Page 11 of All I Need

“Pay attention to the sermon.”

“I could say the same to you, since it’s over,” he jokes.

Just as I’m standing I hear Miss Polly’s voice. “Willow, I’m sure Grayson told you he requested fried chicken for lunch. Are you joining us?”

“You know I never turn away an offer for your cooking.”

“Good. We’ll see you at the house soon then.”

“Miss Polly? Care to introduce me to your guest first?”

Her hand goes to her mouth and a gasp escapes her lips. “Oh my! I can’t believe… yes. This is Ellie, though, she’s already met Grayson and Walker. I’m surprised they didn’t tell you all about it? I suppose I haven’t really heard the whole story, either. Maybe over lunch, hmm?” Polly rambles on, all the while keeping a firm grip on Ellie’s hand, likely afraid she’s about to run off. I wouldn’t blame her. I think every pair of eyes is on her.

My sister reaches out a hand to Ellie. “Hi, welcome. I’m Willow, Grayson’s mom and Walker’s sister.”

Ellie takes her hand and shakes it. “Nice to meet you.” Her eyes flit to me for just a quick second, assessing me head to toe before turning back to Polly. Yesterday she was beautiful but today with minimal makeup on and a simple long black dress, she’s even more so. “I’m going to stop at the restroom before we go back to the Inn. I think I saw it right when I was walking in.” As she walks past me, our arms brush against each other’s and I suck in a breath through my nose.

Only, that’s a mistake because as I do so, I inhale her light, flowery scent. I almost groan. Never before has a woman affected me in this way. Sure, I’ve been physically attracted to them, obviously. Turned on? Yes. But this desire I feel for her is almost all consuming. I don’t know what to make of it but I definitely know I don’t like it.

“Oh, I’ll be happy to show you where it’s at,” Willow says cheerfully, giving me a smile much like her son’s earlier this morning as she passes by me. I resist the urge to yank her back to me knowing she’s about to meddle where she has no business meddling.

I’ve never been much for commitment. While I was in college my main focus was getting into veterinary school. Then Willow got pregnant and after searching for and contacting Grayson’s dad, she realized she would be raising him primarily on her own. Willow made it perfectly clear that if he didn’t want any part of his life, that was on him but he would not come and go as he saw fit. He was smart enough to want to be a part of Grayson’s life but doesn’t live close. One weekend a month he would visit Grayson, then once he was a little older and Willow and he were both comfortable with it, Grayson began spending a few weeks out of every summer with his dad.

My focus expanded from strictly veterinary school to helping my sister raise her only child. Any woman who came into my life had to be okay with sharing me that way. Obviously since my relationship status is still showing single, none made the cut. There’s nothing that matters more to me than Grayson, though. I’ve never once felt like I was missing out on something in favor or putting him first.

It’s not that I have some big reason to be shy of commitment. I wasn’t traumatized by some love gone wrong when I was younger. My parents are still happily married and enjoying their retirement as snowbirds living in southern Texas. But their conservative views on sex before marriage prevented them from being the grandparents Grayson deserved and the support Willow needed.

I look down the hall just as my sister links her arm with Ellie.

“Sucks to be you right now,” Grayson snickers in my ear as he pats me on the shoulder and moves to talk with a group of buddies.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and begin walking up the aisle but am stopped by a small hand on my arm.

“She’s sad,” Polly says with conviction.

“I think so, too.”

“But she’s strong, too.”

“She was about to destroy his car with a single golf club when I met her. I’d say strong is putting it mildly.”

Polly’s light blue eyes twinkle as she mimics my sister and links her arm in mine as we make our way out of the sanctuary.

“I wanna keep her.”

I look down, eyebrows raised. “She’s not a pet, Miss Polly.”

“I know that, Walker. But I think she’ll be nice to have around. Gets lonely in that big old Inn by myself.”

“You could always open it back up to guests, you know.”

Her other hand waves me off. “You know I’ll never do such a thing. The day I took in Willow when she was pregnant and had nowhere else to go, I knew my purpose for that house was for far greater things than making rooms available for travelers.”

“You’re the best kind of people, Polly.”

“I agree.” I chuckle at her blunt response but she carries on. “Now, I’ll see you, Willow and Gray at my house in just a few minutes, ya hear? And make sure you eat a second helping of the mac and cheese. Someone helped me in the kitchen this morning.”

We’re at the entryway and I turn to Polly. “Don’t go matchmaking. You know I’m not looking.”

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