“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for h—” Becca stopped mid word, her mouth closing quickly as she looked over Van’s shoulder.
Van twisted her head to follow her stare. Chrissie Fairfax was standing at the table, pouring two glasses of lemonade. Nora was next to her, though there was no sign of Johnny. When they saw her, they both quickly looked away.
Van squared her shoulders and gave Becca a reassuring smile. They didn’t bother her. Not any more. It was funny how they never said nasty things for her to hear anymore. They seemed almost scared of her – more than once when she’d been in the town square she’d seen Nora hurrying away in the other direction.
Van brought her attention back to Becca. “Are Maddie and Gray coming tonight?”
“Yeah.” Becca frowned, looking at the watch on her slim wrist. “They should have been here by now.”
“They’re coming.” Tanner nodded in the other direction. Van could see them now, Gray had his arm around Maddie, who was walking as slow as molasses. Still, they both looked stunning. Gray, tall, strong and sexy, and Maddie wearing a yellow-and-white flowered dress, her dark hair flowing behind her as they reached the main group of Chairs.
“Did I miss anything?” Gray asked, looking at Tanner.
He shook his head. “Not a thing.”
“Good. We would’ve been here half an hour ago, but we thought Maddie might have been in labor.”
Maddie grimaced. “Turned out it was just gas. Gray’s face was a picture when I let out the hugest burp.”
“It was pretty bad.” Gray was biting down a smile.
“Are you okay now?” Becca asked, looking worried.
“I’m fine. I’ve got weeks to go.” Maddie’s hand slid over her bump, a smile pulling at her lips. “You should have seen Gray panic though. It’s like he’s the one who’ll be doing all the pushing.”
“That wasn’t panic. I just like being ready.” Gray tipped his head to the side, looking at her through narrowed eyes. God, he was good looking. He and Tanner and all their brothers.
The Heartbreak Brothers. Van bit down a smile at the description.
“Anyway, enough of our problems,” Gray said, turning his gaze to Tanner. “If only somebody around here would take the limelight off me.”
Becca sniggered. It took Van a moment to realize that every one of them was staring at Tanner. She frowned, wondering what was going on.
“Get off my ass.” Tanner shook his head, and Gray chuckled.
“I’ve heard that one before.”
“I’ve always known you Hartsons were crazy.” Van rolled her eyes. “But now you’re reaching another level. What on earth are you all talking abou
t?”
“Don’t include me in the Hartsons,” Maddie said. “I’m still a Clark.”
“You’re carrying a Hartson, baby,” Gray pointed out, looking pleased with himself as he caressed Maddie’s bump. “That makes you one of us.”
Tanner shook his head at them all, then took Van’s hand between his. “Come with me,” he murmured.
“Gladly.” She grinned at his family. “You’re all crazy.”
“That’s why you love us,” Becca told her, grinning.
Stupid thing, but it was true. Since Van had moved in with Tanner a few months ago – officially, that was, since she’d spent most nights with him since they reconciled – it had felt like she was finally part of something. They loved her the way she loved them, and they included her, Zoe, and even Kim in their daily lives. Dinners on Sundays after church, cookouts at Maddie and Gray’s at least every other weekend, and of course they all came to the drive-in whenever there was a new movie showing.
Tanner guided her to the center of the grassy field, and climbed up on an empty chair. “Hey, everybody!” he shouted out. The low murmur of conversation stopped, as heads turned to look at him. Van looked up at him, her brows furrowed together.
What the hell was he doing?
As soon as everyone’s attention was on him, Tanner grinned, and he took her breath away. She’d never get enough of him. Of that thick, crazy hair, or those eyes that seemed to see into her very soul.