Page 39 of The Wedding Ranch
“There’s nothing to own.” He shrugged. “I figured she’d have had to come here, and I’d get her number. Since I lost it. I… never mind.”
Ruby pulled out a lateral file to her left. With a quick finger walk across the top of the charts she pulled one out. “Get your pencil out.”
“Thanks, Ruby.”
She pursed her lips. “You owe me.” She called out the numbers, watching him the whole time. “Now would you do me a favor and use that number for something besides a good deed?”
“Nothing wrong with good deeds,” he said.
“No. Not at all, but just relax. You might have fun. She’s real nice.”
I know.
“You’re really not going to tell me anything?” Ruby fluttered her lashes. “Come on.”
“Nothing to tell.”
“Well, then get out of here. I’ll send your sister over when she’s done.”
“Thanks, Ruby.”
“Oh, don’t thank me. I’ll call in that favor one day.” She flipped her hair back and spun around in her chair.
He waved as he walked out.
The Dalton Mill Diner was busy, but he spotted an empty table near the window. Not really his favorite place to sit. It was weird to eat on display like that. Made him feel like one of those Siamese fighting fish in a teensy bowl, but the sooner he got lunch with Diane over with the sooner he could call Lorri. His heart pounded. He clutched the brochure he’d written her number on, then tried to commit it to memory.
“What are you having today, Ryder?” Maggie Mae slid a cup of ice water onto the table.
“Diane’s meeting me between patients. How about two specials. You know she’ll be in a hurry.”
“You got it. And two sweet teas?”
“That’ll do.”
He took out his phone and keyed Lorri’s name and number into his contact list, still unsure of what he was going to say when he called.
Diane slid out the chair across from him and sat down. “To what do I owe this nice surprise? Is this so you can get out of the family party tomorrow?”
Tomorrow was her birthday. “No. Of course not. Can’t a guy take his big sister to lunch?”
“Yeah. You just never do.”
“Well, I’m going to do better on that. Now that Mom and Dad are wandering the nation, we need to fill in some gaps.”
“I know. I really miss them. Sunday dinners too. One of us needs to learn some of Mom’s recipes.”
“It should probably be me,” he said with a smirk.
“You’re right. Youarethe better cook.”
“Don’t much like to follow a recipe, but this is a serious situation,” he said. “We have traditions that need to be continued.”
“How about we plan on Sunday supper after church this week? I’ll tell the kids to carve out an hour or two for us.”
He couldn’t hold back the snicker. “You know all those two are going to talk about is that celebrity wedding?”
“You better lower your voice.” Her eyes darted side to side.
