Page 48 of View With Your Heart

“One hour,” Karyn tells her son.

“Two,” he argues.

“One and a half,” she acquiesces, and Tom chuckles at his son when Holden agrees.

“Dude, I need to teach you the art of negotiation.”

As Holden turns to Gee, Karyn teases Tom. “Your art of negotiation is like stick figure drawing, so I don’t think he’ll learn much from you.”

Tom gives his wife a pinched smile, and I watch Karyn’s eyes follow her husband as he walks away. Turning my head to Britton, she notices the same thing I did.

“Looks like trouble in paradise,” I joke.

Britton shrugs. “It happens. Couples fight.”

I wonder if she fought with her husband, but I don’t ask. She won’t tell me. Ironically Zoey and I didn’t fight much. She’d pout for days if I did something wrong. I’d apologize, unknowing what I’d done, and we’d be back to rights. However, our relationship never was right when I compare it to Britton. Despite her wall, she’s still fun to be around, and I saw her relax more when we had dinner with Gee two nights in a row. I could feel her watching me during those meals, but it was more than the physical attraction between us. It’s like she’s trying to figure me out. She doesn’t know what to think of me as I am now, and that leaves her questioning herself. If she’d only admit she wants me, I’d give her the moon and more.

“You look beautiful,” I say a bit breathless, giving away the effect she has on me.

“Thank you.” She tips her head and wraps her hair over her ear in that way, and I want to lean in and kiss her exposed neck.

“Let me introduce you to everyone.” As I introduce Britton to the gang, Emily jumps up to give Britton a hug.

“I love the summer herbal blend. It’s my favorite,” Emily states. Britton turns to me and explains.

“Emily is a regular at TeasMe!. She sits in my shop to write some days.”

Glancing at Emily, I wait for an explanation. “I’ve been working on a book about my grandmother. This was her house.” She smiles with pride up at the house that’s been here for generations. Her grandmother, Elizabeth, was famous but I don’t remember how.

“Although I have an office, it’s nice to get out of the house sometimes.” As Katie runs out the back door of the screened-in porch and it slams, Emily flinches. “And sometimes it’s just too noisy to be here.”

Jess walks up to her and slips an arm around her shoulders. He presses a kiss to her temple, and Emily smiles before looking up at him.

“But you don’t really mind the noise,” he teases.

“I don’t mind the noise, no,” she adds, still gazing at him. There’s a story here as Jess’s daughter didn’t talk for years.

“So, the big day is Saturday,” Britton interjects. “Congratulations.”

“Yes. Are you coming with Gavin?” Emily asks, eyes moving from Brit to me and back. Britton chuckles.

“Well, that would be awkward to answer if he hadn’t asked me.” I’m almost holding my breath as she hasn’t accepted my invitation. I’m surprised she agreed to attend this party, but Gee wore on her as I mentioned that it was for families.

“So, you’re coming,” Emily presses as if the decision is made, and Britton looks up at me.

“I’m coming.” Her voice drops before she glances back at Emily. “I’ll just need to find a sitter for Gee.”

“Bring him. It’s fine.” Emily waves a hand, and Jess turns to look at her.

“You know the reception really is supposed to have a limit,” he teases. “I think she’s invited the entire town.”

“I haven’t. It’s just that we have spots to spare. My sister is here with her five boys, and they could use the company.”

At the mention of her sister, I notice a woman holding a baby no more than one sitting next to Jess’s mother, Mary, and a group of boys wrestling near them on the grass. Katie’s close to the mix but not mingling in with their roughhousing.

“That’s Grace and her crew.” Emily laughs.

Ethan and Ella arrive with my parents. Tricia and her man, Leon, show up with Leon’s younger sister named Lys and a kid named Levi Walker that I only know is the younger brother of her ex-husband. Finally, Pam Carter arrives with her guy, Jacob.