It was the least I could do. Hadley’s relationship with her mother hadn’t always been easy. Things were so much better now, but there were still some tense moments now and again. I didn’t want our lateness because Hadley had stopped to get me to be one of them.
She pulled into a makeshift parking spot next to Hayes’ sheriff’s department SUV. I hurried to climb out, moving to the back to get the bread I’d made that afternoon.
Hadley fell into step beside me as we headed for the house. The main dwelling on the ranch property was everything I’d always imagined a true home to be. The rockers on the front porch seemed to invite you to sit and stare at the amazing view. The inside was all lived-in warmth, with a kitchen that had every gadget and gizmo you could ever want.
Hadley moved in closer and gave my bundle an exaggerated sniff. “That smells amazing.”
“Rosemary bread.”
“Can’t wait to taste it.”
As we reached the steps, the front door swung open, and two little girls were a blur of motion, running to us. “Mom!” Birdie shouted. “I landed my ollie at the skate park. I gotta show you.”
Hadley ruffled her hair. “We’ll go to the park tomorrow.”
Sage’s arms encircled my waist in a hug, her face pressed against my middle. “Did Mom tell you what we found on our walk?”
I squeezed Sage back, reveling in her warmth and kindness. “She said a pretty rare flower.”
Sage released me, her head bobbing up and down. “I brought my pressing book with me to show you.”
Hadley cleared her throat. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
Sage giggled and threw her arms around her adoptive mom. “I got distracted.”
Hadley drilled a finger into her side. “Flowers on the brain. Always.”
Calder appeared behind his daughters, leaning in to kiss his wife. “There could be worse hobbies.”
A mischievous glint filled Birdie’s eyes. “Maybe I should take up knife juggling.”
Calder groaned, dropping his head to Hadley’s shoulder. “Save me.”
Hadley chuckled, her hand fisting in his flannel shirt. “We’ll get her rubber knives.”
I scooted around the family and headed up the stairs, the feeling of being an outsider grating against my skin. The Eastons had shown me generosity I’d never known, but I didn’t exactly belong either. I didn’t feel like I fit in anywhere, if I were honest.
As I stepped inside the entryway, I almost collided with the Easton matriarch. Julia immediately pulled me in for a quick hug. “Oh, good, I’m so glad you’re here. Can you help me finish up the salad? Don’t want my family getting hangry on me.” She gave an exaggerated shiver.
Warmth spread through me at her words. Julia knew I did best at these family dinners with a task to accomplish. I didn’t like the awkwardness of trying to figure out what to do or who to talk to.
“Of course.” I lifted my bundle. “I made some rosemary bread. If it doesn’t go with the meal, you can save it for later.”
Julia took the bundle out of my hands and sniffed it. “Heavenly. And it’s perfect. Gabe made
roasted chicken with potatoes. I was feeling guilty for not having made rolls to go with it, but the day got away from me.”
“Working in your garden?” I asked.
Julia had a vegetable patch that would make any food lover or farmer jealous. She set the bread on the counter and moved to a pile of vegetables. “I think this is one of the last harvests I’ll get. The nights are turning too cold.”
I moved to the sink, giving my hands a thorough washing, and then drying them on a towel. “They are. I think my flowers on the porch aren’t long for this world.”
“I always hate when that happens.”
I grabbed a knife from the block and the deep red pepper, beginning to slice it. “I do, too, but there’s something magical about the snow when it comes.”
“The beauty of seasons. We get a little bit of everything and an appreciation for it all.”