Page 159 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
Thane stares at his sister with a small smile playing on his face. He enjoys making her happy.
“That’s…amazing.”
“Well, the entire house isn’t finished yet. There’s still work to be done, but we made the bedrooms and kitchen a priority so you could move in as soon as possible.”
“Well done, Boone. This is even better than I’d hoped.” Thane makes the first move to shake Boone’s hand, but Boone tugs him into the bromance-pound-it-out embrace that guys do.
This house is literally straight from my dreams.
“Thane?” Rafe’s voice echoes through the empty hallway.
“What?” Thane barks back.
“Aw, here you are. The partygoers are getting antsy. Can you finish the home tour later?”
“I’d rather not,” Thane mutters.
I take his hand in mine and squeeze. “That’s fine. I think this one could use some food anyway.”
“Great. They finished setting up the buffet five minutes ago, so perfect timing.” Rafe holds out one arm, gesturing for us to exit Kara’s room.
“Buffet?” Thane digs in his heels. “Do you know how many germs are spread from a buffet?”
“Pfft.” Rafe makes a get-moving motion with his hands. “I know your dislike of buffets, Thane. It’s well documented. You two have a special meal at the sweetheart table, so your snobability can take a back seat.”
“That’s not even a word. Snobability. It’s ridiculous.”
“But it got you moving, didn’t it?” Rafe winks as I pass him in the hallway. “There’s also a special guest out there who deserves some one-on-one time. She’s at table four.” There’s nothing but love on his face. He’s such a good friend to Thane and me.
Thane leads me outside, where he once again frowns at the gathering.
“In the front.” Rafe points to a table that’s raised on a small pedestal.
“Fuck.” Thane groans. “Why are we on display as though we’re prime rib at a meat auction?”
“A meat auction?” Rafe has remained fairly unflappable since I’ve met him, but a meat auction is apparently too much for him. He cracks up. “What is a meat auction?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I passed a sign for one once, so I had to investigate it. Trust me, it’s a rabbit hole you do not want to go down. It appears highly unsanitary.”
“No, it’s not unsanitary, Thane,” I say.
He ignores me and tugs gently on my hand, leading me toward the sweetheart table, then stops mid-stride, and I wobble at his side.
When I look up, he’s staring at a table where a tiny old woman sits, swinging her legs because they don’t touch the ground. Thane’s face softens, and he swallows hard before squeezing my hand.
“Come meet Ophelia.”
The older woman is absolutely beaming at my husband as though he’s her favorite celebrity. Love shines in her eyes, and when she reaches for a cane as though she’s about to stand, Thane hurries us to her side.
“Stay sitting,” he tells her.
“My boy.” Her voice wavers with age and so much love that tears sting the back of my throat. “I wouldn’t have missed this even if I was on my deathbed. That Rafe flew me and my niece out here on a private plane.” She makes a tsking sound. “Far too fancy for my liking, but this.” She waves a weathered hand around our back yard. “This is simply perfect.”
“Ophelia, this is Lottie, my wife.”
She turns her watery gaze my way. “An angel,” she croaks. “I knew my boy would find someone who loved him if he ever got his head out of his computer screen. Now, I’m not saying what Mr. Wilder did was right, but it started the chain of events that led both my babies to happiness. I’ve never seen Thane or Kara look so happy, child. And I know I have you to thank. So thank you for loving on them both the way they deserve to be loved.”
Bending at the waist, I hug her. “Thank you for taking such good care of them all those years,” I whisper. “And there’s no need to thank me, Ophelia. Loving them is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”
