Page 127 of Hidden Nature

Nash figured he’d see for himself as he pulled up at the Coopers’, nosing in behind Drea’s car because he figured she wasn’t going anywhere.

Drea answered the door. Tic rushed in to wrestle with Mop, and Theo immediately wrapped around Drea. She wrapped back.

It occurred to Nash they’d done the same the day before whenthey’d been well enough for her to stop by during kitchen cabinet installation.

And he admitted, found himself glad, the sergeant had it right. They had something.

“The return from the cold wars,” Sloan said as she walked out from the kitchen. While she gave Tic—and Mop—quick rubs, she, too, gave Theo a careful study. “Okay, you pass. Let’s have your coats.”

Nash decided his jeans and sweater suited, as she wore the same—dark blue jeans, Christmas-red sweater. Some dangles on her ears, but women would do that.

Dangles, he thought, for family dinner. Little studs or tiny hoops with the uniform.

“Come on back.”

She led the way to the kitchen that smelled really good. Damn nice kitchen, too, but he’d expected no less.

With her hair free to fall a few inches above the shoulders of a navy V-neck, Elsie closed the door on the top wall oven, turned. Before Nash could offer the wine, Theo walked around the island, kissed her, then exchanged a man hug with Dean.

Family, Nash thought again. Theo soaked it up like a sponge.

“Thanks for the soup, Elsie. It helped me over the finish line.”

“You’re so welcome. It’s good to see you up and around. Wine or beer?”

Nash held out the wine he’d brought. “Thanks for having us.”

“Glad to, and oh! This will go so well with the baked tofu! Dean, would you open this lovely wine?”

She handed off the bottle, turned back to smile at Nash. “Tofu really makes a Sunday dinner special, don’t you think?”

“Ah, sure.”

“Well, that’s too bad, because we’re having pork roast.”

She laughed, then surprised him with a quick hug, a kiss on the cheek. “Such good manners! Sit down, have some wine. The roast is resting, the potatoes are just finishing up. I need to sauté up the green beans.”

It was easy, and friendly, and nothing like his Sunday dinner memories. They sat around the table where the food was delicious, served family style, and the conversation flowed.

Not just shop talk. Add sports, movies, flavor it with bits of local gossip and family stories.

They clearly loved and understood each other, Nash thought, but more, they liked each other. And they’d folded Theo right in, had given him what he’d never had.

Family.

“Did you get the rest of the cabinets in?” Dean asked Nash.

“This morning, yeah. Appreciate your help with them yesterday.”

“I saw the truck, couldn’t resist.”

“Theo said you went with color.”

“It’s a big space. It can handle it. The countertops are coming in the morning so we’ll find out if it all works.”

“Oh, it’s going to work,” Theo said.

“One way or another we’ll be over at your place by early afternoon,” Nash told Sloan. “We might still be on it when you get home, but we’ll clear out.”

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