Page 29 of Summer Weddings
“His mother and father are certainly proud of him.”
“It’s such a delight to see these young people so happy. A family should spend time together.”
A family.The three of them looked like a family.
Once more Robin turned to Cole, but once more he seemed not to hear the comments. Or if he had, he ignored them.
But Cole must have sensed her scrutiny because his gaze found hers just then. Their eyes lingered without a hint of the awkwardness Robin had felt so often before.
Jeff chatted constantly on the ride home with Robin. Since she and Cole had both brought their cars, they drove home separately. They exchanged good-nights in the driveway and entered their own houses.
Jeff had some homework to finish and Robin ran a load of clothes through the washing machine. An hour later, after a little television and quick baths, they were both ready for bed. Robin tucked the blankets around Jeff’s shoulders, although he protested that he was much too old for her to do that.But he didn’t complain too loudly or too long.
“Night, Jeff.”
“Night, Mom. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
“Don’t go all sentimental on me, okay?” she teased as she turned off his light. He seemed to fall asleep the instant she left the room. She went downstairs to secure the house for the night, then headed up to her own bedroom. Once upstairs, she paused in her son’s doorway and smiled gently. They’d both had quite a day.
At about ten o’clock, she was sitting up in bed reading a mystery when the phone rang. She answered quickly, always anxious about late calls. “Hello.”
“You’re still awake.” It was Cole, and his voice affected her like a surge of electricity.
“I…was reading,” she said.
“It suddenly occurred to me that we never had the chance to finish our conversation the other night.”
“What conversation?” Robin asked.
“The one at the front door…that Jeff interrupted. Remind me to give that boy lessons in timing, by the way.”
“I don’t even remember what we were talking about.” She settled back against the pillows, savoring the sound of his voice, enjoying the small intimacy of lying in bed, listening to him. Her eyes drifted shut.
“As I recall, you’d just said something about how it isn’t any of your business who I lunch with or spend my weekends with. I assume you think I’m with a woman.”
Robin’s eyes shot open. “I can assure you, I don’t think anything of the sort.”
“I guess I should explain about the weekends.”
“No. I mean, Cole, it really isn’t my business. It doesn’t matter. Really.”
“I have some property north of here, about forty acres,” he said gently, despite her protests. “The land once belonged to my grandfather, and he willed it to me when he passed away a couple of years back. This house was part of the estate, as well. My father was born and raised here. I’ve been spending a lot of my free time remodeling the old farmhouse. Sometime in the future I might move out there.”
“I see.” She didn’t want to think about Cole leaving the neighborhood, ever.
“The place still needs a lot of work, and I’ve enjoyed doing it on my own. It’s coming along well.”
She nodded and a second later realized he couldn’t see her action. “It sounds lovely.”
“Are there any other questions you’d like to ask me?” His voice was low and teasing.
“Of course not,” she denied immediately.
“Then would you be willing to admit you enjoy it when I kiss you? A high seven? Really? I think Jeff’s right—we need more practice.”
“Uh…” Robin didn’t know how to answer that.
“I’m willing,” he said, and she could almost hear him smile.
