Page 118 of Lone Star Longing
“I think for now I’m just going to have them in the room with me. I don't want to ask Dad to give up his room.”
“You aren’t asking. He’s giving it. He’d rather be crowded than you and the babies.”
Lacey shook her head. “I wish there was a way I could do this on my own, that there was some place I could move in town that I could afford, and would have room for us.” She cocked her head at the woman. “You’re renting, aren’t you?”
“I was, when I was teaching. Well, housing was part of my salary. I thought I told you that. But since I was saving that money, I was able to buy and fix up my place while I was teaching, and now it’s just what I want.”
“Maybe I should be a teacher,” Lacey muttered. “It would be a good schedule once the babies are in school.”
“Or a school nurse.”
Lacey pressed her lips together and nodded consideringly. “That’s something to think about. Do you know of any places where I could move?”
“Honey, I’m telling you your dad doesn’t mind giving up his space for his grandkids. He’s very excited about the whole thing. But yes, you might need to light a little fire under him to get him to move his things out so you can move all the stuff you’ll be getting tomorrow in.”
As they worked together on dinner, Lacey making the salad and the bread and the iced tea, Lacey understood why Marianne had wanted to prepare everything here. Working together was a good way for them to get to know each other, and Lacey liked the new woman in her dad’s life very much.
The lasagna was in the oven by the time her dad came home from his visit, and Lacey could see the strain in hs face. She wondered if her sister was as judgey with him as she had been with Lacey. Lacey almost wished they hadn’t planned this dinner so she could take the lot of them into San Angelo, and they could see Broken Wheel wasn't as isolated as they wanted to believe.
Having invited Beck made setting the table more of a challenge. Lacey and her dad had eight plates, but with Beck, their group was nine. Marianne saved the day by hurrying home to get her set of plates. She took Tony with her as muscle, so Lacey was alone to watch the lasagna, and to greet Beck when he arrived early.
“I thought I’d come in to see if you needed help.”
“All that needs to be done is to set the table, and Marianne went to go get plates.”
“I had paper plates, we could have used those,” he teased, crowding her against the counter, his hands braced on either side of her as he leaned in for a kiss.
He couldn't get as close as either of them would like, with her belly in the way, and she thought it might have been her son that kicked Beck hard in the solar plexus.
He stepped back with a grunt and a grin, rubbing his stomach, then hers.
“They didn't like that.”
“They’ve had a long day and they are getting hungry.”
“How’s it going with the family?”
“Well, I almost wish I hadn’t asked them to come so far in advance of the shower.”
“The shower is tomorrow.”
“Yes, but keeping them entertained for twenty four hours is becoming exhausting. There really isn’t a lot to do around here, and sitting around the motel room is dull. I can’t exactly bring them all here. Mom and Dad don't have the best relationship. You know, some people get divorced and it’s amicable, and they’re nice enough to each other, but you can see the strain.”
“Oh, well, tonight will be dinner, and tomorrow the shower, and then when are they leaving?”
“After the shower. Sofia let them have a late checkout.”
“Not like she’s in high demand, but that was still nice.”
“So what have you been up to?” She needed something to do with her hands so she pulled the silverware out of the drawer and started setting the table. She didn't even have a pretty table cloth.
Why did she care what her mother thought? Her mother was the one who had left them behind.
She listened as Beck told her about his work recycling the water used in the oilfield drilling.
“But that drive is getting old,” he added.
“So Tanya mentioned something,” she said. “She said they went to a drive-in movie in New Braunfels and she thought that might be a good thing for us to have out here, you know, maybe between here and San Angelo.”
