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“I don’t know. Maybe they have something else planned.” I said as we got out and made our way to the porch steps. I couldn’t remember the last time I spoke to a date’s mother. Did she even know we were officially seeing each other? My heart rate picked up.
I knocked on the door, my hands trembling slightly as I did.
Lori opened the door in jeans and a sweatshirt.
I managed a smile. “Heath said you wanted to see us?”
“Oh, yes. Come inside.” She moved to the side as we came in, the smell of freshly baked cookies in the air.
There were cookies in tins and others on the cooling racks on the large island counter.
“Would you like one?” Lori asked us.
Addy looked at me.
“You can have two,” I said to her, my mind still on what Lori would need to see me about.
“I put up my holiday village in the living room if you want to take a look.”
Addy followed her hand, where it pointed at the shelves filled with houses and buildings.
“Wow. This is impressive,” I said as Addy moved closer.
“Each year, my husband, Carl, would buy me a house. It became a tradition of sorts, and my boys have taken it over the last few years.”
“It’s so pretty,” Addy said as she munched on a gingerbread man.
“Did you need something?” I asked, feeling a little forward, but I couldn’t take the anticipation.
Lori waved a hand at me. “Knox asked if I’d entertain you until he was ready for you.”
My brow furrowed. “Is he working late? He could have called—”
“Nothing like that. He has something planned for you, I think,” Lori said with a smile.
“He does?” I couldn’t think of what he’d have planned unless Talon had finished more of his creations.
“I hope you like it. We do this from time to time, and it’s enjoyable.” Her smile faded. “I think it’s been a few years now, though. Maybe since before Carl’s heart attack.”
“I’m sorry to hear about Carl. That must have been devastating.”
“It was. Thank you for your kind words.”
“The farm must keep you busy,” I said, relaxing now that this wasn’t about her needing to speak to me about something.
“I love greeting people. I know my boys come across as rough and antisocial, but they like the farm, too.”
“Knox takes pride in what he does, both here and in his business.”
“They’ve turned into fine young men. You do your best when you’re raising them, convinced you’re screwing them up. But now they all have their own businesses and help with the farm, too. They have a strong sense of family. I think I did a good job.”
I thought about how nice Knox had always been to us, starting with the lights on our porch. “I agree. From what I know of Knox, he’s a good man.”
Addy ran her hand over one of the Christmas trees and knocked over a few people and a dog.
“Don’t touch, okay?” I asked her.
Lori shook her head. “They’re meant to be touched. Don’t worry.”
