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Roy clasped his hands behind his back and rocked onto his heels. He didn't know what Beverly had been up to, but she seemed almost more at peace than he had seen her before.
Or maybe he was hoping that was the case.
Either way, she was staring at the flowers with such intensity that he wondered if she was actually seeing them.
"Do you like them? Is this overstepping? I'm sorry if I..."
"No! I mean yes!" Beverly laughed and shook her head as she touched her forehead. "Yes, I like them. I love them even, but no, this isn't overstepping. It's sweet of you, but I'm sorry if you felt like you had to make some kind of grand gesture."
"This is hardly a grand gesture," he protested as he held out the vase to her.
She accepted the flowers, and their fingers brushed. She looked up at him shyly, and he grinned at her.
"I..." She licked her lips and then buried her nose into the flowers. "They smell so nice. Thank you."
"Of course. I got them from Roses Are Red."
"Isn't that shop for wedding flowers?"
"Now, yes, but Susan, the one, she's dating Colton, and she helped me with the flowers."
"She did a great job. Thank you."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "So, if you're okay..."
"Why don't you stay for dinner?" Mrs. Young called from the kitchen. "Did you eat yet?"
"Ah, no, I didn't," Roy said, "but I don't want to intrude—"
"How is it intruding when you're invited?" Mrs. Young asked, reentering the living room. "Did you eat, honey?" she asked her daughter.
"No. I..." Beverly's expression changed slightly, and there was a flicker of sadness or maybe resignation that crossed over her dainty features. "I visited Father's grave."
"Oh, honey." Her mom crossed over to her and rubbed her arm. "You didn't have to do that alone. I would've gone with you."
"It's all right," Beverly murmured.
Roy couldn't help feeling a little out of place, like this was something the two of them should be discussing when he wasn't there.
Mrs. Young smiled and squeezed Beverly's shoulder before turning back to Roy. "So, dinner?"
"Yes, I'd love that," Roy said.
"Wonderful! What do you like to eat? We'll order some food, unless it seems like the food will take too long. I'm not sure what all we have to make."
"There are some frozen dinner meals or pizzas," Beverly said.
"We should have something fresh for our guest, though, don't you think? Do you like Mexican food?" Mrs. Young asked Roy, gesturing for them to sit down in the living room. She and her daughter claimed the couch.
Roy moved over to a recliner. "I'll honestly eat anything. If you're in the mood for Mexican, that's fine with me."
She asked him which Mexican place had the best food, and he suggestedMis Amigos Restaurante. As soon as he brought up their menu on his phone and Mrs. Young glanced over it, she agreed, and she called up and placed an order the would have to be picked up.
"A half hour isn't too bad, right?" Mrs. Young asked.
Roy and Beverly both nodded.
"Great. I'll be here to pick it up. Thank you." Mrs. Young hung up and beamed at them. "Let's sit and talk way. So, Roy, how long have you been at Hidden Creek Orchard?"
