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“Is everything all set for Saturday, Evelyn?”
At the question that came from my grandmother, my mom answered, “It is now. We ran into a snag last week with the bakery that was going to do the cake. They had to cancel at the last minute, because there was a family emergency that was taking them out of town for a few weeks, but Jules was happy to step up to the plate for her sister. Ivy is going to be the first to get a cake made for a large crowd by Jules.”
While I was well aware of what was happening this weekend, I hadn’t been one to delve into the details. It was Ivy’s birthday, and as was always the case in the Westwood family, we were celebrating with a big party.
I hadn’t taken part in any of the planning—Mom, Gram, and Aunt Mina were more than happy to take charge of preparing most all Westwood celebrations and events.
“Wow, Jules, that’s a huge undertaking. Are you sure you’re ready for it?”
Jules nodded her head furiously. “I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be my first real attempt at it, but I’m confident I can pull it off. Besides, I’ve only got a few weeks left before I graduate and have to start putting my skills to the test, so this will be a great opportunity to do it.”
“I’ve got faith in you,” Ivy proudly stated. “I can’t wait to see how it turns out.”
“I can’t believe it. I’ve got my youngest granddaughter about to graduate from high school, and the other is going to be graduating from college and turning twenty-two,” Pop said, his voice a mix of pride and sadness. As much as he enjoyed the parties and always had a great time celebrating, there was no question that Pop struggled with all of us no longer being toddlers.
“Aw, Pop, I could be forty-two, and I’d still play checkers with you,” Ivy said, an attempt to reassure him.
He offered a half-hearted smile in return as Gram said, “He’ll always love having that with you, Ivy, but there’s really only one thing that any of you can do to really mend his heart.
“What’s that?” Tate asked.
“Oh boy,” Dad muttered, seemingly already aware of what the answer was going to be.
There was an extended pause before Gram grinned and declared, “Great grandchildren.”
In a flash, Liam, Tate, and Cooper all dropped their gazes to their empty plates in front of them. A sense of longing I hadn’t expected to see washed over Ivy’s face, and Jules didn’t hold back. “Well, I get the feeling I’m going to be the last one to make that happen. Wyatt, on the other hand, is in the perfect position. I mean, he’s twenty-eight years old now, and there’s this girl he likes.”
“Girl? What girl?” Pop asked.
If I didn’t love my sister so much, I might have gotten angry. Instead, I had no choice but to focus on easing their curiosity. “I’ve been spending some time with Rhea Marks. Her family owns the Marks Dairy Farm.”
My grandparents hesitated briefly before something dawned on their features. “They have the farm with the land that’s needed for the theme park, don’t they?”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“Oh, well, this is wonderful,” Gram bubbled. “Will Rhea be joining you at Ivy’s party on Saturday?”
My body went solid.
I hadn’t even considered asking her. Part of it had been because I’d initially believed it might have been too much too soon. Could I really introduce her to my whole family, who’d all have big ideas about what was currently or what would eventually be happening between us, when we hadn’t even so much as shared a kiss, when I knew she would never even want to share one?
Could I convince her in a different way, though? I’d met her mom and her grandmother. And I didn’t mind that in the least. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of Rhea meeting my family. Maybe it could do something to help ease the worries she had about us being together if she got to meet my family and understood that nothing pertaining to business would ever come between us.
“I haven’t asked her,” I admitted.
“Well, why the heck not?” Pop asked, sounded affronted. “Don’t wait, Wyatt. Women need time to plan and prepare for things like that, especially if it’s the first time she’ll be meeting your family.”
Though I could think of nothing I’d love more than having Rhea meet everyone, I didn’t know if this would be a wise idea without setting the stage first.
“We’re not exactly dating one another yet,” I explained. “I’ve only taken her out to dinner once, and that was to talk to her about business.”
“Jules said you like her,” Pop argued.
“I do.”
Pop shook his head and muttered, “I don’t understand this generation. If you like a girl, you ask her out on a date.”
“At least he isn’t behaving like your son, Larry,” Gram pointed out.
