Putting down her coffee mug, Kat shifted in her seat. “Jordan, I’ve been dying to ask you something. It’s extremely nosy, so you can tell me to mind my own business and I won’t be offended.”
Hello, anxiety. Welcome back. “Well, I?—”
“Jordan’s likely too polite to say that so I will.” Doris gave Kat a look. “Mind your own business.”
“But we’re all wondering why our sweet, considerate Luis failed to mention that he knew this lovely young woman or that she was coming for the weekend.”
“That’s between Jordan and mi sobrino,” Carmen said. “They can tell us if they want. Or not.”
“Exactly.” Ezzie leaned around Jordan to get Kat’s attention. “Let it go. Jordan doesn’t?—”
“Hey, it’s okay.” She’d started this ball rolling, so she might as well take the mystery out of the situation. These ladies could inform his mom and sisters later when they weren’t busy talking with the other H&H supporters.
She cleared her throat. “Luis and I had… a very special time during a horse-training clinic five years ago, and?—”
“Ahhh, I knew it.” Kat smiled. “I knew it. You?—”
“Let her finish.” Doris gave her a look.
“We were headed in different directions and didn’t plan to see each other again. When I popped up on his radar, he probably didn’t know what it meant or what to do.”
Kat’s eyes sparkled with eagerness “What does it mean? Are you?—”
“Kat!” Doris glared at her.
“Luis and I are still headed in different directions. I have a thriving business that keeps me on the road. We’re… friends. I didn’t come here for him. I came for the celebration, the M.R. Morrison signing and the H&H tour.” Mostly. Sort of.
Kat let out a disappointed sigh.
“We haven’t talked in five years. For all I knew he was with someone, maybe even married.”
“He should be,” Ezzie said. “He’s just picky.”
Kat eyed Jordan. “Or he’s carrying a torch for a certain—” She gave a jolt, like Doris might have kicked her under the table, dislodging her crown. She made a grab for it. “Speaking of carrying torches, my arm’s sore.”
“I’ll be Lady Liberty next year, Kat.” Ezzie leaned around Jordan. “My arm’s in great shape. I can handle that torch, no problemo.”
“But the Statue of Liberty has to be tall. You’re not tall.”
“Of course the statue has to be tall,” Carmen sized up her sister. “That’s so ships can see the glow of her torch and not run into that island she stands on. Who knows if she was tall in real life?”
“She was modeled after a goddess.” Doris put her ruffled cap in her lap.
“And how tall are they supposed to be?” Ezzie peered across the table at Doris.
She shrugged. “No idea. Never met one.”
“Other than me.” Kat adjusted her crown again. “I’ve been told by several men that I’m?—”
“Are you immortal?” Ezzie lifted her eyebrows.
“In some circles.”
“Not in this one,” Doris said.
“So nobody’s seen an actual goddess.” Ezzie flashed a triumphant smile. “There could be a goddess who’s short like me or medium-sized like Carmen. I can be Lady Liberty. I’ll just cut off some of that silver drape and?—”
“Hello, everyone,” Mila called out from her end of the table. “And welcome.”
