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Jacy pulled out her cell phone. “If it was something major, there might be a news story about it. Let’s google her.”
Dakota reached across the table and plucked Jacy’s phone from her hands.
“Hey! Give that back!” Jacy wiggled her fingers in a “gimme” gesture.
“Kids, kids,” Chennie said. “I thought that once you were all in your thirties, these kinds of quarrels wouldn’t happen at the dinner table anymore.”
“I was trying to help him.” Jacy folded her arms across her chest, pouting much like a twelve-year old.
Dakota waved her phone. “I know you were, but I want to hear it from Leah. It would be disrespectful to her to snoop around.” With a pointed look, he returned Jacy’s phone which she put on the bench next to her. “Besides, Leah said she’ll tell me tomorrow night.”
“A mid-week date?” Dena asked. “Things can’t be going that slowly then. I love mid-week dates. They’re like a little pick-me-up.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Dakota said, “because you’re coming with us.”
Dena stopped with her fork full of wiggling cranberry sauce mid-way to her mouth, her gaze snapping to meet Dakota’s. “Say what?”
“Leah’s friend, Carter, is visiting her from New York. I need you to be his date so Leah doesn’t feel guilty about leaving the guy alone to be on a date with me.”
Jacy laughed beside her sister.
Dena glared at her. “You know what? I think Jacy is free tomorrow night.”
Jacy shook her head, her brown mane of straight hair shushing about her shoulders. “Nope. I told Mrs. Williams I’d help her shop for an outfit for her birthday bash.”
“That was nice of you, Jacy.” Chennie beamed a smile at her daughter.
“Aww, you know how fabulous Mrs. Williams is. She’s a hoot to be around.”
“And Noah didn’t want to have to hang around the women’s dressing room, holding Nana’s purse,” Dakota added before turning his attention back to a quiet Dena. “I seem to recall spending a fewhoursworking on your car, Dena Raye Brenton. I’m curious. Does it run now?”
Dena nodded, her eyes shooting fire at him.
“Did I save you a ton of cash by fixing your car?”
Another nod. More eye fire.
“Could you help me out and be Carter’s date?”
“Fine.” The word could have cut the turkey off the bone. “What’s he do?”
“He makes video games.”
“Oh, so he’s a real grown-up then.” Dena rolled her eyes. “Fabulous. I love wasting my Wednesday night.”
“Don’t stereotype,” Chennie said. “It’s not attractive.”
“Or nice,” William added. “What if your mother poo-pooed when she found out I cut wood all day long for a living?” He arced his arms out to encompass them. “We wouldn’t be here, enjoying this nice meal together as a family.”
“Is that what we’re doing?” Jacy mumbled. “So far I’ve had my phone confiscated and Dena got stuck with a nerd.”
“He’s not a nerd,” Dakota said. He puffed out a breath. “Not at all.”
“Oh, really?” Dena perked up. “You said that as if he might be a worthy adversary for you, Maplehaven’s Golden Boy.” She leaned forward. “Now I’m interested. What does this guy look like?”
Dakota wanted to take a fistful of Dena’s hair and yank it as he used to do to control her when they were kids. His mother would always yell at him when he did that, but sometimes a brother needed to take drastic measures to keep a sister in line. And he hadtwoof them to deal with. Double trouble.
“You’ll see what he looks like when you meet him tomorrow night.”
