Page 180 of Lavender Lake
“And not every room is occupied,” Muddy said. “What with Cas basically moving into Salem’s room.”
I stilled. “Does Dad know?”
Muddy shrugged.
I sighed. “Cas. You’re calling him Cas now?”
“Bowman feels too . . .” Muddy searched for the word.
“Male athlete that smacks other male athletes on the behind,” Hadley supplied.
“That.” Muddy plunked a piece of chicken onto her plate. “Family meeting tonight.”
“When you sayfamily,” I began.
“You, Hadley, both boys, and your father,” Muddy said. She took a bite of chicken. “Damn, I’m a good cook.”
I sniggered.
“What about Jane?” Hadley asked.
“No Jane,” Muddy said. “Not until your father puts a ring on it.”
I frowned. “Cas hasn’t put a ring on it yet.”
“But he will. When you let him.” She winked. “Besides, I’ve already spoken to Jane and she understands about the family meeting tonight. She’s not offended.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to back Dad into a corner so he’ll propose to Jane,” Hadley drawled.
“Because that’s exactly what I’m doing,” she said. “He wants to marry her. She wants to marry him. I don’t see the issue.”
“Uh, how about the fact that he’s recovering from brain surgery?” I said.
Muddy shrugged. “We’re all recovering from something, aren’t we?”
“Touché,” Hadley murmured.
“What’s the family meeting about?” I asked.
“We’ll talk tonight,” Muddy said. “Now eat your chicken before I do.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
The Ranch
“Enough,” Dad said. “I’ve had enough of this bullshit.”
Declan opened his mouth to speak but Dad shook his head. “No. You’ve had your say. You’ve had plenty to say. Now it’s my turn to talk.”
Dad sat on the couch, with Hadley and I flanking him. Muddy was in her patchwork chair. As for Declan and Cas . . . they were the farthest away from each other they could get while still being in the same room.
“You two need to make amends,” Dad said. “Declan, I know you feel protective of Salem, but Cas is your best friend. And like it or not, he’s with Salem now and that’s not changing. You were best friends before you each fell in love with a Powell sister. And when Cas marries Salem, you’ll be brothers.”
The two men looked at each other. Declan stepped forward and muttered, “Sorry.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Cas parroted.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Muddy said. “You think we bought that? No one bought that.”
