The Texan's Reluctant Bride. Judy Christenberry

seem to bother him.”

      “Good. When do the other people come in?”

      “Actually, that’s the reason for the trip to the ballpark. It’s their first evening in Fort Worth. Pete wants to show them the advantages to the area.”

      “That’s good. Are they taking the kids to Six Flags Over Texas?”

      “The kids aren’t coming this week. But when they move here, that would be a good thing to organize for them.” Tommie absentmindedly picked up another cookie to munch on as she said, “I thought I’d recommend an evening at the new symphony hall. It’s so beautiful.”

      “Casa is open again, isn’t it?” Teresa asked, naming a theater-in-the-round that had been in Fort Worth for many years.

      “Good idea. I’ll recommend that, too. And the PGA tournament at the Colonial Golf Course is next week, too. The guys would probably enjoy a day at the tournament, and the ladies could do a luncheon on the same day, probably Friday,” Tommie said.

      “I bet that’s more than enough activities for them. Then, after they all move, I’d be glad to take them to Six Flags or to the zoo. Little ones are my specialty, after all.”

      “Yes, they are. You have a great calming effect on children. I’ll suggest that to Pete.”

      As if she conjured him, Pete called her cell phone.

      “My mother invited you to dinner this evening,” he said. “She’s excited to have you over.”

      Tommie was instantly concerned with what he might’ve told his mother. Not wanting to sound ungracious, she nevertheless asked, “Why?”

      “Because I’ve talked about you a lot.” Before she could protest and decline, he added, “And Jim wanted to invite Teresa, too.”

      Great. Now she’d have to go. She wouldn’t begrudge her sister the night out with Jim.

      She covered the receiver and asked Teresa, who was thrilled with the suggestion.

      “We’ll be there,” Tommie reluctantly reported. Then, as if to salve her conscience, she said, “We’ve been thinking about things you should do for your staff and their spouses. We’ll tell you tonight.”

      “Great. I’ll pick you up at—”

      “No, I’ll drive us.”

      “Tommie, I should come pick you up.”

      “No, thank you. We’ll manage.”

      “Fine. Seven o’clock.”

      After hanging up the phone, Tommie confessed, “I think he’s invited me to dinner so I can see how well his mother cooks.”

      “Why would you think that?” Teresa asked.

      “When I was showing him a house with a beautiful kitchen he wanted to know what I would cook first in that kitchen. I explained I didn’t cook.”

      “Tommie, that’s not true. You can cook a lot of things.”

      “Yes, but I’m not a cook like you are. Or even Mom.”

      “So you told him you wouldn’t cook anything?”

      “No, I said I’d order Chinese takeout.”

      Teresa gasped. “You didn’t!”

      “I did. He might as well know up front that I’m not the type of woman he’s interested in.”

      “I suppose you’re right about that,” Teresa replied.

      She was. Wasn’t she?

      That evening, when Pete introduced Teresa and Tommie to his mother, Evelyn Schofield clapped her hands in delight. “You didn’t tell me they were twins, Peter.”

      “We’re not,” Tommie said hurriedly. “We’re triplets. Our sister, Tabitha, isn’t here tonight.”

      “Oh, how amazing. I thought I had my hands full with twins. However did your mother manage?”

      “It wasn’t easy, especially since she held down a full-time job,” Tommie said.

      “She did? Oh my, I didn’t want to work. My first priority was my children.”

      Teresa and Tommie remained silent. It was Pete who explained to his mother. “Their father died before they were born. Their mother didn’t have a choice, Mom.”

      “Oh my, how sad.”

      Jim looked at Teresa. “I didn’t know that, Teresa.”

      She shrugged her shoulders. “It happened a long time ago.”

      “Tommie is such a strange name for a girl. How did you end up with that?” Mrs. Schofield asked.

      Tommie gritted her teeth. She hated that question.

      Teresa answered for her. “Mom wanted to have a son and name him after Dad. But she had three girls. So she named the oldest Thomasina, after Dad, who was named Thomas. Then she found T names for the rest of us.”