Theo was there instantly, tucking a pillow behind her back and murmuring something in her ear that made her smile reluctantly.
“Sit,” he ordered gently, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’ll get you a plate.”
That Theo. Lily sighed again. Both of her brothers-in-law made it hard to settle for anything less than the very best.
Evie slid in quietly then, setting down a plate of Christmas cookies. “Don’t mind them,” she said under her breath as she leaned toward Lily. “They’re vultures, but I think they like him.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Lily murmured. As far as she was concerned, Rush was the very best… Too bad he wasn’t sticking around.
She relaxed after that. If Rush could meet her mother’s coolgaze without flinching, and the aunts’ teasing, he’d survive the rest of her family. Rugged good looks, those broad shoulders and that quiet, contained authority—no wonder they couldn’t stop staring. He was striking and probably used to women staring, especially while he was in uniform.
But it wasn’t their approval she wanted most. It was her mother’s.
By the time dessert was brought out—gelato, biscotti, and cake soaked in rum Lily had her eye on—everyone was relaxed and even merrier, if there was such a thing. Rush was patiently letting them all fire off questions. The aunts wanted to know how work was going. Sophia wanted the juicy bits, which he sidestepped. Did he like Northfield (of course), and Sammy wanted to know if he carried his gun and cuffs everywhere (yes—he raised a brow at Lily before answering).
At any rate, Lily wasn’t expecting the curveball.
“It’s a good thing our Lily’s got you now,” Aunt Giulia said, leaning over Lily to beam at Rush. “She’s always been fragile. First her asthma, and then that horrible Tucker cheating on her after all those years. We worry about her, you know,” she added with a nod. “She needs looking after.”
Lily’s fork clattered against her plate. “I—” She forced a small, tight smile. “I’m fine, Aunt Giulia, really.”
Her cheeks warmed as the table went awkwardly silent. She wanted to insist she wasn’t fragile, that she didn’t need looking after—but the words caught in her throat at the worried looks on her family’s faces.
Fragile.
Maybe once she had been. The girl who’d bent herself into whatever shape made other people comfortable. The girl who stayed because she wanted a future more than she wanted the truth.
But that wasn’t who she wanted to be anymore.
From across the table, Rush caught her eye with a silent question, but she looked away quickly.
“She’s tougher than she looks,” Annette said in the silence, her cool gaze sweeping the table before settling on her. “I raised her, after all.” She held her glass up in a silent toast, which Lily returned, surprised and touched.
The conversation picked back up, and Lily relaxed back into the warm hum of her family. They weren’t perfect—who was?—but she knew they loved each other. Really, what more could you ask for?
A little later, Theo leaned around Amber’s belly. “Grant says he’s waiting to hear back from you on your start date for the new job.”
Aunt Sophia perked up. “Job? Are you moving?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rush answered. “I’ll be taking a job in Boston the second week of February.”
Lily forced herself to keep smiling. That damn job hanging over their heads would not ruin her Christmas.
Still, for the rest of the evening, the thought pressed like a bruise.
A few weeks. That was what they had left.
Chapter Forty-One
The New Yearhadn’t made Rush any less restless about Boston.
If anything, the anvil hanging over his head felt heavier. Three weeks left, and he wanted to spend every spare moment with Lily, not patrolling the goddamn back roads of Northfield.
Since Christmas Day at Annette’s, when Boston had come up and Lily’s face had gone white, he’d sensed her pulling away, and it killed him that he was the reason.
Needless to say, he was in a foul mood when Myrna’s voice crackled over the radio.
“Unit One, we’ve got a speeder on Route 14. Reckless driving. Caller says they’re swerving all over the road.”
