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“Yep! And I bought this,” he repeated proudly.
If Ellen wasn’t careful, she was going to have Leo begging to see her every day. Or maybe she wasn’t too worried about that. She was usually working, like he was, so she couldn’t take him very often. Working at trying to put him and Stuart out of business, Hendrix reminded himself. But somehow there wasn’t any fire in his anger over that. Where had it gone?
He had no idea, but he still had a problem with Ben, who’d probably be coming to him for a job next week, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to handle it. “You must’ve been a big help,” he told Leo.
“I was.”
Hendrix turned his attention to the three people who’d gotten up and were now walking toward him. “Hey.”
“Didn’t you get my text?” Ellen asked, visibly perplexed.
“I did, but I was already in my truck, coming to see if something was wrong, so I decided to drop by so you wouldn’t have to bring him home later.”
“I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here,” she said. “I should’ve texted sooner. I guess I assumed you wouldn’t be paying such close attention to the clock.”
For the first time, they were acting like friends, as if they’d gotten along for years. It felt much better than the animosity that’d defined their relationship so far. “Just didn’t want to put you out,” he said. He didn’t plan to mention the dinner Lynn was making. That would only highlight why they’d had so many problems in the past. “Thanks for being so good to him.” He gestured at the stick figures and various shapes Leo had drawn and colored on Ellen’s driveway. “He’s obviously had a blast.”
“He was a lot of help,” she said. “Weren’t you, Leo?”
Leo was too busy finishing his latest masterpiece to respond, and the conversation quickly moved on as Brant, whom he’d known most of his life because of his friendship with the younger Elway boys, and Talulah, who’d been a few years ahead of him in school, both said hello.
“Come have a glass of wine with us,” Brant said, motioning him toward the table and chairs they’d been using.
Hendrix was feeling pressure to get to Lynn and Stuart’s house. But he hesitated to say he had to take Leo and go, because he didn’t want to seem unreceptive now that Ellen was becoming less combative with him. She’d been very kind to his cousin, and since Lynn was going to be mad anyway, he figured he might as well stay for a few minutes. “Sure thing,” he said. “Thanks.”
Ellen went inside, and while she was gone, Talulah patted the chair between hers and the one Ellen would apparently be taking when she returned. “Have a seat. It’s such a beautiful evening.”
Intending to text his aunt once he settled into the group and they were no longer giving him their full attention, he set his phone on the table rather than slipping it into his pocket. “The diner seems to be doing well.”
“We’ve been lucky—haven’t we?” She turned to her husband. “I thought it would take a lot longer to establish the sales volume we’ve been doing recently. The breakfast buns have been such a big hit. That really helps.”
Brant nodded. “I admit I was more than a little worried when Talulah decided to sell her interest in the restaurant in Seattle to open one here,” he told Hendrix. “Going from the big city to such a small town—it could easily have been the wrong call.”
“Good food sells anywhere,” Hendrix said.
“She’s put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into that diner.” Brant clicked his tongue. “I’m just glad she doesn’t regret giving up what she had before to marry me.”
“I could never regret marrying you,” she said, reaching over to take his hand.
“Now that the restaurant’s up and running, the hardest part should be behind you,” Hendrix said.
Brant kissed his wife’s knuckles. “Here’s hoping. But you know what it’s like to run a business.”
Before Hendrix could respond, Talulah leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I’m glad you and Ellen are starting to get to know each other. She’s a much better person than you probably realize.”
“I’ve never thought she was a bad one.”
“She’s special,” Talulah pronounced.
Hendrix couldn’t disagree. “I know.”
His response caused her to rock back in surprise. “You do?”
The door opened and Ellen stepped out with another wineglass, and he was glad. It saved him from having to clarify his feelings.
Ellen didn’t say anything when she handed Brant the glass and he poured Hendrix some red wine. “Here you go,” he said.
As Hendrix accepted the wine, he hoped Ellen didn’t mind that he was joining their small group. Judging by her expression and body language, she was tentatively okay with it. But when she sat down their legs accidentally brushed. Since they were both wearing shorts, it was skin-to-skin contact, and she immediately slid her chair farther away so it couldn’t happen again.
