He tucked his neck deeper in his coat, aggrieved. “It wasn’t one bit funny when two little kids were crying because they miss their daddy and I’m too busy to be with them.”
“It is kind of funny,” she insisted. “Because Tillie is right. I told you I worked in a children’s home during college, and this is textbook toddler attachment stuff. We even started messaging pics to the parents five minutes later to prove our point. They’re fine, they’re just experts at pushing the guilt button. They don’t like the moment of separation, and boy, do they let you know it. I bet if Aunt Tillie was to send you a picture right now, it would be of two happy, healthy, goofy kids playing or eating and having the time of their lives.”
“Which is exactly what they say at day care, too.” He worked his jaw, then shrugged one shoulder. “I’m a pushover when it comes to them.”
She moved forward to the lodge door, let him open it and smiled over her shoulder. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
He let the door swing shut behind them and followed her to the hostess station.
He liked the setting instantly. One part of the lodge was a restaurant, known for great food and its cozy, rustic atmosphere. Cozy and rustic worked for him, and he was pretty sure it would work for two air force officers tying the knot.
When the owner/manager sat down with them and covered everything in detail, Grant was sold, unless the food tasting went bad.
It didn’t.
Instead of the tiny bites he’d been offered last night, the lodge owner served them a full meal at a linen-draped table complete with a centerpiece and a candle, alongside a fireplace.
It was like a date, only it wasn’t, he reminded himself.
But the feeling persisted as they laughed and talked their way through dinner. “This is amazing,” he told her.
“The Celtic stew, the homemade bread or the beef?”
“All of it, plus the setting, the service and the prices are so reasonable. And I like the idea of family-style dining.”
“Dishes at the table, everybody sharing. I like that, too. It’s Sunday-dinner-friendly and most folks enjoy that.”
“The phrase pass the peas becomes a conversation starter.”
“Exactly.” She smiled at him, made a note in her tablet and sipped her water.
“I bet Timmy and Dolly would love the big animals on the walls.” She pointed over his shoulder to the authentic-looking deer, moose and bear.
He winced. “They’re two. Taking them out to eat usually turns into a food fight. Timmy’s getting a little better, but Dolly’s stubbornness gets in the way, so we rarely go anyplace.” He waited, and when she said nothing, he nodded an acknowledgment. “Of course, it’s pretty clear she’s got me somewhat snowed.”
“Somewhat,” Emily agreed, but she said it gently, as if she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Grant appreciated that. Between Tillie, the occupational therapist and day care, everyone had something to say these days. That meant they were probably correct, but he appreciated Emily’s gentler approach.
“So tonight, we need to have coffee or something,” she told him outside. “We can go to the diner, but it’s late and they’ll be closing. Or we can sit down at your place or mine. Rory stopped by Gabriella’s bakery today.”
“If we go to my place and wake the kids, we’ll get nothing done, so if you don’t mind, your place sounds good. And the baked goods seal the deal.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
* * *
Emily parked her car behind Kimberly’s and waited until Grant pulled in alongside her. She climbed out and headed to the walk, waiting. He took longer than she expected, and when a blast of eastbound wind tunneled in from the west, she pulled her coat tighter. He glanced her way, looking surprised.
Realization flashed in his eyes. He popped the door open and pocketed his phone, looking contrite. “Sorry. I wanted to give Tillie an idea of my time frame, but you didn’t have to wait. It’s cold out here.”
She started for the door. “I didn’t want you to feel awkward coming in.”
“Do you make people feel awkward?”
She turned to face him and caught his smile beneath the lamps lighting the stoned path. “I try not to. Guess my success rate could use an upgrade.”
“My batting average isn’t all it could be, either,” he told her, and the way he said it sounded like he understood regret.
“We usually have meetings in the office.” She indicated The Square up the road. “But there’s no sense going over there, turning on all the lights when there are perfectly delicious cookies and brownies here, courtesy of my sister Rory.” She opened the door as she mentioned Rory’s name, and her sister waved from the far side of the living room.
“Grant?”
Kimberly came through from the kitchen. So did Drew. “I’m Kimberly. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, but Dad says a lot of good stuff about you.”
“When the highway department can keep the old police chief and the new police chief’s office happy, then everybody’s happy,” Grant told her. He nodded toward Drew, the newly appointed chief of police. “This guy’s got some pretty big shoes to fill, because your father did one solid job as chief. But so far, so good.” He winked at Drew as he shook Kimberly’s hand.
“Feeling’s mutual.” Drew clapped him on the back. “You did a great job facilitating that meeting of the town leaders the other day. I appreciated it.”
“I forgot that you two will actually have to work together on some things now.” Emily made a face. “My bad.”
“Grant, I know this is short notice, but if you can sneak away for a few hours next week, come to our wedding.” Drew took a seat at the big round oak table and motioned Grant to sit down. “We’ve got plenty of room and food. We’d love to have you there.”
Grant grimaced. “I’d like to, but I’m walking around with way too much guilt for leaving Tim and Dolly as much as I do already. It seems like I’m not home nearly as much as I’d like to be.”
“Bring them along,” Kimberly said. Grant gave her a blank stare.
“You didn’t just say that. Did you?”
“I did, and I meant it. It’s not a huge affair. We actually like kids, and I’d rather have you come and bring the kids than not come,” Kimberly told him. “Call it good town relations or whatever, but I think the kids will have fun, there will be all kinds of people there to spoil them and how can that be a bad thing?”
It wasn’t a bad thing, but Grant’s hesitation indicated he might not agree.
“I know they’re little,” Emily offered. “And they probably get overwhelmed easily, but if you’d like to bring them, there’s a whole crew of Gallaghers who will be happy to help with them.”
“Dolly actually has a bunch of cute dresses she’s never worn because we don’t do fancy all that often,” he admitted.
“Nothing like a wedding to put on the dog,” Drew drawled, as if getting dressed up for anything—even his own wedding—was cruel and unusual punishment.
“Think about it.” Kimberly reached out a hand to Drew and tugged. “I expect you and Emily have things to talk about, so I’m going to drag my fiancé out to the front room and we’re going to give the to-do list one last look.”
“It’s beyond crazy how even a small family wedding can need this much attention.” Rory tipped her glasses down and peered up at Kimberly from her spot across the