“Autumn will show you around,” Mae continued, “but you’ll find the plates and cups over there. Peek in the fridge and see what you’d like. Autumn can show you where the spirits are if you’re so inclined.”
Autumn took after her mom. Unassuming. Sweet. With a spine of steel that caught one off guard.
I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. I set a table for more than just me. I didn’t have dinner company at my home. Anyone who walked through the door of my penthouse wasn’t invited to stay long.
Autumn handed me three plates, each with a different design.
She got the glasses and filled all three with water. “You don’t strike me as a milk guy.”
“I haven’t had milk in years.”
She set the water on the table. “Then I have a surprise for you.”
I dug through the drawers to find forks. What else went on a fucking table?
My mom’s voice drifted through my head.Forks and butter knives, Giddy. Napkins—I don’t want to catch you using your shirt. We’re not cavemen.
With a lump in my throat, I located everything else. When I looked at the place settings, the items were different than anything I’d eaten on recently. Mae’s water glasses were plain and sturdy, not sleek and delicate like mine. The plates were older, with faint pictures of flowers.Mine were square and plain white. Also sleek and delicate. But even though I’d cooked only for myself all my adult years, I always set the same items on the table, unaware my mom had created such a habit.
I remained standing. Autumn slid into a spot next to mine. She patted the chair beside her. “You can have a seat.”
“Doesn’t your mom need a hand?”
“She had us set the table to stay out of her way. But don’t worry, once she finds out we’re married, she’ll give you more work, like mashing the potatoes.”
The short spike of excitement was unexpected. I could mash potatoes for Mae.
Goddammit. I’d been around the Baileys for less than a day, and already I was willing to bow to their every wish.
I yanked the chair out and sat.
Mae bustled in and out three times, depositing fried chicken that smelled divine, a pot of the fluffiest mashed potatoes I’d ever seen, and a gravy boat.
I frowned at all her hard work. We were closer to clubbing hours than dinnertime. “Was she planning to cook like this before she heard we were coming over?”
“No, but she has it down to an art. A meal like this is as easy for her as making a sandwich.”
When Mae was settled across from us, she smiled at me. “Dish up, Gideon. We don’t wait on ceremony.”
I dutifully obeyed her. It’d only been a few minutes since I’d chastised myself for doing just that, but Mae wasn’t the one buying my family’s property.
Once our plates were loaded, Mae sucked her lips against her teeth. She had a knife in one hand and a fork in the other. “Now. Care to share what’s going on? I’mwondering if it has to do with that rock on Autumn’s finger.”
Autumn
I flexed my left hand. The rock in question glinted under the country chandelier. I hadn’t hidden it, but I hadn’t expected Mama to pay attention to my hands that much before we spilled the news. “We’re married.”
Honesty was the best policy with Mama. She’d raised too many kids, fostered too many others to be able to get one over on her.
Mama’s brows lifted, and her back hit her chair. Her knife and fork were still sticking up. “Indeed.”
“Yes,” Gideon confirmed, even though Mama hadn’t asked a question. I appreciated his steady presence at my side.
“The guys are upset,” I said.
Mama inhaled. “Indeed.” Her gaze went to Gideon. Then back to me. She took another breath in and cut into her chicken breast. “Seems to be a mighty coincidence with the sale and all.”
“Well...” I could trya littlefibbing. “My friends wanted to stay at Silver since there’s been news of Gideon in town.”
