Page 22 of Marrying Chrissy

I’m still holding out hope that you’ll be joining us for the family reunion. Consider it this old woman’s true birthday wish. I’d love the opportunity to get to know you better.

Have a delightful week,

Gran

Emma’s mouth transformed into a big grin as she turned her head to look at Chrissy. “You turned his head, huh? Why didn’t I hear about this?”

“Because Gran’s impression of things was a lot different than mine.” Chrissy folded the card and put it back into the envelope again. Next time she got a piece of fancy correspondence, she’d be sure she was alone when she read it.

“I love that you’re calling her ‘Gran’ as though it’s nothing.” Emma put a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.

“Everyone there called her Gran. I have no doubt the mailman calls her that, too. I couldn’t hurt her feelings—it was her birthday.” Chrissy tossed her sister a look of annoyance. “You’re making this into way more than it ought to be.”

“Then the date last night didn’t go well? I was hoping you’d volunteer some information without me having to ask first, but…” Emma’s voice trailed off as she feigned a look of disappointment.

Chrissy might have given her a good-natured shove except that she was still worried about Emma’s health. Instead, she turned and headed to her bedroom, eager to put the note in her dresser drawer. If she was lucky at all, Emma would forget all about it.

Instead, Emma followed her. “It was that bad, huh?”

Chrissy groaned and allowed herself to fall backward onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling. “No, it wasn’t that bad. It was just… Well, I found out his family owns the country club along with a dozen other businesses, and they probably have a finger in just about everything that goes on in town.”

Emma’s eyes widened appropriately. She eased herself onto the bed beside her sister. “Wow. I didn’t see that one coming.”

“At least I’m not the only one.” She shrugged. “You know why I went to that birthday party. While we were there, Wyatt’s grandmother invited me to join them at a family vacation. Or reunion. Something like that. Anyway, it’s this weekend. Apparently I played the role of his date too convincingly.”

“Oh, really?” Emma turned her head and waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Just what did you do to convince Gran that you two were really a couple?”

Chrissy closed her eyes and tried to push the memory of holding hands from her mind. Instead, it only intensified. “He held my hand. Once. Seriously, that was it.”

“You two must have some major chemistry.”

“Emma.” Chrissy’s note of warning went unnoticed.

“Come on, let me live vicariously through you.” Emma turned on her side and propped her head up on her hand. “So you like Wyatt, or at least I’m assuming you do or you wouldn’t have gone out with him last night. And there’s at least enough chemistry between the two of you to convince his family that you were really together at the party. What would be so bad about going to the family reunion? Let’s face it, you could use a vacation.”

Chrissy copied her sister’s movements and was soon staring at her. “And leave you and Mom? Not a chance.”

“You’re my sister, Chrissy, not my nurse. You need to live a little. Do something for you. Mom would agree with me, you know.”

That was true, but it didn’t mean she should traipse off halfway across Texas and leave them behind. If something happened to Emma while she was gone, Chrissy would never forgive herself. Besides, there was no way she was going to crash Wyatt’s family reunion. How crazy would that be?

She sighed. “You’re not wrong. But it’s so much easier said than done.” How many times had she and Emma daydreamed together about traveling the world? They’d planned on going to Hawaii, Australia, and Ireland. Maybe even Paris one day. And here they’d never even been out of Texas. How sad was that? She let herself roll onto her back again.

Emma joined her and reached over to lay a hand on Chrissy’s shoulder. “I know, sis. I know.” She remained silent for a moment.

Why did things like this have to be so hard? “What about you? Any thoughts on your job situation?”

Emma slowly shook her head. “Nah. I don’t suppose Wyatt has a brother. Is marrying someone with a lot of money a valid employment option?” She looked at Chrissy, her face serious, and then burst out in laughter.

It wasn’t long before Chrissy was laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. Marrying a millionaire would certainly solve their money issues, but she had a feeling anything with Wyatt would be more complicated than she could possibly prepare for.

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