“Yeah. I got a pretty good rate by accepting a fairly long layover. I’ll take a couple of books to make the time pass more quickly.”

She nodded, making a massive effort to keep her expression nothing more than politely interested. “How are Mack and Jewel?”

A little frown creased his forehead. “Mack said he thinks Jewel’s coming down with a cold. But she said she’s fine, and for me not to worry about her.”

He would, though, Molly mused. Kyle felt responsible for the couple, as if he were trying to care for them the way their own son would have done. He was obviously anxious to get back home—and Tennessee was home to him now, she thought with a sigh. She wondered if he had realized yet, himself, just how deeply he’d already put down roots there.

“They both sent their best to you, by the way,” he added. “Jewel said to remind you of the advice she gave you.”

Molly smiled slightly, remembering their conversation about not letting other people run her life for her. “I’m working on it.”

“I don’t suppose you want to expand on that?”

“Not right now, no.”

He nodded. “Fair enough.”

The phone rang, and Molly reached for the cordless extension close to her chair. It was her aunt Michelle, calling to talk about last-minute party details and to ask about Molly’s ankle.

Assuring her aunt that she was fine—and yes, she knew she should have a

sked someone to accompany her to Tennessee—Molly managed to get through the well-intentioned lecture meekly enough. She changed the subject by asking about her cousin Carly’s new boyfriend. Richard Prentiss was divorced and several years older than twenty-year-old Carly, details that had given Michelle and Tony a few qualms about the relationship.

Before that conversation was over, she heard a beep that signified another incoming call. Michelle concluded her call with a promise to check in again the next day. Molly clicked over to the other caller—who turned out to be her aunt Layla, with much the same reasons for calling.

Molly listened dutifully to another lecture about how dangerous it was for a young woman to travel alone, assured her most worry-prone aunt that her ankle was healing nicely, then soothed Layla’s worries about the million last-minute details concerning the upcoming party. She was finally able to disconnect with yet another promise to be careful and take better care of herself.

She glanced at Kyle, who was still reading the magazine, though she had noticed he hadn’t turned a page in a while. “My aunts,” she said.

“So I gathered.”

“Everyone’s getting a little nervous about the party. You know, the last-minute details.”

“I thought you said it was going to be a casual affair. An informal outdoor cookout, at which everyone can just mingle and wish your parents a happy anniversary.”

He was quoting things she had said to him, which proved he’d listened to at least some of her babbling. “Yes, that’s exactly what we’re planning, but you know how it is when you’re hosting a party. You still want to make sure everything comes off okay.”

“I wouldn’t know, actually. I’ve never hosted a party. But I’ll take your word for it.”

“At least the weather is supposed to cooperate. Every forecaster I’ve listened to predicts sunny skies and temperatures in the high seventies.”

“What would you have done if it rained?”

She groaned. “Don’t even say that. However, we did have a contingency plan. The church Layla attends has a big fellowship hall that she reserved on a just-in-case basis until last week, when we were confident enough to let it go. I’m just so glad there’s almost no chance of rain, so we can have the party here.”

“So, how’s it all going down Saturday? Last I heard, you and Kelly were still working out the details.”

“I think we’ve got it all mapped out now. Shane’s picking up Mom and Dad at the airport Saturday morning at eleven-fifteen. I hope their flight isn’t delayed or anything. He’ll drive them back here, trying to arrive somewhere between twelve-thirty and one o’clock. In the meantime, everyone is supposed to gather here Saturday morning to get lunch preparations underway. Someone will stand lookout while everyone else waits in the backyard, grouped around the new kitchen. We’ll all yell ’surprise’ when Shane leads Mom and Dad around.”

Kyle looked amused. “I’ve participated in military operations that weren’t this well planned.”

“Yeah, well, there are about a zillion things that can go wrong, so we’ll just have to hope for the best.”

“So, how many people are you expecting?” Hearing the slight nervousness in his voice, she gave him a sympathetic smile before breaking the total to him. “Counting children, we’ve invited just over sixty people.”

She watched the color drain from his face. “I, uh, knew there would be a lot, but I didn’t realize…”

“Well, think about it. Dad has five siblings, all of whom are married and have kids of their own. Some of those kids are married, others involved in relationships, and everyone’s invited, of course. We contacted a dozen former foster boys—not counting the four here now. Counting you, nine are able to attend, and four of them are married with children. My mom’s brother and his wife are flying in from Alaska for the event. A few longtime friends couldn’t be left out, so the guest list grew pretty long, even though we tried to pare it down a little.”

Tags: Gina Wilkins Romance
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