Page 102 of Already Callin’ You Mine

I scrunch my brow, trying to piece it all together. Dude’s day consisted of a visit to the fire station, Hayes farm, and Jace’s parents, where my child was conveniently served one of his favorite meals and then invited back again for lunch? Otis isn’t generally a storyteller, but I’m starting to wonder if he’s turning into one. There’s a first time for everything, after all.

Jace must get a telegraph of the jumbled mess in my brain—either that or he can read the confusion on my face—because he interjects.

“Tomorrow is Sunday dinner, a Hayes family tradition. We all congregate over at Magnolia Manor every Sunday afternoon and hang out and eat. Well, maybe not all of us, every week. But most of us…most weeks. Depending on who has what going on. During lunch today, Miss Belle invited you and Otis to join us tomorrow.”

Oh, my-lanta. Dinner with the whole Hayes family. Not just any dinner either. Sunday dinner. We’re invited to Sunday dinner.

“I don’t want to intrude,” I say, trying to be polite. As honored as I am, and as much as I want that—to be a part of the family tradition—I hate the idea that anyone would feel obligated to invite us. I don’t want to overstep simply because we’re armpit deep in a fling.

“You’re not. I planned on asking you myself, but my mama beat me to the punch by inviting Little Man.”

He nods over at Otis, who nods emphatically, even though I’m sure he doesn’t have any idea what he’s really agreeing with. Ignoring his fork, he digs into his enchiladas with his hands, shoving a big bite into his mouth. I start to correct him, but Jace beats me to the punch, picking up the fork and handing it to him.

Be still my heart…

“Okay then, if you’re sure it won’t be an intrusion.”

“Promise.”

I’m going to Sunday dinner at Magnolia Manor. With the Hayes family. Holy cow.

Internally, I squeal. My inner cartoon character self is doing a little happy dance. The cute boy I’m crushing on just asked me to have dinner with his family. That’s a big step, no matter who you are.

“So, after all this excitement, you got to come home and clean the house? What’d you do, tucker him out so that he’d nap and stay out of the way?”

“Actually, we did the fire station with Landon, then lunch at Magnolia Manor, where we saw Anton, who asked if Otis wanted to ride the tractor again. The plan had been to go get him some fishing gear at The Booby Trap, but farm equipment and the greenhouse was more exciting, so we saved that for another day.”

That doesn’t make sense. If they did things in the order that Jace just laid out, then there wouldn’t have been much time to clean—especially to the level it appears—and then get home to make dinner. Hell, based on that schedule I’m not sure how they had enough time to make enchiladas from scratch.

“Then…then when did you clean the house?”

Jace gives me a sheepish look, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t clean it. I hired someone.”

“Jace—”

“Her name is Maggie. She’s been working for my parents for years. She’s trustworthy, and reliable, and will be here every other Thursday to take care of the house.”

“I can’t afford that.”

“Who said you’re paying?”

My jaw drops. I can’t let him do this. Helping me out this time is one thing, but putting someone on a regular rotation? That’s a whole different ball of yarn. He already went above and beyond with today.

Again, he sees my objections coming, his defense already locked and loaded.

“Before you tell me I don’t have to, I am aware. I want to. I have the ability to do this, to help take care of you two this way, so please let me. Let me take this off your plate. Give you back that time so you can focus on the things that matter the most to you, like Little Man.”

He nods toward my baby. My sleeping baby.

I hold back a laugh at Otis’s body scrunched up, head lolled to the side in a position that in no way looks comfortable. One that can only be achieved when you fall asleep at the dinner table.

“Someone’s tired,” Jace comments.

“You two had a big day. And it doesn’t sound like he got his nap.”

Jace shakes his head. Thought so.

“Let me put him to bed and then we can finish up.”