Their Thanksgiving celebration had been a time-honored tradition ever since Dad and his siblings had moved away from home. It was the one time of year that the whole family invaded the Lucas home, which was bigger than Grandma and Grandpa Abernathy’s a few miles away. But although Hallie used to refer to it as a mansion, it was no hotel.
And now that the older grandkids were starting families, bringing in more people to their already overflowing group, the house became more crowded by the year. Perhaps Tyler was onto something. They should start considering a larger location.
“What’s the matter?” Brad asked, retrieving a mug from the overhead cabinet as the kettle whistled. “You can’t handle camping with a baby?”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “That’s some bold talk from someone about to have his own kid. You’re in for a rude awakening, pal.”
Brad just smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just saying, for someone as supposedly outdoorsy as you claim to be, I’d think you’d be more up for the challenge. Beej, do you know where Mom put that tea she bought for Cassie?”
“Is it not with the rest of her flavors?” Beej rose from the table. “You’re looking in the wrong spot. It’s in the pantry.” She followed her brother into the walk-in space next to the fridge, her voice rising. “Can we get back to what we were talking about before?”
That would be a hard pass. “Not until Tyler leaves,” Hallie muttered.
“Why can’t I be here?”
She blew out a centering breath. He’d find out eventually, and it might as well be from her. “Because I don’t want to hear you say, ‘I told you so’ when I admit I’ve fallen for your best friend.”
Tyler blinked at her for a moment, his expression unchanging. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” Then why did her heart feel split in two?
His blond brows furrowed as he lifted his son from Elise’s arms, sliding him into the highchair. “What happened?” His voice was strangely calm as he pulled up a chair beside Hallie.
Her chin wobbled, the three days of worry threatening to overflow. If she explained what happened now, she’d lose her composure completely. Seeing her struggle, Kendall caught Tyler up on the details he’d missed before entering the kitchen.
His concern over Sabrina’s return rivaled their cousin’s in intensity, though without as much hostility. He glanced at Hallie. “How’re you feeling about all this?”
She hugged her arms around herself. “I just want him to be okay.”
“Oh, Hal,” Elise squeezed her sister’s thigh. “You love him. I can see it.”
A desperate laugh puffed out of Hallie’s mouth. “A lot of good that’s doing me now. I should’ve listened to you, Ty.”
Tyler slid an arm around her shoulders, tugging her to his side. “I know I can be a bit overprotective sometimes.” He laughed when both Elise and Hallie tossed matching side eyes at him. “Okay, a lot protective. I just didn’t want you getting hurt.”
“I know you mean well.” Hallie tilted her head onto his shoulder. “You’ve always had my back, and I appreciate that. But I need to see this relationship through. Even though it’ll hurt if it doesn’t work out.”
Oh, please let it work out.
She didn’t miss the contemplative glance Tyler shared with Brad, but it was Beej who asked the question on all their minds.
“He’s not getting back together with her, is he?”
Hallie shook her head. “I don’t think he would after the way he’s talked about her. And the hostile standoff I witnessed on Tuesday didn’t seem like a reconciliation. But what if she wants a relationship with the girls. I don’t know if I can handle being a mother figure to them if I’m always having to compete with the real mom.”
A grunt from the stove drew her attention to Brad. “Some mom she turned out to be.”
“That’s really hard.” Gemma set a plate of bite-sized bananas andapples in front of her son. Will started grabbing at the chunks with a pincer grasp. “But every couple goes through challenges. Take Tyler, for example. I know he’d never say this, but it has to be annoying living with someone else’s grandma.”
Tyler pulled his wife down onto his lap as she held out a spoonful of yogurt to their son. “And I’ll continue helping you care for her as long as I need to.” He kissed the inside of her wrist.
“And look at Brad over there.” Beej waved a hand at her brother. “I never thought I’d see the day he’d willingly dote on a woman twenty-four-seven just to make her comfortable. I mean, he’s making tea. Who knew he’d ever become the poster boy of wedded bliss?”
Brad rolled his eyes as he dunked a tea bag in and out of the steaming mug of water. “Thanks a lot, sis.”
“You already know all the bumps and bruises Rory and I’ve been through,” Elise added. “They haven’t magically gone away just because we’re getting married.”
Hallie didn’t believe that for a second. “You guys are perfect together though.”
