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“Do you like my brother, Autumn?” His eyes locked on hers.
“Um, sure. He’s a good guy. I mean, he looked after me that day, and of course—”
“But do youlikehim?” Maggie said, putting emphasis on the wordlike.
“Of course.” Why were they asking her this? She and Ford had barely spent any time together. They couldn’t know about last night surely.
“He’s the best man I know besides my father,” Nash said.
“He was our hero growing up,” Maggie added. “Always looking after us. He wasn’t one of those brothers who didn’t want his younger siblings tagging along like some.”
“That’s nice.” She could imagine him that way. The ideal older brother.The protector.
“Do you have family, Autumn?” Maggie asked.
“Just my grandparents.”
“Family is important,” Nash said. “My brother is special and needs someone special to love him.”
The Winter siblings both looked at her.
“Um, I’m sure that will happen for him then.”
They both nodded solemnly.
“I-I need to check on Ritchie.” She got out of her seat with more haste than grace and went to listen to the last of Rory’s story. When it was done, she and Ritchie said a general goodbye to everyone and stepped outside the shop, away from Nash and Maggie.
Why had they spoken to her like that? As if she could be special to Ford? They barely knew each other.
“Benji invited me to a sleep over at his house tomorrow, Mom.”
“Yeah? What did you say?”
“Yes! Joe said I could just watch the movies and eat pizza and go home after that if I wanted. Or I could stay.”
“No way—that’s exciting. You can see how you feel after all the fun and then decide. I can come get you anytime.”
“I want to stay, Mom.” His face looked determined. She knew that particular look, because she saw it in the mirror sometimes.
“See you tomorrow, Autumn. Don’t worry too much about food—we’ll bring stuff.”
Looking behind her, she found the Trainer brothers had followed her out of Tea Total.
“Pardon?”
“You’re hosting knitting club. Mr. Goldhirsh told me,” Jack said.
“I am?”
“He said he emailed you.”
She dug out her phone and checked her emails. Sure enough, there was one that had been sent last night, telling her they would be at her house about two p.m. tomorrow.
“Drop Ritchie around about one p.m. It will give you time to get organized, and we have fun things planned.” Joe ruffled her son’s hair before walking away with his family.
“Okay” was all she could manage as no other words came to mind. These people just sort of ran right over you when they wanted you to do something.
She took her son’s hand and left before anyone else could ask her anything.
