to just let this all sink in.
“Of course I do. What is going on?” He put a lazy arm around her waist. “I haven’t seen you like this in a long time. What’s wrong?”
She found comfort in his touch. “Overwhelmed, I think. I’m fine. Thank you for everything. Really.” When they opened the door, the puppy raced out of the house and did a full circle in the open field before coming back, tail wagging for a hello.
“I wish you would tell me.”
She shook her head. She couldn’t. She’d completely fall apart, and she just couldn’t do that right now.
She grabbed the puppy and pulled him up into her arms, where he assaulted her with kisses as fast as his little tongue would go. “I can count on this little guy, can’t I?”
