“You told them we’re coming, right?”
Ruby nods. “They know. But it won’t interrupt anything they’re already doing. Work takes priority.”
My brows rise in question, and she shrugs, but I can see the disappointment. I take it back; it’s nothing like the welcome you get at Burlington.
“Let’s go inside. We can leave our bags and go find everyone.”
The screen door creaks loudly as we walk in, leading to a big entrance hall with stairs directly ahead. It looks exactly how I expected it to—cozy and rustic, with the head of a twelve-point buck hanging over the door.
“Hello? Mama?” Ruby calls after we drop our bags by the stairs.
I say nothing, because this is all too weird. She hasn’t seen her family in over two years, and she told them she was coming.So, where the fuck are they?
Slipping her hand into mine, she leads me through the house and back outside. A couple of the dogs who were in the front are now lying in the sunshine.
We walk down the steps and barely touch the ground when there’s a loud screech that makes us both jump and turn to where the noise came from. A small blond woman is picking up a basket of laundry she’s dropped.
“Oh, Ruby, darlin’, you scared me. We weren’t expecting you so early . . .”
“I told you we would arrive at lunchtime, Mama,” Ruby replies, rushing over to grab a pile of T-shirts, but she doesn’t getthe chance before she’s pulled into a hug. And it’s a good hug too, warm, motherly. I’m pleasantly surprised by it, because so far, the experience of coming back to Ruby’s family home is a solid two out of ten.
“Did you?” Her mom steps back, eyes slowly assessing her from top to bottom. “You look too thin.”
Ruby rolls her eyes. “I’m fine, Mama.”
“Hmm. Well, we’ll feed you up while you’re here,” she responds, then her gaze turns on me. “And who’s this?”
“Mama, this is Miles. Miles, meet Lou-Anne Lanson, my mama.”
I hold my hand out. “Miles Burlington. Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
She looks at my hand, then at me. “You not feeding my daughter?”
“Mama!”
I see where Ruby gets her feistiness. It’s also where she gets her green eyes from, because I’m looking at a carbon copy of Ruby twenty-five years in the future.
Hopefully, she won’t hate me as much as Ruby did.
“I’m feeding her as much as one can feed a strong-willed woman who does exactly what she wants when she wants.” I grin and lean in. “As long as she’s kept caffeinated, though, we’re usually okay.”
“Hmm,” she hums, and I have no idea how I’ve done with my answer. She just narrows her eyes and, like she did with Ruby, drops them all the way down to my trainers and back up. “Well, I hope you’re hungry. It’s lunchtime. I just made a new batch of chutney.”
“I’ve heard all about your chutney. I’m excited to try it.”
“Hmm,” she repeats, and I revise my estimate of only needing fifteen minutes to charm this woman.
“Where are Bryce and Ford?”
“Over in Cedar Rapids picking up feed. They’ll be back later this afternoon. Give your father and me a chance to catch up with y’all.”
Ruby smiles. “Sounds good, Mama.”
“Miles, why don’t you get Ruby’s father? You’ll find him out in the shop. Tell him to wash up because we’re making lunch.”
“Mom—”
“No, it’s okay.” I wave off Ruby’s warning, thrilled that I’m being given an out. “No problem, Mrs. Lanson. Ruby’s father, coming right up.”
