Mim let out a huff. “I wouldn’t suffocate her.”
My eyebrow slowly lifted.
“It’s calledcarin’, Cal.”
My expression didn’t change.
Mim twisted one of her sparkly chicken earrings in her fingers. “Maybe sometimes I can be a littletoocarin’…” She winced. She knew she could come on strong. “But Erin knows me. She’s basically family.”
“Family or not, she’s going through a lot. Give her a couple of days to settle in before you grill her for all the details.”
“And whatarethe details?”
“Nice try.”
Mim threw her hands up. “I don’t know why you won’t tell me what’s goin’ on!”
“It’s not my story to tell.”
“How long is Erin stayin’?”
“As long as she needs to.”
“And she’s bringin’ my little Til?”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Bron fixed up that end cottage so nice. She hung fresh curtains and took down all that precious pink linen for Til’s room… not to mention all those cookin’ supplies… the vacuum…” Her eyes narrowed. “And don’t think I didn’t see you luggin’ that dollhouse out of your truck.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Uh…”
I’d gone a bit overboard with the dollhouse. The online listing had come with a box full of animal critters, clothes, and furniture, too. But Erin said Matilda loved dolls, so…
I attempted one of the boyish grins that used to get me out of trouble as a kid, but Mim was immune. Her eyes only narrowed more.
“This seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to,” she said. “Especially if it’s just… a week or two?”
Sly old chook. She wouldn’t trick me into blurting out any extra information, but it was adorable she kept trying.
“Bron goes overboard to make our guests feel comfortable no matter how long the stay is,” I said.
“Like that, is it? I labored with you for hours with no pain relief, Callan Joel Wolcott, andthisis the thanks I get?”
I pulled her close. “I’m glad you’re my Mim. Couldn’t have asked for a better one.” I planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“So, I can come?”
“Nope.”
The endless green ofthe Coal River Valley blurred into gray as I pulled the truck onto the highway. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. I was doing my best to keep distracted from how hard my heart was hammering in my chest, but my mind drifted to the same question.
When was the last time I’d felt so confused about Erin?
Her wedding?
Cole had loomed beside me that afternoon, his arms folded, heavy-browed blue eyes scowling at me in the mirror as I pinned a white rose to my suit jacket.
“You going to tell her how you feel?” he asked.
