Here, EJ felt a sense of comfort, and not just from the comfort food. It was the noise and laughter, the questions toppling over each other, the sense of family and chaos and fun. Here, where she was loved not because of what she had or did but simply because she was. She was part of this family. Part of God’s family. And that was enough.
“Are you doing okay?” Elinor murmured.
“It’s good to have people focused on Liv and not on me.”
Elinor nodded. “Nothing like an occasion like this to make you realise you’re not the centre of the universe.”
“Ouch.”
Elinor rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean you. I mean all of us.” She slathered lavender-flecked cream on her scone. “It’s easy for all of us to do. We get caught up in our own importance and forget the rest of the world is still spinning on by, not needing us.”
“You sound like Jordan,” she muttered.
“Well, he’s a sensible man.”
EJ—no, the more she thought about it, she was really coming around to this Emma-Jane business—sipped her Australian Afternoon tea blend. “You and he would probably make a good match, seeing as the pair of you are both so sensible.”
Elinor rolled her eyes. “Please. That’d be like dating my brother.”
A memory flashed from the wedding. “I wonder if Harriet and he—”
“Are you serious? Harriet’s got a guy friend, Marty someone.”
“Marty Roberts.” She remembered now.
“Besides, we all know Jordan has eyes only for one woman.”
Her heart jumped. Is that what the heart emoji meant? Oh, she hoped so. She hoped she hadn’t spoiled things.
She helped Katie clear plates, thanked her dad for his hard work, and gave him a long hug. “I’m so sorry I missed your birthday. I’ll take you out for a nice dinner once things quiet down.”
“Enough of that. I know life has been a little hectic lately.”
“Still, we’ll do something soon.”
He patted her cheek. “Well, that’ll be nice. I’m always happy to make time for my girls.”
After cleaning up, she took her own time to sip tea and watch her family. Mum and Dad were a perfect match, just like Liv and Liam. They balanced each other out with their dynamism and calm. Peace and excitement. Vision and patience. Just like she and Jordan did.
Why had she taken so long to realise this?
“How long until Jordan returns from the US?” Liv asked.
She blinked. Why didn’t she know?
“I think it’s this weekend,” Elinor said.
Liv smiled. “Good. I can’t wait to see him.”
Neither could she. In fact, maybe she could find out what time his plane arrived and meet him at the airport.
Mum turned to Liv. “You know, Meg has said a few times that if you wanted to have your engagement party out at the farm, you’d be very welcome. We had a bonfire at Highbury recently, and that was a lot of fun. Or would you rather have something here? Or perhaps at a pub somewhere?”
Liam and Liv glanced at each other. “I hadn’t really thought of anywhere in particular. But it would be fun to keep things relaxed,” Liv said. “I get the feeling that someone here is going to expect things are done a little more formally at the wedding.”
“She’s teasing,” Liam said, smiling. “I expect no such thing.”
“Ooh, wedding plans! Oh, tell me what you’re thinking. Will you have it in England? If so, then we’ll all have to come over, obviously, and—”
