Somewhere behind them, Callie said, “Good to know, because I’m starved.”
Together, Glory and Kam turned to see her cousin and Tanner, hand in hand, coming around the line of wild honeysuckle bushes that separated the two properties.
With a wicked grin, Tanner said, “She’s worked up an appetite.”
Now this smile was real, because Glory noticed that Callie was really dressed down, wearing only cotton shorts, an oversized T-shirt, and flip-flops. Her hair was up in her now-patented messy bun, which looked amazing on her.
“Aren’t you two supposed to be off enjoying matrimonial ecstasy?”
“Yes,” Callie said, leaving Tanner behind to hook her arm through Glory’s and lead her toward the door. “But a girl has to eat, and Addie’s cooking is too scrumptious to pass up.”
God bless her. Glory tilted her head in, Callie did the same, and it felt like old times. Aware of the men behind them, Glory asked in a barely there whisper, “You knew they were here, didn’t you?”
“Yup,” Callie whispered back. “And since you’re all in on living your own life, I decided to come along and encourage you.”
Independence from her aunt and uncle; it was something Glory really wanted, and yet, old habits were hard to break. “I’ve made strides,” she promised. Independent living in her own house, and a new position in the company that kept her from constantly interacting with them. Those were huge deals, at least for Glory.
“I know and I’m so proud of you.” At the front door, Callie turned to face her. “Now you just need to keep it up.”
Since that was the plan, Glory nodded. “I should feel guilty for interrupting your pseudo honeymoon.” But she didn’t. She was too relieved to have Callie with her. Confrontations were never easy for her, at least not with family.
Callie hugged her close. “You never ever have to feel guilty with me. We’re here for each other, right? Always.”
“Always,” Glory swore.
Tanner held Kam back. “Let them talk a moment. I want to ask you how things went.”
If Kam could get his gaze off Glory, it might be easier to answer. Faced with seeing the people who’d raised her, she’d morphed into a different woman. The perfect, icily politemannequin he’d first met. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“Kam?”
“Yeah,” he said absently. “I’ll be staying with her. We ironed that out.” He wouldn’t tell Tanner about Glory’s rules; they were private and intimate, not something to spread around. In broad terms, though, he didn’t keep secrets from his brother, so he admitted low, “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“That you’re staying with her?”
In answer, Kam lifted a shoulder. “She’s worried Addie won’t respect her or something.” He glanced at Tanner’s bemused expression. “She doesn’t want to be a distraction.”
“You boys done gossiping?” Callie asked. “We gals are hungry.”
Standing there, side by side with his brother, Kam grinned. Glory and Callie were like mismatched bookends, one a little rumpled and cute, the other polished to a high shine and rigid, but they were both lookers.
Tanner nudged him forward. “Let’s go. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can put my in-laws out of my mind once again.”
Death by a thousand pricks. That’s what dinner had encompassed. If Glory moved, Liz made a critical comment. Then Addie would counter it with a compliment while Callie sniped at her mother. Liam, who often joined them at dinner, had brought along Nell. They had silently taken in the strife, but Glory could tell that it bothered Nell.
She was such a sweet girl, still so young, but a tough life had matured her well beyond her years. She and Liam had that in common. Nell had spent time with the family while grooming Tanner’s dog and Kam’s cat, and now she often visited, but the dinners were usually much calmer.
Both animals currently rested under Nell’s seat.
When they pulled into her driveway later that evening, Glory was finally able to let out a tense breath and relax her spine.
“There you go,” Kam said. “’Bout time, too.”
The satisfaction in his tone confounded her. “What do you mean?”
“It tortured me seeing you being so stiff and prim.” Before she could take umbrage at that, with a little heat, he added, “Why don’t you tell Liz to mind her own damn business?”
“Should I have interrupted Callie?” Her cousin had done a fine job of nipping at her mother’s every comment. “Or spoken over Addie’s praise?” She’d supplied an endless stream of admiration on everything from Glory’s hair to her posture and how she lifted a fork. It was ridiculous—and sweet. Liz would make note of something, and Addie would immediately counter it.
