“I think you are getting the cart before the horse,” Uncle Will said. “Does she love you?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Grant said.
“She definitely loves the boys,” Greg said, hoping these three wise men could help him and his brother. “But she seems to be afraid.”
“That shouldn’t surprise you two.” Uncle Tom grabbed another muffin.
“We know she told you about her baby she had to give up last night,” Uncle Jack said. “Carol told us about it this morning. We’re all going to help her find that little girl. I’m going to call Handley to get the ball rolling.”
“The governor? Governor Handley?” Grant smiled.
“The one and only.” Uncle Jack had served with William Handley in Korea. They were close friends. “He has more connections than anyone else I know.”
“I think we’re getting off topic slightly here,” Uncle Will said. “We’re supposed to be talking about the brand-new relationship between Maude and these two boys.”
“But it all works together,” Uncle Jack said. “I believe that’s a big part of her fears.”
“I agree, but we have to remember that sweet girl isn’t from Wilde,” Uncle Tom said. “This is all new to her.”
“Tom, it’s all new to these boys, too,” Uncle Jack said. “They grew up with one mom and one dad. And when they did marry, they each married different women.”
“Well, of course we knew that, Jack,” Uncle Tom said. “But unlike Maude, they’ve always been around Wilde families like ours. It’s not as foreign to them as it is to her, being an outsider.”
Uncle Will sat down his coffee cup. “That didn’t stop us with our beautiful Carol, did it? And our three boys swept her sister off her feet, too.”
“I’m not saying they should not try to win Maude’s heart.” Uncle Tom leaned forward in his chair. “In fact, if they love her, they should pursue her. It’s the way they pursue her that I’m talking about.”
He and Grant smiled. Over the years they’d seen their three uncles get into serious discussions that to some might appear as arguing. But they knew it wasn’t. These men were passionate. How many difficulties and challenges had they helped others in town, including their own father, tackle? Too many to count.
“What else did Maude say on your date last night?” Uncle Jack asked.
“She’s worried that if things don’t work out between us the boys will get hurt.” Greg felt there was much more to her fears than that.
Uncle Will’s eyebrow shot up. “And what about you two? What are you afraid of? Dig deep.”
Greg closed his eyes and thought hard. “Honestly, I think we might lose Maude before we even get a chance to show her how much she means to us.”
“Same here,” Grant said. “I can’t imagine a life without her in it. I never thought I would ever fall in love again. But damn it, I’m completely nuts about her. What can we do?”
“I think you should follow your cousins’ example,” Uncle Jack said.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Uncle Tom said.
“Like I told you at breakfast, I think it’s the best idea for these three lovebirds.”
It was obvious the three of them had already talked about their situation before he and Grant had arrived this morning.
Uncle Tom nodded. “It worked for our boys with Mary.”
“And it will work for these two, too,” Uncle Will said, turning to him and Grant. “If you want her bad enough, you will make sure it does.”
“We want her to be ours more than you can imagine,” he said. “But I’m not sure I’m following what you are suggesting for me and Grant to do. What about our cousins’ example? What do you mean, Uncle Jack?”
“Each of you take her on a date. One at a time. That’ll give you time to get to know one another. It’s familiar to all three of you to be a couple on a date, not a threesome. After that, the three of you go on a date together.”
“Think of it like putting your toe in the water before jumping in,” Uncle Will said. “It’s not what the three of us did with your aunt, but those were different times. And like Tom said, it worked for your cousins with Mary. I’m betting it will work with her sister, too.”
“It has to,” Grant said. “I can’t live without her.”