His eyes darkened, empathy and maybe a bit of anger skittering across his face. “We’re not here to earn anyone’s love. It’s just a family dinner. And even if we were…you won’t get that here. You are safe to beyouin this family.”
Safe…the word felt big and important. “Thank you.”
He lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was calming, when calm was the last thing she’d felt all day.
He lifted his head. “Ready?”
No. “Yes.”
He took her hand, opened the door, and led them into an open living-and-kitchen area. His mother stood by the stove, while Clara and Becket seemed to be arguing about something by the fridge.
They all looked up, smiles spreading across their faces.
“Jesse, Aspen, you made it.” His mother wiped her hands on a dish towel before moving around the island and tugging Jesse into a hug. When she pulled Aspen into an embrace, it was big and firm and warm, nothing like the hugs she’d received from her own mother over the years…not that they’d hugged that often.
“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Hayes.”
The older woman stepped back. “Oh please, call me Pam. Anything else makes me feel old. And you are more than welcome.”
“What is that divine-looking dessert in your hands?” Clara asked as her mother returned to the kitchen.
“Rhubarb pie from The Tea House.” Aspen set the pie onto the island. “It’s amazing.”
“It looks delicious,” Clara said, eyeing the dish. “I’ve been wanting to stop in there for a while. The desserts always look so good from the window.”
“Well, she’s actually having a big reopening celebration soon. I was just making fliers today. She’ll have free samples of everything.”
“This food-loving lady will be there,” Becket said, bumping Clara’s side with his hip.
Clara whacked his shoulder playfully. “Says the guy who once ate an entire plate of chocolate chip cookies when he was eight.”
“And they were delicious.”
Clara rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
“It’s true,” Jesse confirmed. “There had to have been at least two dozen cookies on that plate and he wiped it clean.”
“I took it as a compliment,” Pam added, eyes warm as she looked at her kids.
“We have way too many stories similar to that one,” Clara added.
Becket shook his head at Aspen. “Don’t believe anything they say. They struggle with accurate accounts of the past.”
Jesse scoffed. “One of us struggles and I’m looking at him.”
“Do you see how they pick on me, Aspen?” Becket joked.
Aspen laughed. She’d always wanted a sibling. How lucky they were to have grown up with one another.
Pam watched her kids with affection. It looked like she knew exactly how lucky her family was.
“Can I help with anything?” Aspen asked.
Pam’s brows rose. “Well, I would love someone to set the table.”
“I can do that.” She frowned at the pink roses centering the table.
Jesse gently bumped her hip. “Everything okay?”
