“So, you and Sheridan. Is this your two-weeks-dating anniversary?”
“No,” I said immediately.
But Luke spoke over me, louder, and what they wanted to hear, so it’s what they did hear. “That’s right.” Luke’s eye glinted. “Ever since your anniversary party.”
Why was he lying to them? I was the one who’d be facing the emotional fallout when they found out I really didn’t have a heart-surgeon boyfriend who loved yard work. Their devastation would be unmatched. I needed to nip this in the bud.
“Mom, Dad. Luke and I are still getting to know each other. Let’s just … you know.”
Mom winked at me. “Flowers bloom at their own rate. Especially peonies.” She winked bigger, giving a nod to the huge bouquet of peonies from Luke that were now starting to droop on Mom’s countertop. I’d brought them over here so I wouldn’t have to be bombarded by the sight of them at my place.
This was getting worse by the minute. I clapped and motioned for everyone to stand up. “What do you say we get started on the koi pond?”
“The truth is, Mr. Allen, Sheridan and I haven’t gone on any official dates yet.” He turned to look up at me, his deep brown eyes bright with mirth. “Only a few unofficial dates.”
There had been no dates! Not one! Official or unofficial or otherwise!
“That’s all right, Luke.” Dad placed a hand on his shoulder. “Son.”
Oh, merciful heavens above, save me now!
“Mr. Allen”—Luke stood—“what do you say I tell you my favorite surgery stories while I dig the koi pond?”
And with that, I was defeated.
Dad and Luke headed toward the back yard, collected shovels off the porch, and Dad was his captive, attention-wise, for the next hour and a half as the hole grew to the right capacity.
“I can’t believe you were able to use endoscopic procedure to save that woman’s life, when her obstruction was so difficult to reach. What a brilliant move! I think I saw something like that on an episode of Marcus Welby, M.D. once, back in the day.”
“You watched Marcus Welby, too?” Luke uttered the even more magical magic words.
I threw my hands in the air. The six-packs of petunias I was carrying rained potting soil down on my head.
Shaking the dirt out of my hair, I knelt down beside Mom, who was wearing a bandana over her red hair and gardening kneepads. “Really, you and Dad should just adopt Luke. Make it official.”
Speaking of official things, like our dubiously official dating status.
“There are much pleasanter ways to gain a son than court proceedings.” She hummed the wedding march.
My own mother! “I hardly know him. I met him because of the whole Roland thing.” Which, frankly, I still needed to research. “I’m only letting him hang around until I figure out why he knew I liked peonies.” And where Mom and Dad live, and where I keep my drinking glasses.
And the Jasper thing.
Okay, there was a lot I needed to figure out.
“It takes time to get to know someone, mentally and emotionally, but your gut can tell you a lot.”
My gut clenched when I looked over at Luke, laughing as he threw dirt onto a heap.
While I planted petunias, I secretly enjoyed my front row seat as Luke sweated, dirt clods clinging to his pant-legs, with a smudge of dried mud under his eye, joking with my dad; as he accepted cold drinks from Mom with grace and compliments; as he listened with what looked like sincere interest while Dad regaled him with factoids about garden carp—aka, koi—and their benefits to mankind; as he steadied Dad when the big roll of black plastic to line the pond nearly toppled him.
The movie of Luke turning into Prince Charming—instead of Dr. Alarming—ran a full hour and a half. I could have eaten a jumbo popcorn and a refill during that time.
“Could the two of you manage the last project?” Dad brought over the hose. “Someone needs to hold the lining down, while the other fills the pond.” He winked at me and placed the hose in Luke’s hand.
I pulled a weak smile, and Mom and Dad scooted into the house, leaving me alone with Luke. Who looked over where I struggled with the plastic liner.
“Your dad is great.” He aimed the water flow so it wouldn’t spray me. “He really likes heart surgery.”