In the mix, Vivien’s seven-year-old niece, Nolie, hadn’t caught a thing but was prancing between the much bigger men. Mostly she was kicking up sand and giggling wildly with Aunt Pittypat, a tiny Yorkie who rarely left the child’s side.
“I was surprised when Crista and Nolie showed up without Anthony,” Vivien said, referring to her brother-in-law, who they’d all expected to join them for the holiday.
“Aunt Crista said this new management position has him working long hours,” Lacey told her.
“Over the Fourth of July?” Vivien asked, remembering the shadow in her younger sister’s eyes when she came inside late last evening after a long drive. “I guess, but poor Crista is four months pregnant and had to haul a seven-year-old all the way from Atlanta alone. Where is she?”
“Napping upstairs now,” Lacey said. “And you are truly an expert subject-changer, Mom. Talk to me about Peter.”
“What’s to say that hasn’t been said before?” Lifting a brow, Vivien leaned in to stage-whisper, “And it was said in the diary of sixteen-year-old Vivien Lawson that Tessa just performed like she was auditioning for the part of an infatuated teenager.”
Lacey trilled a laugh. “Sorry I missed that dramatic interpretation of teen Vivien’s life.”
Vivien sighed, wondering if, deep inside, she stillwasteen Vivien. “Reading it really reminded me that he has always been my weakness and has me wondering why, oh, why did I send him packing?”
“Ahh. We finally get an explanation for the torment in your eyes.”
She shot her daughter a look. “A little doubt, some second-guessing, but I’m nottormented.” Was she?
Lacey laughed. “Hey, I work for Tessa. Some of that drama rubs off. But, Mom, don’t be so hard on yourself. Remember that the ink was hardly dry on your divorce papers. You just launched your own business, you moved your whole life to Destin, and you hadn’t been a fully independent woman in two and a half decades. Diving right into a serious relationship was…risky.”
Vivien appreciated the rationale so much, and it made sense…until it didn’t.
“Anyway, I wouldn’t worry too much,” Lacey added.
“You wouldn’t?”
“He didn’t move here just to change jobs. Have you seen him looking at you?”
“He looks away,” Vivien said. “Every time.”
“But he stares when you don’t know it. Trust me, he’d jump at the chance to try again if you gave him the green light. What’s stopping you?”
“For one thing, he just got here a few days ago. Then there’s the fact that there are a zillion Lawsons and Wylies and extrasaround at the moment. Plus, his son is visiting. I haven’t been alone with him.”
“Well, don’t wait too long,” Lacey warned in a sing-song voice. “Good men are hard to find.”
Vivien smiled at her daughter, then shifted her gaze to the pro-ball player as he caught a spiraling football. He soft-tossed it to Nolie and danced with her like they were in the end zone, which made Lacey quietly whimper.
“Speaking of good men,” Vivien murmured.
She sighed. “Yeah. Roman’s a keeper.”
“What happens when he leaves for training?” Vivien asked.
Lacey shook her head. “I don’t know, Mom. We’re what? Two months or so into this romance? I’m taking it one day at a time and enjoying every minute.”
Vivien slid an arm around her, adding a squeeze. “I’m happy for you. And, by the way, I like rooming with you, too. Oh…”
Lacey’s eyes flashed as they heard men’s footsteps coming up the spiral stairs from the pool level. “That’ll be Peter and Uncle Eli. Don’t waste time, Mamacita. Show him your heart.”
Vivien smiled at the cheesy expression. “I’ll talk to him,” she promised.
“Good.” Lacey gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Now I’m going to play some football with the man I love.”
With that, she slipped away as Peter and Eli appeared at the top of the steps. Peter looked right at Vivien, his gaze serious, with interest and a question in his eyes. This time, he didn’t look away.
And that gave her the courage to promise herself she’d talk to him tonight.
