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But Jo was basking in the glow of love and wanted us all to catch the feeling too. It was a thoughtful intention, however hard she came at it. She’d never been the picture of tact. More the picture of a swinging baseball bat.
If I were her, I’d be giving Poppy as much flak as Jo had been giving me. But I was an easy target, simply because I never let her know she got to me. Jo and Poppy would be scratching each other’s eyes out if this had passed between them. So I did my best to ignore Jo, smiling and nodding while she went on. Let her get it out of her system and (hopefully) give up the ghost.
There weren’t many single men in town of Mama’s age, and truth was, she’d known most of them since they were all kids and the rest because of their friendships with our father. Dating out of town was too hard, especially when you lived an hour away from a major metro area. And the last time Mama tried to date, it was Grant’s father. That disaster was its own story.
Part of me wondered if Mama even wanted to date. Was she lonely? What would happen if we did all happen to find somebody and move off the farm? She’d be all alone.
The thought made me sick to my stomach.
Fortunately, it wasn’t anything I had to worry about now. Maybe ever. We were on the verge of some kind of change, the kind you can feel in the breeze and hear in the rustling of leaves. But for now, there was nothing to do but what we’d been doing. So that was just what we’d do.
It was just past sunset when I pulled up to the valet, which I’d maybe done twice in my life. My instructions in regard to the car were very specific, including such things as this. Knowing my inexperience—did you tip before or after?—Grant even put a twenty under the keys and noted when to hand it over. Sounded like too much to me, but Grant had a different relationship with money than we did.
Over the generations, our farm had done better than most, though we had nothing near the millions Grant possessed. Blum’s Bees had even survived the depression, helping keep the town afloat in a time when everything everywhere was sinking. When no one could afford or find processed sugar, they could find and afford local honey. We didn’t hit it rich or anything—we sold it for too little, more inclined to help our neighbors than turn a profit—but we were able to weather the storm and come out the other end in one piece.
Helping people and giving back was an important part of our history, a part we still held dear and true. That was, perhaps, our greatest legacy.
I hated that the divide in our town had made that so hard of late. Such were the times we lived in.
The valet took my hand to help me out, and once both heels were on the pavement, I headed for the door, clutch in hand, scanning for my family.
I found Keaton instead.
He stood just outside the front door, looking up the street with consternation on his face. He glanced at his watch and let out a breath, beginning his search for his guests again.
When his eyes caught mine, it was clear that he hadn’t expected to find me either.
Those dark eyes widened, then smoldered as they traced my face. And I traced his. The way the soft light kissed one cheek, the bridge of his nose, half of his lips, casting the rest in twilight’s shadow. His size wasn’t diminished by his suit, cut to his shape and black as pitch. In fact, he looked bigger, larger than life, a powerful man by right, whether it be in denim and work boots or a suit and tie.
At the sight of him, I’d come to a brief stop just as I’d stepped onto the sidewalk. When I realized it, I moved my feet again, putting on a smile in a poor attempt to mask my surprise.
“Keaton? What are you doing here?”
He shook his head just a little as if to clear it. “I was supposed to meet my brothers and Sophie here, something about celebrating how far we’ve come on the shelter.”
I sighed, knowing exactly what happened. “Wouldn’t you know, I was supposed to meet my family here for the same reason.”
He looked off as it hit him, his jaw clenching. “Those assholes,” he muttered.
“I didn’t expect my sisters and your brothers to gang up on us. One to one is inevitable, but this? You have to admire their determination.”
He humphed. “They’re going to admire my boot in their ass.”
“I hope you’re talking about your brothers,” I teased.
