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Gigi folded her wrinkled hands on the table. “Were you and Harry together long?”
It really was none of the woman’s business, but Leah preferred not to be rude either, especially since Gavin held the woman in such high regard. “No. We were only together for about two and a half months. We broke up on April Fools’ Day.”
And he played one hell of an April fools’ joke on me that day.
Gigi’s lips formed a tight line, and she twisted the wedding band on her finger. “I love Harry. He’s my grandson, but I have no illusions about his behavior. Unfortunately when it comes to relationships, he takes after his father. The stories I could tell you about Donald.”
One thing she could say about Gavin’s grandmother, she didn’t hold anything back. It was both refreshing and a bit embarrassing at the same time, because she really didn’t want to think about Donald Kincaid’s love life.
“If it didn’t work out between the two of you, I’m sure it was because of something Harry did.”
How did she respond to that?
Thankfully Gigi didn’t give her a chance. “Harry and Gavin are nothing alike.”
All a person needed to do was spend an hour with the two men to figure that out. “I know.”
Smiling, Gigi placed a hand over hers and gave it an affectionate pat. “Good, because my grandson is crazy about you. The day I picked up Erin, he couldn’t stop talking about you.”
With that final comment, Gavin’s grandmother dropped the matter altogether and instead inquired about Leah’s skills in the kitchen. When she admitted they were somewhat lacking, Gigi insisted they must rectify the problem soon, and then started to lay out an educational plan for them to follow in the coming weeks and months.
Leah didn’t see how expanding her skills in the kitchen could be a bad thing, but months of cooking lessons seemed a bit excessive.
Finally, Gavin’s return forced Gigi to temporarily halt the cooking syllabus she was putting together for Leah. He wasn’t alone. Vivian and her date were with him.
The screech reached them before Vivian and Leah finished saying hello.
“Aunt Vivian!” Erin’s loud voice followed the screech. Piper’s excited greeting came right after Erin’s, and both girls joined the group.
Other than his daughter, Gavin didn’t talk about his family often. However, he’d mentioned how close Vivian was to both girls despite the distance separating them.
Hugs out of the way, Erin’s gaze fell on her aunt’s date and her mouth fell open. “You’re Jeffrey Moore. You’re the goalie for Bay City United. I’ve seen you play.”
The man took Erin’s hero worship in stride and answered every question she tossed his way. And, man, did she have a lot. Even when Piper tried to get her to go inside and change so they could go swimming, Erin kept right on asking questions and talking about soccer.
“Harry’s finally here,” Piper chimed in, interrupting Erin midsentence.
Gavin had warned her he might come today. Since so many of the other guests had already arrived and he’d still not shown up, she’d started to hope it meant he was out of town and not going to make it.
Next to her, Erin waved but didn’t move. “Hi, Uncle Harry.”
Leah’s attention momentarily switched away from her and Vivian’s conversation to the small group walking toward them. Harry stood between Kerry and a woman who had to be a sister, or a maybe a first cousin. No one could share such a strong family resemblance and not be closely related. Harry had his arm around the unknown woman as they walked toward them.
Once or twice she’d wondered if Gavin ever got around to telling Harry they were together, but never bothered to ask him. Harry’s expression when their eyes met immediately answered the question for her.
Chapter Fifteen
Gavin hadn’t been around this many children since Piper’s birthday party the previous year. He’d forgotten how much noise a group of ten- and eleven-year-old girls could make, and it wasn’t as if they were trying to be so loud. Heaven help them all if they were. They just seemed unable to keep from screeching and having six different conversations at the same time. The endless conversations with relatives he hadn’t seen in months and some he’d rather go another few months without seeing weren’t helping his headache either. Add to it the heat and oppressive humidity today, and by the time lunch was served, he was ready to call it a day.
Unfortunately, leaving the party wasn’t an option. Erin’s time with Piper and the rest of his family was limited, so he didn’t want to cut it short on her no matter how lousy he felt.
Even if Erin wasn’t with him, he might suck it up and deal so Leah could get to know his family. For better or worse, if she agreed to marry him, his family would become hers too. Considering the fact a few members of his family might scare even battled-hardened men away, Leah was handling the gathering well. Even Harry’s arrival hadn’t ruffled her feathers.
For perhaps the first time, he wished Harry were as shitty a big brother as he was a boyfriend. In true Harry form, he joined the group as if there was no bad history between any of them.
Leah had responded in kind. She hadn’t snubbed him or hinted at their previous relationship. Instead she offered up a hello, asked him how he’d been, and once he answered, she went back to her conversation with Vivian as if having her ex-boyfriend standing there was no big deal.
Soon after, the small group broke apart. Harry and Kerry’s sister left together and he hadn’t spoken to either again today. Piper and Erin raced off to join Piper’s friends, while Vivian went to introduce Jeff to their grandmother. He hadn’t spoken with either Vivian or Jeff again until they joined them about twenty minutes ago.
