AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not sure yet, man. Maybe set up an LLC or—hell, I don’t know.” I lifted a shoulder and lowered it. “We’re a long way off. There’s so much work to be done.”
“I know a contractor. If you want me to call him, I will.” The stress lines that had creased around Dad’s eyes had smoothed. “Once you get open, I know a guy who’s a pretty good receptionist.” He winked at me. “Though he’d have to bring two assistants.”
I laughed. “Ella and Blake are too young to work.”
“They’ll enchant the customers,” Dad said.
“There aren’t any customers yet,” I pointed out.
“There will be.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”
“It takes guts to do your own thing,” Andrew chimed in.
“We’re right here with you,” Trish said. “Anything you need.”
I looked at my family, overwhelmed with gratitude. I swallowed thickly. “Thanks.” It was all I could come up with, words failing me.
The oven timer beeped three times. Baker peered inside. “It looks ready?”
I stifled my smile. My girl didn’t have a clue.
Trish wandered over and took a look. “It’s ready.”
It was odd to see Easy with oven mitts on, but she handled the hot pan like a pro as she deposited it on the stovetop.
Horror filled her face. “I forgot the bread.”
Trish touched her shoulder. “We’ll put it in now while the lasagna cools.”
Baker nodded. Dad winked at me. Andrew sipped his wine like nothing out of the ordinary took place around him. I guessed it wasn’t.
I took a second to appreciate what I hadn’t felt maybe since I’d left New York all those years ago. I’d made my own life in Wyoming. Found friends and had people I cared about there. But it wasn’t this. Family.
Things weren’t perfect. I still struggled to find my place. A sense of rightness settled in me, and I wondered if I’d been my own stumbling block all along.
Andrew slung his arm around me and spoke low in my ear. “Maybe we should wait.”
Before I could reply, the doorbell rang again.
“I’ll get it.” I set my beer on the counter and immediately wished for the label underneath my fingers.
I hesitated with my hand on the doorknob. I’d arranged this without thinking things through, a decision I questioned the wisdom of.
Best to rip the Band-Aid off now and get it over with.
I threw open the door. Marlow stood on the opposite side with Blake cradled in her arms.
She glared at me. “You win.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Baker
Holt invited his sister?
Mr. Dixon leaned against the edge of the counter while Andrew’s grip on his wine glass tightened. Trish absently kneaded an oven mitt in her fist.
The levity that had been in the room only seconds before evaporated, and a thick tension replaced it.
