Page 40 of Lavender Lake
She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “You look downright miserable.”
“I’m jealous of them,” I admitted. “They get to be there. And I have to be . . .here.”
“Dad’ll be fine. You’ll be back in New York in no time.”
Hadley shifted her position and her shirt pulled across her gently swelling belly. She wasn’t showing too much yet, but by the wedding, she would definitely have a baby bump.
“Yeah. I’ll be back in New York before I know it.”
And for some reason, that thought depressed me too.
I was setting the dinner table when the front door opened. Declan and Bowman stalked into the kitchen and I pretended Bowman’s gaze hadn’t locked directly onto me.
“Something smells good,” Declan announced.
“Peppercorn steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans.” I looked at Bowman. “And pie for dessert.”
His jaw ticked, but he said nothing.
“Where have you guys been?” I asked.
“Thought we’d give you and your sister some twin-time. So I took Bowman for a trail ride,” Declan said.
“Gorgeous property,” Bowman said, his eyes resting on me. “Must’ve been a nice place to grow up.”
“It didn’t suck,” Hadley said as she came into the dining room, carrying a platter of steaming steaks. She set the platter down as Declan came to her. He cradled her cheeks in his hands and planted a kiss on her lips.
I turned away, wishing it didn’t feel so intrusive to watch them.
But then my eyes found Bowman’s and something stirred between us.
The spell broke when Declan dropped his hands and stepped back. “Let’s eat.”
We took our chairs, and without Muddy and Dad, it felt empty. I glanced at the chair that had been Mom’s.
Did Jane sit there when she came over for dinner?
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I decided not to start a fight.
“You get settled in okay?” Hadley asked Bowman as she handed him the bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Yeah, fine,” Bowman said. “Clean sheets and everything.”
“Good. Make yourself at home,” Hadley said.
“She means it, too,” Declan said. “People say that all the time but they don’t really mean it. But Hadley does.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“There’s something wrong with the bathroom lock, though,” Bowman said, glancing between me and Hadley.
“Which door?” Hadley inquired.
“The one in your bedroom leading to the bathroom,” Bowman explained.
“Probably just accidentally locked,” Hadley said with a shrug. “Salem can take a look at it.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Bowman smiled, and then cut into his steak. “Ah, perfect.”
