“Choosing a life partner is serious business. You don’t want to get it wrong.”
“Iknow.That’s what has me so spooked.”
“Just follow your gut.”
“I’ve been told that.”
“It’s good advice.” Angie glanced at her crew. “Looks like we’re ready to pack up and head to the ranch. Will you be there tonight?”
“Not tonight. I have somewhere else to be.”
“Then goodbye for now. We’re heading back to Wagon Train tomorrow. I hope when we come back….”
“No promises.” She gave Angie a hug. “But I’ll think about what you’ve said.”
“Please do.”
She said her goodbyes to the rest of the crew and pulled out her phone as she walked to her truck. She tapped on the screen. “Hey, Mom? Can I come out tonight?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Normally dinner with his boisterous family was high on Adam’s list. Tonight it didn’t even make the cut. But he went and channeled his dad, the original grin-and-bear-it guy.
He pitched in as he always did, wrangling chairs, setting the table, helping in the kitchen by stirring this or keeping an eye on that. It was chaos, but organized chaos. His aunties and grandma, aka the Dorm Damsels, had brought food this time, giving his mom and Greta a break.
The older women were in high spirits, flirting outrageously with Kieran and taking turns loving on Jodi until it was time to gather at the table. The hubbub didn’t faze that little girl.
He ended up with Angie on his left and Auntie Kat on his right. He figured Auntie Kat had planned it. He wasn’t sure about Angie. He glanced at her. “You’d think all this commotion would freak out that kid.”
“She’s used to it. She’s dealt with bigger crowds than this. If they grow up with lots of folks around, they’re not intimidated. It’ll probably be the same with your kids.”
That last comment could’ve been random but now that he knew Angie better he doubted it. She was a fixer, whether it was a leaky roof or a leaky relationship.
After leaving Tracy this afternoon, he’d made a quick trip to the Victorian before driving back to the ranch. But he hadn’t given Angie a chance to corner him. Hadn’t been in the mood to be fixed.
But if Tracy had made good on her promise to drop by and watch Jodi hammer nails, Angie might have had better luck with Tracy in the fixing department. And now he was willing to listen.
He looked her in the eye. “Assuming I have kids.”
“I’d say there’s a decent chance.”
“What makes you think so?” On his other side, Auntie Kat was having a conversation with Luis, something about the horse he was currently training, but that woman could multitask. She was tuned in on both sides.
“I talked to her,” Angie said.
That got his attention. No need to ask who they were discussing. “How’s she doing?”
“Not great, but I gave her some things to think about and she indicated she would consider what I’d said.”
“Thanks for that.”
“For what it’s worth, I think she’s—oh, yes, please!” She accepted the bowl of mashed potatoes from Mila on her left, served herself and passed it on to him.
Taking a spoonful, he gave the bowl to Auntie Kat.
She looked at his plate, then at him. “Something wrong with your appetite, boy? You love mashed potatoes.”
“I had a big lunch.”
