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“Nothing.”
“What?”
“We just need the additional land as a technicality. We’re expanding our theme park, and in doing so, we’ll have far more impervious surface, so we need the extra land toward our total count of acreage for storm water runoff purposes,” I explained. “But again, I’ve made it clear to my family that we need to come up with another solution, so they’re working on it. I don’t want any of you to think I’m only with Rhea as a means to obtaining your family’s land.”
“I don’t think we thought that,” Edith said.
I smiled at her. “I’m glad.”
She smiled back at me and asked, “You have two brothers?”
“Oh, Grandma. He’s one of six kids. Two girls and four boys,” Rhea jumped in, her mood having turned around completely. She was so happy, and I felt relief settle in me to know everything that had been worrying her before we arrived for dinner was no longer upsetting her.
“Wow, that had to be challenging for your parents,” Leon said.
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “It wasn’t easy. Especially not with the boys.”
“I think Wyatt’s exaggerating a little, though, because his whole family is so nice,” Rhea said.
“Do they all work at Westwood’s?”
With that question, I took in a deep breath. Then I launched in and told them all about my family, and I was happy to do it. I figured if Rhea’s family wanted to know more about mine, they had to like me.
And for now, that was going to be more than enough for me.
26
RHEA
I was at work when it happened.
The weeks had been flying by. Life was busy, even chaotic at times, but it was absolutely wonderful.
It was the beginning of May, spring was in full swing, and things had picked up substantially at The Sweet Landing.
Even better was ever since I’d officially introduced Wyatt to my family, they’d taken a real interest in getting to know him better. It was much like his family had been with me.
On Sunday evening, we had dinner with his family. On Fridays or Saturdays, we’d have it with mine.
Two days ago, I’d talked with Brooke and Emily, and the three of us decided we needed to plan a triple date. So, that was in the works as well.
Everything was wonderful when it came to the people in our lives and the way they were supporting our relationship.
As for Wyatt and me, we were happier than ever. We spent several nights together during the week, ran together in the mornings, and found time to connect with one another throughout our workdays.
Most of all, I enjoyed simply having the time with Wyatt. I loved that our relationship was a priority to him. Not spending time with me wasn’t an option for him. What made it even better was that while Wyatt had the means and ability to make the time we spent together extravagant, he wasn’t interested in that. He always asked what I wanted to do; he always took my feelings into consideration. Even though he knew how to do the fancy dinners, big parties, and elaborate dates, Wyatt seemed to enjoy the quiet nights in with me the most.
That meant everything to me.
Because not only did I get those nights the most, but I got them often. Several times a week, in fact.
And for someone who’d grown accustomed to being put on the back burner in a relationship, having this now with Wyatt was extraordinary.
Next to my quiet nights in with Wyatt, one of the things I loved most that we had together was the way he’d occasionally surprise me in the middle of my workday.
He’d show up during his lunch break and spend it with me. We’d often share a scoop or two of ice cream and more than a handful of kisses during those visits before he’d head back to work.
So, when I walked out from the back room barely fifteen seconds ago and first saw Wyatt walking toward my front door, I felt a happiness and warmth settle in me. I was so caught up in the way it made me feel to be on his mind the way that I was that I didn’t initially notice the look on his face when he entered the shop.
