“And yet he hasn’t seen things the way Nathaniel has.If Roan had also gone to Riyel, perhaps he would have grown more.But he’s stayed in this small town his whole life, under the shadow of his father.He still needs time to become the man he’s meant to be.”
“It’s been ten years since his father died,” Thea said.“Surely you don’t expect him to change much now.”
“I have it on good authority that Roan has found a woman,” Eugenia said, “and the love of a good woman will work wonders for that boy.I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the reason the brothers are having dinner tonight.If only I could be there, too.”
She gave Thea a meaningful look, but Thea shook her head.
“You’ll have to get your own invite,” she teased.
Eugenia let out a dramatic sigh.“I suppose that’s only fair.Maybe next time.Now, Thea—I need my drink.I’ve been here for nearly ten minutes, and it hasn’t appeared yet!”
Thea laughed as she stepped away to prepare Eugenia’s drink.
It was always interesting when Eugenia came to visit.And this had proven to be no exception.
Thea checked her reflection, making sure that her hair was up perfectly and her clothing looked neat.
She wasn’t sure why she was so concerned about her appearance.
It was only Roan and his…whatever Abigail was to him.
It didn’t make sense, and yet she found herself concerned that she looked as well put together as she could.Maybe it was for Nathaniel.
Or maybe it was because, after all the trouble Roan had given her, she wanted to show him that he had not won.Even if she’d said she’d forgiven him, there was still part of her that was aching to crow over him, but she shoved it away.
There was no point in going to this dinner and attempting to one-up Roan.
This dinner was a peace treaty between the brothers, and she would do her best to facilitate that—because as much as Nathaniel said he didn’t like Roan, she knew that he desperately wished for his brother’s approval and for a good relationship with him.
She wouldn’t get in the way of that.
So she pasted on a smile, took a deep breath, and locked up the café as she left.She was closing early for this—a sure sign that it was important to her.
She wasn’t sure what the situation would be at the tavern.Had Roan grown?She hadn’t thought he could, but then again, she never thought him the kind to apologize, either.
“May I walk with you?”a cheerful voice said behind her.
Thea turned to see Nat holding his arm out.
“Of course you may, kind sir,” she said, giving in to the playfulness as she took his arm.“I could have walked myself, though.There was no need for you to come out of your way to fetch me.”
“But what sort of a cad would I be if I allowed a beautiful woman to walk through the streets on her own?”Nat said with an unrepentant grin as he fell into step beside her.“Besides, I thought it might be better if we appeared as a united front when we braved the lion in his den.”
“Your brother is not a lion,” Thea admonished.
“Sure feels like it.”Nat’s usual cheerfulness had dimmed.“I know you forgave Roan, but I still haven’t quite, and I’m nervous for this evening’s dinner,” he admitted.
“Of course you are,” Thea said.“But he’s your brother, and he’s apologized.We ought to extend an olive branch and try to reclaim the relationship.”
It was not a long walk to the Lucky Goat, and Thea was thankful for Nathaniel’s solid presence as she stood in front of the door.
She’d only ever entered the tavern once: when she first found Nathaniel again to ask if he would let her rent the building.
Roan had come into the café for sure, his bluster and loud voice filling her whole venue, but she’d never dared to go back to the tavern.
“I’m not ready,” Nat said with a grimace.
Thea took a deep breath as they stood at the door.“We can do it together,” she said.
