“Do you want to stay with me while you’re here?”
Phil shook his head.“Maybe next time.We thought it would be better if we found our own accommodation.We’re staying at a house overlooking Flathead Lake.”
Theo held his breath, hoping it wasn’t The Lakeside Inn.It was enough of a shock that his parents were here.Spending time at Barbara’s Bed and Breakfast seemed like too much, too soon.
“It’s called Acorn Cottage,” his mom added.“It’s perfect for what we need.”
Theo let go of his breath.With an unsteady hand, he took his keys out of his pocket.“I’m parked outside the medical clinic.”
“And we’re outside the general store.”His dad pointed down the street.“If you drive past us, we’ll follow you home.”
“Sounds good.Do you want a ride to your car?”
His mom smiled.“We’ve been cooped up in an airplane for most of the day.The exercise will do us good.We’ll see you soon.”
Theo watched his parents walk away.He had no idea why they’d flown more than two thousand miles to see him, but a part of him was glad they had.
The other part was still in shock.
BARBARA RUSHEDup the steps to Theo’s house.She was so excited about the news Chloe had shared that she hadn’t bothered calling before she left the inn.She just hoped he was home.
As she rang the doorbell, she looked across the street and waved at Theo’s neighbor.Mr.Jamieson was a sweet man who was well into his eighties.Each Thursday, after he bought a loaf of bread from the bakery, he drove to the inn to have a cup of coffee with whoever was there.
Before their grandma died, he was a regular caller, checking on how she was and if there was anything he could do around the property.Since then, Barbara and her sisters had encouraged him to keep visiting the inn.Apart from enjoying his company, they were able to make sure he was okay without being too obvious.
The door opened and Barbara’s smile froze.The man in front of her looked the same but different than Theo.Gray hair framed the same square jaw and his eyes were just as blue.But it was the tilt to his head, the way he waited patiently for her to introduce herself that reminded her of her boyfriend.
“Hi.I’m Barbara, a friend of Theo’s.”
The man held out his hand.“Phil Montgomery.Theo’s dad.Would you like to come inside?”
“Only if I’m not interrupting anything.”She was still working out why he was here when a woman appeared beside him.“I’m Tamsin.Theo’s mom.We were just about to have dessert.Would you like to join us?”
“Umm…thanks.That would be great.”She was sure Theo would have told her if he’d known his parents were coming to Sapphire Bay.That meant they’d arrived unexpectedly, and that might not be a good thing.“Are you sure I’m not interrupting your family time?”
Theo appeared in the doorway.He looked so relieved to see her that she almost smiled.“Hi.”
He held out his hand and pulled her inside.It looked as though she was definitely needed.
“Mom and Dad, this is my girlfriend, Barbara.”
Tamsin’s smile was instant.“I’m so happy to meet you.Theo hasn’t told us anything about you.”
A blush crept up Theo’s neck.“It wasn’t intentional.”
Barbara squeezed his hand.“It doesn’t matter.Now that I’m here, your parents can ask me anything they want.”
“Exactly.”Tamsin shooed everyone down the hallway.“How did the two of you meet?”
Theo followed Barbara into the living room.“We officially met at the opening of Barbara and her sisters’ Bed and Breakfast.But I’d seen her in town a few times before that.”
“Phil and I looked at the accommodation options in Sapphire Bay before we left home.What’s the name of your Bed and Breakfast, Barbara?”
“The Lakeside Inn.We opened it a few months ago.”
Tamsin sighed.“I looked at your website.You have a lovely home.We tried to book a few days with you, but you didn’t have any rooms available.”
“Apart from Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas Day, we’re fully booked until next May.”
