“I know. But I thought I’d bring you ladies dinner, and allow you to ask whatever questions you might have about me and my character and intentions toward your sister.” Travis stepped inside with several large bags from the local steakhouse. “I wasn’t sure what you all liked, so I may have gone overboard on the choices.”
Her sisters turned to where she’d stopped on the bottom step. “Did you know he was coming?”
Lottie’s brain was still sleep-fogged, so she slowly shook her head. “No, but he mentioned he might stop by so you could interrogate him like I did with Rooker and Carter.”
“When did he mention that?” Tilly asked, her frown deepening.
“I saw her at her office this morning when I was visiting my friends,” Travis answered for her.
Lottie blinked again, wishing she hadn’t woken up so groggy. This fuzzy-headed state was why she did not nap during the day.Though she woke up sharp and clear in the morning, napping always left brain running at half speed.
Her sisters apparently accepted Travis’s explanation since they closed the front door and guided the man into the kitchen.
Lottie followed slowly, half afraid that what had happened that morning would come to light while at the same time afraid it would remain a secret between her and Travis. She’d rarely kept secrets from her sisters, especially since their parents had died and she’d had to take on their responsibilities.
Being triplets meant they could read one another like no one else could. They were also able to hold full conversations just by reading the twitches of eyebrows or nose scrunches.
By the time she entered the kitchen, Carri and Tilly had the table set while Travis was busy pulling the various dishes he’d brought out of bags. She moved to the refrigerator and pulled out the pitcher of iced tea she’d fixed that morning. Setting it on the table, she returned to the freezer and filled the cups Carri placed on the counter. Tilly grabbed a handful of servings spoons and then it appeared they were ready for dinner.
Carri and Tilly sat on one side of the table, allowing Travis to sit beside her on the other.
“Could we please hold the inquisition until after dinner?” she asked once they were all settled and studying the many dishes on the table between them.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Travis said before taking a sip of his tea.
“Okay,” Carri agreed as she grabbed a serving spoon and dug into the macaroni and cheese.
“Agreed,” Tilly said as she reached for the platter of cheesy fries.
With that, Lottie was finally able to turn her attention to the food. From the looks of the table, Travis had bought everythingon Comfort’s menu. Though she was hungry, she wasn’t sure where to start.
“Want me to fix your plate?” Travis asked softly.
She looked from him to her sisters who were ignoring them, before she nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Anything you don’t like? Won’t eat? Are allergic to?” he asked as he took her plate.
“Vegetables,” she said with a giggle.
“She’s not allergic to anything, just doesn’t like vegetables. None of us do really. Well, except potatoes, carrots and green beans,” Carri answered as she grabbed a roll and then reached for one of the small servings of butter that had been included along with bowls of ketchup, ranch dressing and other sauces.
“They didn’t have green beans, so how about a couple of stalks of broccoli, and some chicken fingers, and some coleslaw?” He added a spoonful of potato salad and a roll on her plate before placing it in front of her. “How’s that look?”
“It looks good,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
He filled his plate and silence descended over the table until they began to eat. Then the moans and appreciative noises of the delicious food broke the silence.
There were only scraps left when the sisters laid down their forks and settled back in their chairs, patting overly full tummies.
“Thank you, Travis, that was delicious,” Tilly said with a happy sigh.
Carri nodded. “Yes, it was so good. Thank you.”
Lottie reached under the table and patted his thigh. “It was wonderful.”
Travis relaxed in his seat with a smile. “You are all very welcome. Now, shall we get the inquisition out of the way before I pull out the dessert bag?”
The three women looked from him to the back on the counter he had not unpacked. “Dessert?”
