“It’s lovely,” I said quietly. “Please give them my congratulations. Family … family is everything.”
Sloane suddenly reached across the table to cover my hand with hers. “How are you doing?”
Knowing what she asked, I swallowed the grief that welled up at the slightest thing these days. “Christmas … our first Christmas without Grandpa is hard. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real that eight months have passed since we lost him, and then other times it feels forever ago. But we’re okay.”
“You know, you’re welcome, both you and Jared, to spend Christmas with us,” Monroe offered. “We’re having a big Christmas at Lachlan’s, and we’d love to have you.”
Sloane nodded her agreement and I melted at their kindness. These women didn’t know me that well and so I was blown away by their invitation.
“She’ll be spending her Christmas with me and her cousin, but thank you, ladies.” Theo’s voice cut between us, and I glanced up in shock to find him standing there.
How had I not even noticed him come in?
My companions gaped up at him in surprise too, and I could only imagine their expressions as Theo bent to brush a kiss against the corner of my mouth. He settled into the empty seat next to me, his legs so long, his knees knocked into mine. Arm casually sliding across the back of my chair, he grinned at Sloane and Monroe. “But we’ll probably see you at the Ardnoch Christmas party.”
What?I frowned at him. He turned to look at me, his expression softening. “Party?”
“Yes. I want you to be my plus-one.”
At the Ardnoch Christmas party?
“So you two …” We turned toward Sloane as she gestured between us, expression unreadable. “Are you together?”
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Monroe interrupted before we could answer. “I’m Monroe Adair.”
“I know who you are. The tabloids wouldn’t leave you and your husband alone for a while there.” He held out his hand to shake hers. “I’m Theo Cavendish.”
Monroe shook his hand. “Are you a club member?”
“Yes. I’m a screenwriter and director.”
“Oh. Anything I’d recognize?”
Theo leaned into me, his expression tightening for a second. “This and that.”
Sympathy sliced through me. Only a day ago he would have proudly announcedKing’s Valley.You’d had to have been living under a rock not to have heard of the show. Now, it was tainted by some sick psycho.
“Will you be at the party?” I changed the subject, mind still reeling at the idea of me attending an estate party as a guest after years of housekeeping there.
“Not this year.” Monroe went with the subject change, though she kept glancing curiously at Theo. “But, of course, Lachlan will be there.”
“So, Theo.” Sloane eyed him suspiciously. “You met Sarah at the estate?”
“Yes.”
My lips twitched at his bland response. “We’re working on a project together.”
“Oh. That’s exciting.”
“And we’re together,” Theo added with more nonchalance than I knew he felt. “Just so there’s no mistake about the nature of our relationship. I hear the gossip mill runs quick and fast around the village.”
Monroe and Sloane both raised an eyebrow.
Theo looked amused. “To clarify, Sarah and I are in a romantic relationship as well as a professional one … to save you all days or weeks of speculation.”
“Sarah, you’re awfully quiet about that,” Monroe said with a smirk.
I might be taking my time diving back into what he and I had before, but weweretogether. I wanted to be with him. To work on returning to that place of trust. “Theo and I are dating. People will find out soon enough.”
