Chase was disappointed she’d refused his offer even before he could make it. He hoped she understood how much he appreciated what she’d done for him. “I owe you more than I could ever repay.”
“Helping Laura and Bella is far and away the best thing you could have done.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I won’t,” she insisted.
“But if you do, promise me you won’t hesitate to ask,” he countered.
They lingered awhile longer before returning to where thedriver and the car waited. Chase opened the door for her and asked, “Should I take you back to the mall?”
“Would you mind dropping me off at the house instead?”
“Of course, no problem. But isn’t your car parked at the mall?”
“Ah, no, I drove in with Uncle Fred.”
“Got it. Home it is.”
Maisy gave the driver her address, and forty minutes later he parked in front of the family home. It resembled one built after World War II, with a big front porch with thick pillars on each side of the steps leading up to the house. A young boy, about nine or ten, was outside, pumping air into his bicycle tire. He took one look at Maisy and the fancy car with a driver and immediately raced into the house.
As Chase got out of the car, a woman who was clearly Maisy’s mother came down the steps and approached them, an apron tied around her waist.
“Mom,” Maisy said, sounding nervous, “this is Chase Furst from Chicago.”
“Ah, the…man you mentioned meeting?” she said, turning to greet Chase. She wiped her hand on her apron and then held it out to him. “Sophie Gallagher.”
Chase gently clasped her hand. It was easy to see where Maisy’s auburn hair and green eyes came from. “I’m pleased to meet you, Ms. Gallagher.”
“Sophie,” she answered. “We’re a casual family. Maisy told me about your mother. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” he responded.
“What brings you to Seattle?” she asked.
Chase glanced over at Maisy and grinned. “I had some unfinished business I needed to tend to.”
Sophie accepted his answer, although her gaze lingered on Chase. “How long will you be in town?”
At his side, Maisy shifted uncomfortably. “Mom, Chase has a plane to catch.”
“I’m in no hurry,” he quickly countered. “The plane leaves when I do and not before.”
“Wonderful,” Sophie said. “Then you have plenty of time to join us for dinner?”
“Mom.” Maisy’s protest sounded more like a groan. “Chase is a busy man—”
He cut her off. “Thank you, I’d enjoy that.”
Maisy’s younger brother sidled up to Chase. “I’m Patrick.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Patrick’s smile filled his entire freckled face. “You’re lucky you are staying for dinner, because Wednesday is meatloaf and it’s the best.”
“Good to know.”
Patrick tilted his head as if studying him before he said, “If you decide to marry my sister, you should talk to me first. She can get really stubborn sometimes.”
