“That’s the problem. You’d be better at this than me.”
“Then maybe you’re not the guy for her! Ever think of that?”
“No,” he replied thoughtfully—and totally missing the frustration in my voice. “I don’t think that’s it. She’s not easy to get to warm up, you know? She’s kind of terrifying, really. A woman who looks like her, who can fix a guy’s truck for him, and who’s so smart? She’s got her head full of like old hero-type characters, super high standards. What does she need a guy like me for?”
“Good question.”
Austen laughed. “She’s scary, isn’t she? But now she’s finally talking to me, and I need to keep it that way. If I can just get her to know me a little, let her take the time to read me…”
“Then write her a stinking letter!” I shot back, my hackles raising. How dare he ask me for help wooing the woman I was in love with?
“Sure, that’s the thing to do. Can you come over this afternoon? I really want your advice on this.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek and almost threw my phone. How could he be so dense? Couldn’t he tell I wanted nothing to do with this? I’d love to watch her shoot him out of the skies.
But I wouldn’t sabotage him any more than I could have kicked Luke in the teeth. I couldn’t sink that low, not for anybody. And I still liked him, even if I could have busted him in the kneecaps right then.
Maybe if I agreed to “help,” I could keep my finger on the pulse of what was happening. Turn this ship around before he got too carried away and she lost her heart to the wrong guy. BecauseIwas the right guy for her. Wasn’t I?
“Fine. I’ll be over after I get the morning feeding done.”
Jess
“So, are we cooking turkey in the oven or smoking it for Christmas? I’d better get to the store.” Dad was poking his head in the pantry, rummaging through what we had on hand. “Potatoes and gravy? Stuffing? Green bean casserole?” He pulled a can of green beans out and stared at it, his shoulders sagging. He sniffed faintly.
I set my book aside and got up from the couch to walk over and take the can. I knew what he was thinking.
His fingers were trembling as he let me take it. He was quiet for a few seconds, and I just waited. “Nobody made green bean casserole like your mom. Or stuffing.”
I shook my head. “Nobody.”
He sighed and scrubbed his face, probably trying to hide the fact that his eyes had gotten misty. “But we should still try. It’s just not Christmas dinner without green bean casserole and stuffing.”
“We could do something different this year,” I offered softly. “Maybe pick up a honey-smoked ham?”
He was looking down. “That would be easy. And some scalloped potatoes or something.”
“Another of Mom’s specialties,” I reminded him.
“I guess so. She sure could cook.” Dad gave a half smile and took the green beans back to stare at the can some more. “You know, it’s not that I miss the food. But I sure miss seeing her in the kitchen, singing like she used to do when she chopped vegetables. And when she would decorate the house all beautiful for every holiday, remember that? I never cared much about that, you know. Figured it was still a house, it looked fine with or without decorations, but she made it…” He cleared his throat. “You know.”
“Yeah.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “I know.”
“Ahem, well, anyway.” He put the can back. “Let’s try the ham this year. I’ll go to the store later. Can you write me a shopping list?”
“Mind if I text it to you?” I walked over to pick up my phone from the living room to start putting things down while I was thinking about it.
“Fine. Hey, where did you get that book?” He pointed at the one I’d left on the couch. “I don’t remember it.”
I picked up the antique leather-bound and gold-embossed copy ofEmmaI’d been reading. “Kelli found it and gave it to me for Christmas. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
He admired it when I handed it to him. “It is. Kelli gave it to you? Hmm.”
I laughed as I took it back. “What do you mean, ‘Hmm’?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just hoping some young man had finally figured out how to get your attention. That’s how I asked your mom out, you know.”
I tilted my head. “I thought it was over a flat tire. You stopped and helped her.”