Page 98 of Unexpected Entanglement

“Maybe we can nudge Kieran to take the step if you think he has feelings for Frankie,” Rae suggested with a conspiring smile.

Rowan looked at Rae with a questioning look. “We?”

“My husband has an older brother and a younger sister. They both had a role in helping him realize he couldn’t live without me. I don’t know Kieran, but you seem to think he belongs with Frankie.” Rae continued, “Maybe I can help. I never had a brother and a sister before.”

Rowan just stared at Rae, and Rae’s smile turned into a self-conscious lip-bite.

“Was that assuming too much?” Rae asked.

Rowan immediately shook her head. “No. Of course not.”

“Too fast?” Rae asked. “Sorry. Dean always says I tend to cannonball into something once I make up my mind.”

A corner of Rowan’s mouth rose in a half smile. “And what is it you’ve decided?”

“I had a lot of time to think last night. I could resent you for having our father for most of your lives, or I could try getting to know you as he intended, and perhaps we could be friends.”

“I think he intended us to finally be a family,” Rowan said. “His last words to me were to find you.”

Rowan squeezed Rae’s hand. “And here you are.”

Rae smiled. “Here we are.”

“Here, you take these.” Chris handed Rae a short stack of white sheets. He then grabbed the rest of the bulky bedding pile. “We’re halfway done up here. Bobbie’s team will deep clean and do the rest of the rooms in the cottages tomorrow.”

They had left Rowan working with the wedding team, including Jane and Walt. Jane had jumped into the decor and flower arrangement with Meera and Lily, while Walt charmed Rowan into sharing her clipboard with all her tasks with him. They collaborated like busy bees; Chris had felt comfortable leaving them to help Rae.

“I can carry more than this.” Rae pulled the blankets from the top of his pile. “You don’t have to baby me, Chris.”

“You shouldn’t be carrying too much.” He led them to Room 5.

“Did Dean tell you that?” She side-eyed him.

“No,” Chris defended himself. “I’m here to spare you this trip because your doctor advised you to take things easy.”

“My doctor has okayed me to resume regular activities. The last scan looked good.”

“It doesn’t hurt to not exert yourself too much.”

“Carrying sheets and blankets is exerting myself now?” Rae laughed. “You’re worse than your friend.”

“How’s he doing at home with Maya alone?”

“He’s not alone. Grandma’s there,” Rae said. “They’re doing fine. Besides, Maya wants to spend all day in the pool, anyway. Like father, like daughter.”

“Soon you’re gonna have two under two. Are you and Dean ready for that?” Chris chuckled.

“Don’t remind me.” Rae heaved an exaggerated sigh.

“That'll put a damper on your traveling.”

“I’ve had many epic trips to fill a lifetime,” Rae said. “I just consider this phase of my life as a new adventure. I never knew I would love being a mom. Not after watching my mom. But having an involved partner and a great support system makes a difference, y’know.”

Chris did know. His father and mother had been like Dean and Rae—a unit. Together, they’d been a force to be reckoned with, both as leaders of a company and parents at home. His father hadn’t been the same since his mother had died, but Chris always remembered how they’d been as life partners.

“I never realized how domesticated you are,” Rae teased as they dropped their burden onto the sofa in the next room. “You set these beds better than I could ever do. They all look magazine perfect.”

The two of them started putting together the bed systematically, like they’d done with the first three.

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