She straightened one of the throw pillows on the couch. “There’s nothing wrong with being choosy. Dating is about quality, not quantity. Only fools rush into love. You can look to your father for proof of that. He met and married Maxine in six weeks’ time. If that wasn’t bad enough, she talked him into retiring and moving to Georgia. All that nonsense about wanting to live closer to where she grew up. Pfft! The real reason is as plain as the nose on my face. She wanted to get your father away from his family so she could have him all to herself.”
Reece knew it was useless to point out another possibility. Aunt Leigh would never believe Maxine might have felt threatened by her new husband’s sister. His aunt was unaware of how her elevated status in the family might come across to an outsider. Adding to the complexity of the situation was his father’s recognition of the debt he owed her. When all those things were taken into consideration, it wasn’t hard to understand why the newlyweds left the area. If nothing else, it kept his father from being caught in the middle of two women with differing motivations.
“I’m not sure how long a couple should know each other before they get married,” he said. “I would guess it varies by situation. In this case, I didn’t get the impression Dad felt pressured into marriage, retirement, or anything else. I also haven’t seen any evidence of those decisions having a negative effect on him.”
She shrugged. “You’re entitled to your opinion. I would never try to influence you or Addison. Time will prove me right or wrong. As it is, I’m not sitting around hoping for the day I can say ‘I told you so’. I love Carlson too much to wish him unhappiness.”
“I never doubted it.” Reece drained the last of his lemonade and sat the glass on one of the coasters she pushed in his direction. They’d safely navigated one touchy subject. It was time to broach another. “What’s this I hear about you having headaches and numb fingers?”
Her lips formed a moue of disgust. “I knew I shouldn’t have said anything to Addison. She tends to overdramatize everything. The headaches are most likely from allergies. I’ve been spending more time outside, and the pollen has been awful this year. As far as the numb fingers, I’ve probably got a pinched nerve from cleaning out my garage.”
“Something you were supposed to let me do. Here’s a thought. Instead of guessing what it might be, why don’t you see a doctor and find out for sure?”
“That’s a waste of time and money. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
“Probably not, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a checkup. If you let these symptoms slide, you could end up with a more serious problem; one that might have been prevented if you’d taken care of it sooner. Wouldn’t an office visit be easier to deal with than a trip to the emergency room?”
“You know how much I dislike rhetorical questions.”
Reece ignored this delay tactic. “We’re talking a few hours out of your day. That’s not too much to ask.”
She tried to stare him down and failed. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?”
“Not a chance. We’ll have to add obstinate and overbearing to my character traits.”
“I’ll call next week about an appointment. Happy now?”
He knew better than to smile. “I’m pleased that you’re being sensible.”
“Sensible?” she repeated with a curl of her lip. “Is that what you call it when someone does what you want?”
“No. I call that cooperative. Before you throw that plate of cookies at me, I’ll remind you that if our roles were reversed, you’d be handing out the same advice.”
“There’s nothing more off-putting than a man when he knows he’s right.”
Reece affected shock. “Did you just admit I’m right?”
Her lips twitched slightly. “Just this once, so enjoy it while you can.”
“In other words, I shouldn’t get used to it.” He rose to his feet. “I better get going. I have to stop at the gas station on my way out of town.”
She followed him to the door. “This is one time I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall of Maxine’s house.”
With his hand on the doorknob, he swung around to face her. “I’d love to know what you think is going to happen.”
The smile she sent him was smug. “Wade is going to learn why you never let a beagle anywhere near a hen house.”
* * * * *
Robin checked the time on her phone. At the rate she was going, she’d never be ready when Wade arrived. Was there some kind of galactic phenomena to account for why one always got delayed at the worst possible time? Today it had been a lane closure that backed up traffic several miles.
“One would think you’ve never met a guy’s mom before,” Kait said from the bedroom.
Robin yelped as the tip of the curling iron made contact with her ear. She didn’t normally bother with curling her hair, but tonight was a special occasion. “It’s been long enough that I can’t remember it.”
“The only person you have to impress is Wade, and that’s already been taken care of.”
A sigh slipped through Robin’s lips. She hadn’t yet found a way to explain the insecurity attached to growing up in foster care. By the time she graduated from high school, she’d lived with three different families and in several group homes. In addition to the disruption of moving to a new part of town and dealing with all the pressures of a new school and making new friends, she’d had to adjust to living in a different house with a different set of people, rules, and expectations. Each time she’d come close to feeling settled, she’d been uprooted and planted somewhere else.
The nearest thing she had to a family was Piper. Their similar backgrounds and experiences had created a sisterly-type bond. Since Piper’s move to south Florida with her husband Daniel and son Owen, they’d had to make do with texts, phone calls, and occasional visits.
A sudden thought had her groaning loudly. How could she have forgotten?
“What’s wrong now?” Kait asked.
Robin put down the curling iron and walked out of the bathroom. “Piper’s birthday gift. I forgot to take it to UPS.”
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll drop it off for you.”
“You’re the best friend ever.”
Kait grinned. “So you keep telling me.”
Robin walked over to her closet. As usual, the folding doors got stuck half way along the metal track. Gritting her teeth, she worked them free. “What should I wear?”
Kait tapped her chin thoughtfully. “The ivory dress with the blue flowers. It’s attractive and feminine without being flashy.”
Robin removed the dress from the hanger and laid it on the bed. “I should probably stick to flats. Wade doesn’t care if I wear heels, but I don’t want to tower over him in front of his mother.”
“Good idea.” There was a noticeable pause. “Have you told him yet?”
“No…but I will. I have to find the right moment.”
Kait drummed her fingers on the armrest of the chair, a wry smile on her face. “Love does strange things to people. In your case, it turned a woman of intelligence into someone afraid to admit she’s not perfect.”