Page 99 of Lone Star Longing
“THIS IS TURNING INTOa regular dinner party,” her dad said as they set the table with mismatched dishes. They had two sets of four dishes, so an extra guest meant they had to mix and match, two of one kind and three of another. And the sets didn't really go together, but it was what they had, so they were rolling with it.
“I really should have asked you before I invited them, but I wanted to do something nice for him after he brought that stock tank for me, and I didn't want to leave his mom out.”
Her dad grimaced. “It’s not going to be the most peaceful of dinners, but we’ll manage.”
She rolled shoulders maybe a little sunburned from sitting in her tank so long. But she hadn’t been this cool in weeks.
“So why do you think he did it? Brought that for me?”
“I think what you said he said made it very clear why.”
She braced her hands on the back of a chair. “But I turned him down.”
“He doesn't appear to be ready to take no for an answer. And based on tonight’s dinner invitation, maybe you’re not sure you’re going to stick with that answer.”
The sound of a car driving up had him heading to the door without looking out the window to see who it was.
“I’m going to go help Marianne carry the stuff in. And give her a warning about Mrs. Conover. You got this?”
Lacey lifted an enormous pitcher of iced tea in salute. “I’ve got this.”
She set the tea and the glasses on the table, her nerves a little shaky. She’d let her dad carry the lasagna to the table since the last thing she wanted was to spill it and have nothing to serve her guests.
“Smells delicious,” Marianne said as she walked into the kitchen, carrying a grocery bag. Lacey’s dad was behind her with a round cake carrier.
“Dad did the hard part. I made the garlic bread,” Lacey said.
“With just the two of us, we don't get to have lasagna so often, unless we want leftovers for days,” her dad explained, setting the cake on the counter and turning to take the bag from Marianne.
“Everything looks really nice,” Marianne said.
“Lacey worked really hard to get everything shiny for tonight.”
“Oh, I worked hard until Beck brought the tub,” Lacey said, aware of the odd brightness in her tone. Once she knew Marianne better, maybe she would know how to talk to her easier. She’d know the woman’s interests and personality. Right now she was flying blind.
And suddenly she was grateful she’d invited the Conovers. Beck was a pretty good conversationalist with people he didn't know.
She wondered why they hadn’t arrived yet.
“So what did you do today, Marianne?” her dad asked as Marianne took a seat at the table.
Lacey’s usual seat, but she didn't say anything, just moved the glass she’d already sipped from to another position. She wondered if Marianne usually sat there when she came to visit.
“Oh, I worked on my quilt, you know, and since I can’t just do one thing, I cut out a purse for my granddaughter.”
Okay, two avenues for conversation. “I didn't know you were already a grandmother,” Lacey said. “You sure don't look old enough.”
“Well, thank you, sweetie, but I’m actually older than your dad.”
Lacey looked at him in surprise, and he wiggled his eyebrows.
“Older woman. Ten months, but still. And I’m a grandpa. Do I look old enough?”
“Of course not,” she said affectionately, but turned her attention back to Marianne. “How many grandkids? How old?”
“I have two kids, and each of them have two kids. The oldest is eight, and the youngest is three. No twins in the batch, though.” She smiled at Lacey.
“Yeah, that was a surprise.” So his dad had told. Well, now that Beck knew, she supposed she didn't need to keep it a secret anymore.
