“Thanks for having me,” I say with a small wave. “Had I known about dinner sooner, I would’ve brought something.”
Julie never does anything halfway, and I hate showing up empty-handed without at least a bouquet of fresh flowers or a bottle of wine from town.
“If she had brought something, it totally would have been from the diner,” Briar quips.
“Says the woman whose macaroni salad is always the consistency of soup,” Walker retorts.
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again—soup salad is Briar’s claim to fame.” Jensen chuckles as he steps behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
“I’m just glad to have you all here,” Julie says, wiping her hands on a hand towel before coming over to greet us.
I’m not expecting her to come to me first and draw me in for a hug. I’ve been over for dinner plenty, and while she’s naturally warm, she usually reserves this level of affection for her family. I’m certain it’s because she’s over the moon that Walker and I are dating.
A pang of unease twists in my stomach, wondering if I’ll still be welcome when her son and I eventually go our separate ways. I hope so. The Halstead ranch house is like a home away from home, and I’ve always seen Julie as another mother figure—a guiding light in my life, even though she doesn’t know all the struggles I carry or realize how much her comfort means to me.
Just then Caleb comes darting down the hall with a broad smile lighting up his face.
“Mama Briar, look what I found!” he squeals with excitement.
He proudly holds out a children’s book. The cover shows a lizard perched on a log, scowling straight at the reader with a white splatter on its head.
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh when I see the title:Who Pooped on Me.
Julie shoots Walker a glare, resting her hands on her hips. “Walker Bartholomew Halstead, did you sneak another one of your books into the craft room? I thought we agreed those stay at Briar’s and the craft room is for educational books only.”
He rocks back on his heels, shrugging. “Sorry, Ma. I saw it in the toy store window the other day and couldn’t resist adding it to the collection.”
Briar filled me and the girls in a while back on Walker’s ongoing tug-of-war over children’s books. He’s given Caleb a fewsilly ones, and as a lifelong teacher, Julie doesn’t think they’re appropriate reading material. She doesn’t mind him giving them to Caleb to keep at his house but doesn’t want them here. Lately, though, Walker’s been sneaking new ones into the craft room to get a reaction out of her.
Caleb comes over to Julie, whispering loudly. “Grandma Julie, can we read this one together like we didSomething’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear?”
Walker clutches his chest with a mock gasp. “Ma, have you been giving me grief about my book selections while secretly reading them with Caleb?”
Julie huffs, pushing a strand of hair from her face, but doesn’t answer.
“She does the funniest voices, like when the bear yells ‘Who left my underwear in the fridge?’” Caleb chirps, giggling, before his eyes go wide. “Uh-oh… I was supposed to keep that a secret. Sorry, Grandma Julie.”
She chuckles, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s all right, sweetie.”
“Someone’s got you wrapped around his little finger.” Walker tuts.
“Who could say no to that cute face?” Julie says, nodding toward Caleb’s beaming smile. “Now make yourself useful and take the meat out to your father and brother.” She marches over to the counter and retrieves a dish of barbecue chicken that she thrusts into Walker’s hands. “They’re still wrestling with that new grill your father brought home last week and are struggling to make heads or tails of all the extra gadgets that came with it.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, wisely not arguing.
“Jensen, you grab the pineapple skewers,” Julie adds, passing him a tray full of them.
He nods. “Sure thing.”
“What about me?” Caleb pipes up, puffing out his chest. “I want to help too.”
“Of course you do.” Julie bends down, giving his cheek a gentle pinch. “You’ve got the most important job.”
His eyes light up. “What’s that?”
She brings over a bowl covered in plastic wrap. “To make sure Gramps cooks the tofu and vegetables so Birdie can eat with us.”
I’m touched that she goes out of her way to make vegetarian dishes when I come over. One time in high school, I brought my own meal, and after that, she always made sure there were plenty of options I could eat—never once making me feel like a burden.
