“Glad to have you aboard officially now,” Dad told him with a big smile.
“My pleasure,” Dalton told him. “I’m going to make an early night of it. Sounds like we have plenty to do tomorrow.”
He started to turn away, but got pulled in for a quick hug first.
As Dalton disappeared up the staircase, Ella bracedherself for questions from her parents—either how she had convinced him, or worse, why she had agreed to have dinner with him.
“I’m so glad he’s staying,” Mom said softly.
“Me too,” Ella agreed, relieved.
“And it’s nice to see you smiling more,” her father put in.
She waited for the questions to start, but there weren’t any. And though she wanted to argue what was being implied, how could she?
They weren’t together, and that was for the best, even if she did really like him. Ella thought it should be easy to keep things friendly. She’d agreed to have dinner with him, but it’s not like they would really be spending any time alone.
“You and Dalton will be painting the barn on your own tomorrow, sweetheart,” her mother said, as if reading her mind. “I’m having lunch with my girlfriends.”
We’re painting the barn together… alone?
Her mind screamed at her that they would be returning to the scene of the crime. Though of course, no crime had been committed. They hadn’t even kissed.
But I wanted to…
And just thinking about it made her cheeks heat up all over again.
She thought briefly about arguing, but her mother hadn’t gotten together with her friends in forever. She deserved to enjoy time with the other retired teachers whenever she could.
But if Ella stayed down here any longer, her parents were going to notice her discomfort.
“Sounds good,” she squeaked, heading for the stairs. “I’d better get some sleep too.”
She headed to her room with her heart racing, trying to tell herself that she was glad Dalton was staying, and happy to continue their friendship.
It doesn’t have to mean anything,she tried to tell herself as she got ready for bed.Friends go out to dinner all the time.
12
ELLA
Ella awoke at dawn to the delicious scent of bacon. Soft light spilled through the break in the curtains and pooled on the wood plank floor.
Stretching, she decided not to overthink things today. She grabbed her painting clothes—a thin sweater and an old pair of overalls, and headed to the bathroom to get ready for her day.
Dove’s door was already open, which meant the little one had probably smelled breakfast cooking and hurried down.
Ella smiled, knowing how much her parents loved sharing the early mornings with their granddaughter.
Of course Dalton would be down there too. That thought had Dove’s Thanksgiving declaration echoing in Ella’s head all over again.
I love you too, Dalton. I’m glad you live here now.
Well, Ella had made sure that Dalton would stay at least a little longer. Hopefully, Dove wouldn’t mind theprice of losing her mom for an evening when the man decided to take her up on that dinner promise.
“Good morning,” her father called out as Ella headed downstairs after showering and dressing.
“Good morning,” she replied. “It smells amazing down here.”
