"Good." Gabe nodded then chuckled. "I'll remember you're thewoman of the housenext time your drains are plugged, and you need help unclogging them."
Everyone chuckled, then Damon said, "So I'll pick you up at ten-thirty, Grace?" When she nodded, he eyed her legs below her shorts. "You should probably wear long pants, preferably jeans." He turned to leave then spun back. "I don't suppose you own cowboy boots?"
Boots? Oh brother, what have I gotten myself into?
Grace jumpedwhen a knock sounded on the front door.
In the last thirty minutes, she'd tried on more than half her closet. Everything was either too dressy, too tight, or too casual. Grabbing the last shirt she'd discarded on top of the pile on her bed—a red button-up shirt—she pulled it on and buttoned it as she hurried to the door before her mother got up.
It was silly to stress over what to wear on a date she wasn't sure she even wanted to go on. Chalk it up to being nervous—and a little excited. But mostly nervous. She hadn't dated much over the last few years, so going out at all felt monumental.
It's not a date. Damon is just showing me around.
She'd be less likely to fall for him if she didn't think of today's outing as a date.
Mom was halfway out of her lazy boy when she entered the living room. "Stay put, Mom. I'll get it."
Pasting on a smile, she pulled the door open and sucked in a sharp breath. She hadn't expected Damon to look so amazing in a white T-shirt and faded jeans. Nor did she expect him to be holding a big bouquet of roses. However, it was the sight of his Aunt Hope beside him that caused her eyes to widen.
Why did he bring his aunt along on their date?
It's not a date!
She looked more closely at the petite blond woman beside Damon. Wait. Maybe that was his mom, Charity. Or his other aunt?
Grace hadn't met Paige's Aunt Faith yet, but she'd quickly learned—after meeting Charity—that the three sisters were triplets, and although not identical, they looked very similar.
"You must be Grace." The woman at Damon's side spoke before he could. She held out her hand. "I'm Aunt Faith. I wasn't able to help when you guys moved in last weekend, but I've been looking forward to meeting you. When I heard Damon say he was headed over here, I invited myself along. Hope that's okay."
"It's nice to meet you, Faith. Please come in." Grace stepped back and opened the door wider.
Faith walked in, leaving Damon standing on the doorstep.
"Nothing like being upstaged by my aunt." Damon gave a wry smile as he stepped inside.
Grace laughed and reached for the bouquet of roses and carnations. "Those are beautiful."
"Sorry, these aren't for you." He held them away from her.
"Oh." Feeling awkward and a little disappointed, Grace dropped her hand.
"I heard your mom loves flowers. Figured this was the best way to make a good impression on her."
"It certainly is." Instead of letting the chair raise her up, Mom pushed to her feet. The action looked as if it took every ounce of strength she had.
Grace balled her fists at her side to keep from stepping in and helping her mom. Marisol Rivera had chastised her children many times for treating her like an invalid. She'd let them know in no uncertain terms that if she needed their help, she would ask for it.
Recently, she'd started asking more often.
Grace was happy to help her mother with whatever she needed, but each time she did, she realized how much weight her mom had lost. Grace was acutely aware of how frail her mom had become.
"Mrs. Rivera," Damon handed over the flowers after shaking her mom's hand. "It's so nice to meet you. I'm Damon Knight, Paige's cousin."
"Yes, Grace told me how you kept her calm in the elevator last night. Then followed her home." Mom's smile changed to a scowl.
"Don't worry, I have been properly chastised by Paige, and I have already apologized to Grace." Damon held his hands up and stepped back, his expression contrite.
"Good," Faith and Marisol said in unison. Then her mom smiled. "Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful." She handed them to Grace. "Put these in a vase, please. Then place them on the end table here, so I can enjoy them."
