Page 57 of A Brambleberry Summer

He was going to have to do whatever he could to deflect any of Carrie’s efforts in that department.

To his relief, his sister was not overtly obvious over dinner, though she did suggest he and Rosa take a look at how her climbing roses were growing, something they both managed to avoid by changing the subject.

Having his sister and her family there, along with Logan, helped make things a little less awkward between them, but he still couldn’t help remembering his hurt when she had told him they should avoid being together.

The food was good, at least. Carrie had a great marinade he always enjoyed and Joe was a whiz at the grill. Really, any time Wyatt didn’t have to cook, he was happy.

Rosa was too busy talking to Bella and Logan to seem bothered by his presence.

After they ate, Rosa was the first to stand up. “Thank you for dinner, but things were so chaotic as I was leaving work that I am afraid I was not thinking. I just remembered I left some invoices I need to pay tonight on my desk. I would not want to leave them there overnight. Will you excuse me?”

Carrie made a face. “You’re not staying for dessert? It’s homemade vanilla ice cream that Bella helped me make this afternoon.”

Rosa gave a vague smile. “It sounds very good but I really do need to go. Thank you, though.”

She hugged both females and Logan, then waved to Wyatt and Joe before hurrying away.

After she left, some of the sparkle seemed to go out of the evening. Wyatt knew he wasn’t the only one who felt it.

She was definitely trying to avoid him. He could only hope that everyone else didn’t guess that her reasons for leaving so abruptly had anything to do with him.

“I’ll have ice cream,” Logan said.

“Same here,” Bella said. “It’s delicious.”

He had to agree. Itwasdelicious. But all that frozen, creamy sweetness still couldn’t remove the sour taste in his mouth.

“Dinner was great,” he said after everyone had finished dessert. “Logan, let’s help with dishes.”

His son groaned a little but stood up to help clear away plates and carry them back inside the house.

When the dishwasher was loaded, Bella asked if she and Logan could take Hank for a walk before Wyatt left with the dog for home. He almost said no but was in no hurry to return to the tension of Brambleberry House.

“Sure. I can wait a little longer.”

Logan was staying the night again with his aunt and uncle because Wyatt had an early meeting.

Joe got a phone call from his parents, who lived in Arizona, and excused himself to talk to them for a few moments, leaving Wyatt alone with Carrie.

“How’s the house coming?” Carrie asked after her husband left the room.

“Almost there, I’m happy to report. We should be able to move back in another few weeks.”

“That seems fast. But living at Brambleberry House worked out well, didn’t it?”

A week ago, he would have said yes. “It’s been fine. Logan has enjoyed having his own room again. It’s a lovely old house and our apartment is roomier than our actual house.”

“I’m glad. And your neighbors are nice, both of them. I like Jen and Rosa.”

That was another area of frustration. He hadn’t been able to make much progress in Jen’s situation, other than to alert the department and do a little online sleuthing. Aaron Barker seemed to be a good cop, from what he could find out. He had no black marks on his reputation that Wyatt could find after a cursory search.

At least nothing suspicious seemed to have happened since Jen had told him about her stalker. He had been extra vigilant but hadn’t learned anything new.

“Rosa is lovely, isn’t she?” Carrie said in a casual voice that did not fool him for an instant.

He finally voiced the suspicion that had been nagging at him since he discovered Rosa had also been invited to dinner.

“I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’re trying to push Rosa and me together, even after I told you not to, is there?”

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