“Did Barrett leave already?”
“Yeah, he had to meet Dad and Sadie up at the Bandit Lake site.”
“I’m glad he’s running that one. Do those two ever stop arguing?”
“They don’t and it’s hilarious. She sure knows how to push old Barrett’s buttons.”
“’Bout time. Someone needs to push them. Maybe she can get that stick out of his ass while she’s at it.” My father had hired Sadie as an interior designer. He was always coming up with ways to expand the business. The fact that she and Barrett drove each other crazy was an unexpected and amusing bonus.
He nodded in agreement. “Here’s to hoping. Did Mom call you yet? Dinner at the house tonight, six o’clock.”
“No, I haven’t heard from her today.”
“Be prepared. I think you’re her next project.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not.”
“No? Like you say no and that’s it? We all know you’re her special wittle boy, but good luck with that, bro.” He laughed.
“She doesn’t boss me around like she does the rest of y’all. I’m not going to worry about it.”
“I’ll be sure not to laugh too hard when you’re left shocked and wondering what the hell’s going on—probably on your wedding day.” His phone pinged with a text message. After a smirk in my direction, he sent a text back and headed for the front door of the inn. “Later, Garrett.”
“Yeah, later.” My mother liked to meddle, and was all up in Everett and Wyatt’s business when it came to their relationships with their now-wives. She wasn’t that way with me though. And yeah, it was because I was the youngest. It hadn’t escaped my notice that she still treated me like a baby sometimes.
I pulled into my parents’ long driveway for dinner with a grimace. The house in town was an old Victorian sitting on a huge corner patch of prime downtown Green Valley real estate. Since it held the office for Monroe & Sons, the driveway was also a parking lot, and to my dismay, it was full. I spotted each one of my brothers’ cars, some cars I didn’t recognize, and a few Jeeps, which told me Wyatt’s wife, Sabrina, and at least two other Logans—her family—were here too.
Was there a party I didn’t know about? I thought this was just a family dinner. Sure, now that two of my brothers had gotten married, the family was bigger, but there were way too many cars to account for that.
“I see one of my favorite boys!”
“Hey, Ma,” I called as I slammed my truck door behind myself, wincing at the squeak of the door.
Her hands waved happily as she stepped off the porch in my direction. “I heard the news and I’m so happy!”
I turned around when a red Volkswagen Beetle pulled in next to me. Molly got out wearing a purple sundress patterned with llamas wearing sunglasses and a big smile on her face. “Hey, y’all.” Even though the dress was completely ridiculous, she was hot in it. It was all I could do not to give her a thorough up and down and look my fill.
“Hey, honey! A little birdie told me all about the two of you kissing at Genie’s and I am thrilled to pieces for y’all! And for me!” A slightly manic giggle escaped before my mother continued. “I had the most terrible day. I was down with a migraine for hours, then your daddy threw his back out at the Bandit Lake house. He’s okay now, bless his heart. Your aunt Dahlia called to tell me your uncle Ben broke his leg skiing. But, don’t you worry, I’ll be calling that brother of mine tomorrow to give him a piece of my mind—skiing down that big mountain, at his age? I don’t think so! I think my magnolia tree is dyin’ and the toilet in the downstairs powder room is all backed up, so don’t go number two in there until it gets fixed. I just have to say, your news was like sunshine on a stormy day! I had to throw a little impromptu dinner party to celebrate it! This is the best day ever!” She clapped her hands once, whirled around with a wave and a flourish, and went back inside the house.
Molly turned to me, eyes huge in her face. “I didn’t catch even half of what she said, Garrett. She knows we kissed? How does she know? I mean, I’m only eighty percent sure we even did!” she hissed in question.
I leaned in. “I have no idea how she knows what she knows, other than she almost always knows everything. I’ll explain it all to her later, okay?”
“Yeah, okay. I heard the words ‘best day ever’ and I’m not about to wreck that for her. Not yet, anyway.”
I nodded with my hand held out. She took it with narrowed eyes and a determined smile that said she knew exactly what waited for us inside—a bunch of gossiping family members, most of whom had matchmaking tendencies or were just outright nosy. We held hands in solidarity as we crossed the parking lot to the porch.
My mother bustled about in the kitchen, gathering napkins and a pitcher of lemonade. “Come in! Wash up in the kitchen and meet everyone in the dining room.” She hurried through the arched entrance and called out, “They’re here! Start passing the food around!”
“Uncle Garrett.” I bent down, better to hear the whispering voice. “This is the weirdest dinner ever,” said ten-year-old Mak, Wyatt’s oldest daughter, her eyes big with warning.
“Hey.” I looked up to see Ruby, Sabrina’s niece, and Gracie, one of the now ever-present Hill sisters, had entered the kitchen to stand behind Mak.
“Looks like y’all are up next.” Gracie snickered.
Molly stiffened beside me and her hand squeezed mine once before she let it go to point at Gracie. “Gracie May Hill, no shenanigans. I know about your nosy matchmaking. Clara told me all about what went on with your sister.”
Gracie held her hands up. “I’m not doing a thing. This one’s out of my hands. Plus, I’m still exhausted from our work on the Everett-and-Willa courtship. Aren’t you tired, Ruby?”
“Oh, totally. That was taxing on so many levels. So, we’re here in a different capacity. Which is weird, but . . .” Ruby shrugged.
“But here we are, warning you that Miss Becky Lee has gone ‘round the bend,” Gracie finished for her.
“Yeah, she’s gone full on Pride and Prejudice-Mrs. Bennet-matchmaker, except y’all are brothers not sisters.”
Gracie disagreed. “No, she’s more like Emma. She’s totally bonkers with it.”
“How in the world do you know all this?” I demanded.
Gracie rolled her eyes at me. “Duh, because of my sisters, plus I work for Everett and—I don’t know—like, basic observation.”
Ruby cut in. “I live with Wyatt and Sabrina, and seriously, this is a small town. Everyone always knows everything.” She turned to Gracie with an incredulous look. “Like, how do they not know everyone’s talking about them?”
“Too right. You’re lucky we’re here to warn you,” Gracie agreed.
“You’re lucky, Uncle Garrett!” Mak chimed in. She was eating this entire conversation right up.
“It was last night!” Molly’s incredulity matched my own. I stood there staring at the girls and wondering what I had gotten myself into by coming over here for dinner.