He’d been thinking about that hesitation for days now, and he still couldn’t name a reason for it.
“Oh, I don’t believe this,” Mom said, and Spur tore his gaze from the waving grasses between the pavilion and Olli’s land. His mother marched down the sidewalk that led to the small parking area. “You were supposed to bring Daddy with you,” she said to Ian and Lawrence, the last two brothers to arrive.
“He said he could drive himself,” Ian said, ducking sideways to avoid their mother.
“What do you want us to do, Mom?” Lawrence asked, using the slow cooker he carried like a shield. “Throw him kicking and screaming over our shoulders?”
“Yes,” Mom said. “He can’t drive. The doctor said he has to wait at least another two weeks.”
Lawrence put the appliance full of meat next to the empty spot where the buns would clearly go. Neither Blaine nor Cayden had made an attempt to get them, and the brothers that were nearby looked around at each other.
“Mom,” Spur said, because it always fell to him to have delicate conversations with their mother. “We can’t control Daddy.”
“Oh, I know,” she said, waving one perfectly manicured hand. “That man is as stubborn as the day is long.” She pointed around at everyone, even Conrad though he stood several paces away with his back to her. “You all are exactly the same way.”
“Hey,” Ian said. “I’m not.”
No one else argued, and Spur just shook his head. “Listen, Mom, did you hear what I said a few minutes ago?”
“No, what?” She couldn’t hold still for more than three seconds, and Spur sighed as she started straightening already perpendicular serving utensils.
He exchanged a glance with Blaine and then Trey. “I invited someone to the picnic,” Spur said, his voice too loud when the breeze suddenly died. “A woman, Mom. I invited a woman to the picnic.”
His mother froze, and though Spur could only see her profile, he felt the shock rolling off of her in waves. She straightened slowly and faced him. “Who?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Ian said. “Who?”
“You’re dating?” Lawrence asked, and Spur shot them both a look that said, not helping. Be quiet.
“Duke and Conrad brought dates,” Spur said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
His mother’s eyebrows went up. “You didn’t think inviting an outside to our family picnic was a big deal? What if I’d made the exact number of cupcakes?”
“She can have mine,” Spur said, growing more agitated by the moment. “Look, it’s not a big deal, okay? It’s new, and I thought she should meet everyone at once so she can decide if she wants to keep dating me.”
“You’re supposed to hide all the flaws until after the wedding,” Trey joked.
“Hey,” Mom said. “We are not flaws. We are your family.”
“They’re both F-words,” Trey said, laughing.
Mom was not laughing, and she looked back at Spur. “Who is she, darling? Do we know her?”
“Yeah,” Spur said, glancing to the right again. This time, he saw Olli headed his way. Relief and fear ran through him together. “Uh, she’s right there, Mom. It’s Olivia Hudson.” He pointed to the right, and everyone turned that way.
Seven sets of eyes landed on Olli, and she actually slowed her step. Spur realized what a horrible thing he’d done, but it was too late now.
“Olli?” Lawrence and Ian said together, equal amounts of disbelief in their voices.
“She’s great,” Blaine said, and Spur was never more thankful for him.
“Yeah,” Trey said. “I like Olli a lot. She’s real pretty, too, Spur. How’d you get her to go out with you?”
“Duke’s stupid sheep tore up her flowers,” Spur said, and at least that was true.
“I said I was sorry about that,” Duke said, still staring in Olli’s direction. “But hey, if it brought you two together, I should get credit.”
Spur was well-aware that his mother had still said nothing, her eagle eyes trained on Olli as she picked her way through the last of the wild grass. He moved toward her then, an apology on the tip of his tongue.