Normally she would have thought of the perfect comeback, but today her brain refused to cooperate.
Into the pressure cooker of family time walked Luke.
Posy immediately dropped the spoon she was holding.
“It’s snowing again.” Luke stamped the snow off his boots and hung up his coat. “There’s a storm coming in. Perfect writing weather.”
Posy retrieved the spoon and Suzanne noticed that her cheeks were flushed.
She also noticed that her youngest daughter was the only one who didn’t immediately greet Luke. Given that Posy was usually chatty and comfortable with her lodger, Suzanne thought it reasonable to assume that something had changed between them.
Attraction? Affection? Love?
Whatever it was, it pleased her to see it.
That fiasco with Callum had upset Posy badly. It wasn’t easy having a relationship in a small community, and Callum had been clumsy in his handling of the breakup.
To the best of Suzanne’s knowledge, Posy hadn’t been in
volved with anyone seriously since.
“Come on in, Luke.” She gestured to an empty chair. “I’ve barely seen you lately. I hope you’re warm enough over there. Plenty of logs? Is your fridge full?”
In some ways, he reminded her of Stewart at the same age. He had the same athletic build and strength. The same quiet focus and passion for what he did. But it was a passion, she noted, that didn’t tip into obsession.
She liked him.
“The barn is very comfortable. Posy has been looking after me. Something smells good. Can I do anything to help?”
The fact that he offered was enough for Suzanne. “You brought wine. That’s all the help we need.”
“Take a seat, Luke.” Stewart half rose to his feet and gestured to an empty chair. “Welcome to the madhouse. How is the writing going?”
“Ah, the question every writer dreads.” Luke sat down, glancing at Posy as he did so. “It’s coming together slowly. I’m at that stage when I can’t believe the book will ever be finished. I have to look at the books I’ve written before to convince myself it’s possible.”
Beth glanced up from her bowl of whipped cream. “How many books have you written?”
“This is the third.”
“It’s a book about survival?”
“That was book two.” Luke shook his head. “This is Top Climbs in North America.”
Posy served the soup, giving Luke an extra-large portion.
The conversation turned to food, and Christmas, and then Hannah cleared the plates and they moved on to the casserole.
Suzanne wondered if Stewart had been right and she should have stayed in bed. She was starting to feel light-headed.
“The mash tastes funny,” Ruby said, poking at the food on her plate.
“It’s delicious,” Beth said. “Eat.”
“But—”
“How’s Vicky, Mom?” Beth passed the bowl of parsnips across the table. “Is she better?”
Posy dug into her food. “She’s working a half day at the café tomorrow.”