Elaine ducked as a blast of air exploded from her lips. I snorted myself. I had a feeling being Elaine Merritt’s bestie was going to be fun.
Bill cleared his throat as he glanced toward his younger nephew.
“Good prayer.” Patrick said clearing his throat.
Stuart was not smiling. The air between him and his younger brother was tense, and he only gave Patrick an annoyed glance. His reaction puzzled me. I thought of his sharp response to Kenny wanting to call Patrick for help when he stopped in at the gym. It appeared they didn’t get along.
Stuart turned to Bill. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more help last week.”
His voice smoothed through my insides like hot chocolate. So good.
Bill gave his arm a squeeze. “Don’t even think about it. I’m glad you’re back with us now.”
“What can I do? I’d like to help out somehow.”
“I understand that.” His uncle nodded, and Patrick jumped in.
“The girls want to ride. I can take them on some trails and show them around the place.”
Stuart turned his attention to his plate and didn’t answer. I tried not to die inside. He didn’t want us here.
“If that Chinook comes down like they’re saying it will, I’m putting you all to work,” Bill laughed.
“Okay, what’s a Chinook?” Elaine was quick to join the discussion.
“Weather phenomenon,” Patrick answered her. “I’ve only experienced one since Bill’s lived here, but it can raise temps from negative four to sixty-eight in a day. The word actually means ‘snow eater.’”
Elaine’s mouth had dropped open. “That’s unbelievable.”
“Yep,” Bill added. “They can hang around for a day, sometimes longer. I’ll put together a list in the morning, and we can figure out what everyone wants to do.”
The rest of the meal, Patrick and his uncle tossed around old memories of the brothers visiting him in Arizona and later here. Elaine interjected funny quips throughout, but Stuart ate in silence. Occasionally he’d nod if his uncle addressed him. His behavior didn’t seem to bother any of them, but it was killing me.
When he finished, he rose and patted his uncle on the shoulder before putting his place setting at the sink and going into the living room to stand by the fire. My eyes followed him the entire way. He stopped and rested his arm on the mantle. His back was turned, and my eyes drifted lower to his butt, narrow and firm in dark jeans.
“You’re blushing,” Elaine whispered, elbowing me in the ribs.
“Shut up!” I whispered back.
“Here’s something,” Patrick announced, sliding his plate forward on the table. “Name the one book you absolutely cannot live without.”
“Hmm...” Uncle Bill’s voice was slow and deep like he was considering every word before he said it—even if it was a joke. “It can’t be one book, because everyone would say The Bible.” He paused and glanced at each of us. “Right?”
Nobody spoke, and Elaine snorted a laugh.
“That’s true,” Patrick said. “We should name two.”
“What if one of us is Buddhist?” Elaine jumped in.
Bill’s eyes caught her teasing tone. “Are any of us Buddhist?”
“I don’t think so, but I actually had a student who was Buddhist once.”
“In Wilmington, North Carolina?” It was clear he was already in love with his future niece.
“I know!” Elaine cried. “I was trying to make some point about religion, and she just blasted it all to hell.”
“I’m not even going to ask what point you were making.” Patrick’s eyes shone in the lamplight.