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“Maybe a little.”

Lawson found his sister folding laundry in the family room. There were piles on every chair and on the sofa.

Adien shook her head when she saw him. “No judging. I can’t seem to catch up this week, and Jack has been working as much overtime as he can get.”

“I don’t judge,” Lawson said, walking over to the sofa and grabbing a towel. “You want everything in place for when the baby comes.”

She rubbed her back. “Three kids. What was I thinking?”

“That you want a big family.”

“I know, but right now, it feels overwhelming.”

“Call Mom.”

“And have her descend? No, thanks. I’m playing that card after this one makes an appearance.”

“Let me know what I can do to help.”

She pointed to the stack of towels he’d started on the coffee table. “Keep doing that and I’ll be happy.” She looked at the clock. “You’re home early from your date.”

Lawson had wanted to stay out later with Shaye, but she was getting to be a little too tempting. He knew he had to go slow, but every time he was with her, he wanted her more and not just for sex.

“I’m falling for her.”

Adien looked at him. “I can’t remember you ever saying that about anyone else you dated.”

“I haven’t.”

“So it’s the real thing?”

“It is for me.”

His sister smiled. “For what it’s worth, I like her a lot. She does a good job at the pie shop. She’s honest and hardworking. The customers adore her. More than one has stopped by the store to talk about how sweet she is.”

His sister’s assessment only confirmed what he already knew.

“I’m not sure she’s staying,” he told her. “Her plan was to settle in Seattle.” He told her what Shaye had said the first day they’d met. “Wishing Tree is a pit stop, not a destination.”

“Maybe she’s changed her mind. Or maybe she will. Toby offered her my job.”

Hope flared. “Did she take it?”

“Not yet.”

Hope died. “So she hasn’t made up her mind yet, and I don’t know what that means. Is she being careful, or is she just using me to pass the time?”

“I doubt it’s that.”

“I don’t know. Sometimes I think she’s as into me as I’m into her, and other times I have no idea what she’s thinking.” He finished with the towels and moved on to the kids’ clothes. “There was a guy back home. He treated her badly. I know she’s still working through that.”

“Don’t worry about another guy,” Adien told him. “You’re going to measure up to anyone.”

“I just don’t know what she wants. I don’t think she knows, either.” He looked at his sister. “What if she leaves? What if the plan is more important than what we’ve started?”

“Maybe you should wait for the bad thing to happen before you start worrying about it. Lawson, this isn’t like you. You don’t usually anticipate trouble.”

“Shaye matters. I don’t want to lose her.”