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“Take a seat, Doc Murphy. Mom’s the bomb in the kitchen,” Nick said, before shoveling ice cream into his mouth.
“Is that a serving spoon?” Graham chuckled.
“He’s a growing boy,” Honor said, grinning.
“This is awesome. Here I thought it was going to be all crying and talking about Dr. Buchanan and all sorts of depressing shit,” Diana said, happily scooping strawberry ice cream into a bowl.
Everyone stopped to look at his daughter. How did she not hear herself? It was like her thoughts just forced their way out of her mouth without a filter.
Felicity burst out laughing. “I’m in favor of avoiding depressing shit.”
Diana nodded. “Right on.”
“And while I appreciate the vote of confidence on my cooking skills, I’m being lazy. Tonight, my cooking will consist of warming things up.” Felicity opened the refrigerator and started pulling plates, trays, and tubs out. “Ham? Turkey? Meatloaf? Lasagna…” She lifted a lid. “Pasta salad. Green salad, Jell-O salad…some sort of pudding thing—”
“That sounds tempting.” He laughed.
Felicity smiled at him. “Careful or that’s all you’ll end up with.”
He held his hands up. “I’ll take whatever you’re serving… Whatever’s easy.”
Felicity’s gaze inspected the various tubs and plates on the counter, then pulled a plate from the cabinet. “How about a little taste of everything?”
He nodded, sitting on one of the bar stools while Honor called Felicity over.
Charity was staring at him, smiling. “How are things, Graham? I feel like I haven’t seen you in years.”
“You haven’t,” Graham agreed. “Around Nick’s fifth birthday?”
“That sounds about right.” Charity’s smile faded. “Not the best godmother—or aunt for that matter.”
Graham shook his head. “I’m no better.”
“Looks like you picked slackers for your kids’ godparents, Filly.” Charity winked. “We could buy them each a car. Maybe that would make up for it?”
Graham laughed.
“Guess you’re the only OB/GYN in Pecan Valley now, huh?”
“No. We have a new doctor at the clinic. Solid. Experienced. Soft-spoken. Dr. Veronica Luna.” He couldn’t have handpicked a more qualified and competent physician. “Or you could go to my competition. Dr. Marissa Delaney and Dr. Hannah Jorgansen opened a practice.”
“Choose between a mean girl I went to high school with and the wife of one of my dad’s fishing buddies?” she asked. “No thank you. As far as I’m concerned, it’s you, this Dr. Luna, or a drive into Austin.”
Graham grinned.
“Awesome.” She sucked in a deep breath, an odd expression crossing her face. “Guess that keeps you busy. Open this for me?” She held out a wine bottle and opener. When he took them, Charity put a wineglass in front of him. “Drink?”
He shook his head as he opened the bottle. “Driving.” But it was tempting.
Charity nodded. “Someone was talking about you today.”
“Oh really?” he asked, absently twirling the cork from the open wine bottle. Felicity’s laugh drew his attention. She was listening to the kids, looking almost relaxed. Whether or not that was the case was another story. He’d begun to realize just how good she was at shielding her emotions from the rest of the world. It had to be exhausting.
“Yep. Widow Rainey.” Charity sounded downright giddy.
That got his attention. For Widow Rainey, matchmaking ranked right up there with knitting and quilting and getting into everybody else’s business. She meant well; she did. But this…dating? He wasn’t interested. He wasn’t ready. Apparently his gentle, but firm, attempts to dissuade the woman from finding him a “compatible partner” were useless. No surprise, really.
Even if he was, there was Diana. He didn’t know if it was possible for his daughter to dislike him more than she currently did, but he had no interest in finding out. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know.” He set the cork on end, doing his best not to sound irritated.
