He adored his sister-in-law, not only for saving Jackson from himself but because she brought so much happiness to his family as a whole. She’d given his parents the daughter they’d always longed for, was a wonderful mother to his two nephews and had fit into their family like she’d always been there. She even tolerated his strange behavior with a patience unmatched by the rest of his family. She always seemed interested in what he was working on and didn’t expect him to be like everyone else.
Which was why this pregnancy was so particularly stressful. If anything ever happened to Ridley it would devastate them all.
“Did Mom send you out here?” he asked.
Ridley shook her head. “No, I just wanted to see what you were up to. It feels like I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Bennett rubbed his hand over his hair. He had been working pretty doggedly the past month. Without his assistant to keep track of things, his usually orderly existence had become a bit haphazard.
“My assistant got a teaching fellowship to Oxford. So I’m trying to manage by myself. There are just so many details that I’m not used to keeping track of.”
He wasn’t exaggerating either. John Wilson had been the perfect assistant. He’d hired him originally as a graduate student. John had needed a job that wouldn’t interfere with his classes. Bennett had needed someone who could keep track of all the pesky details that came naturally to everyone else. Like when to eat and whether or not he needed a haircut. But over the past year John had become like his right arm. With his science background he’d been able to help Bennett with his testing and kept his notes organized.
Ridley put a soft hand on his arm. “No wonder you look so lost. I mean, it’s great for him that he got a fellowship though.”
“Yes, it is. That’s why I recommended him for it.”
“You recommended him even though that meant you’d lose your assistant?” she asked incredulously.
He nodded slowly, not sure why Ridley would find that so surprising. John had been a fine student and would likely go on to have a promising career. He’d been determined to develop formulations for pesticides that would be safer and less expensive to produce. Bennett was extremely proud of him.
“Yes, of course. He was a very bright student. I believe he’ll do great things in the world.”
She grinned at him then. “You’re a good guy, Bennett Alexander. But then I already knew that.”
Unsure of how to respond to that, Bennett just nodded. Then he jumped to his feet when she struggled to stand.
“Oh, it’s fine. I can get up. It just takes me a minute with this belly, that’s all.”
Even though she didn’t want his help, Bennett hovered behind her uncertainly, ready to offer a hand if she stumbled. It was a miracle to him how she managed to stay upright while carrying around the basketball-shaped lump under her shirt.
“Anyway, I hope I’ll see you at dinner. I know you usually don’t have time to come but yeah … anyway.”
“I’ll be there. I was planning to come today anyway but I got distracted earlier.”
Ridley’s face lit up. “Oh good. I know everyone will be really happy to see you.”
She stopped at the door. “Bennett? Have you already hired another assistant? Or did you have someone in mind?”
“No. I haven’t had time. But I suppose I’ll have to eventually. Why?”
“Oh nothing. Just wondering.” She smiled again, her face the picture of innocence.
Bennett wasn’t sure why but he suddenly wondered if going to dinner was such a good idea. He’d heard his brother complain that Ridley could be a bit of a meddler and fancied herself a matchmaker but he’d never seen it firsthand. His brother was probably exaggerating anyway. From what he could tell, Ridley just liked fussing over everyone because she wanted them all to be happy. What was the harm in that?
Besides, there wasn’t too much she could do to meddle in his love life considering that he didn’t have one. Unless she could somehow manage to get Olivia to see him as her perfect match. In fact, maybe he would ask Ridley for help. If she liked matchmaking, then she probably wouldn’t mind giving him a few pointers and there really wasn’t anyone else he could ask.
“Yes, I am going to dinner. Would you mind saving me a seat? There’s something I want to talk to you about tonight.”
Ridley looked curious but didn’t ask any questions. Just watched him with a little smile on her face that made him feel very much like a bug under a microscope.
“Sure thing. I’ll save you a seat. I know exactly what you need.”
?
Katie took a deep breath and then let it out slowly as her youngest son ran past her for the hundredth time.
“Matthew Hosea Mason. Come back here and put your shoes on, right now!”