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“My late wife’s recipe,” Mr. Willis said gruffly. “You’ve got good taste. It’s my favorite too.”

“Well, we already knew he had good taste,” Kit said. “He’s dating me.”

“Kit, I think that mostly tells us you’re the one with good taste,” Dakota teased.

Felipe chuckled. “Harsh, babe.”

“Oh, you all love it,” she said with a mischievous grin.

In the past, I would have been quick to deny Kit was lucky to have me—even a teasing joke like this. I’d dismiss the idea that I was a catch. Even now, the usual words rose up my throat, but I swallowed them back down and smiled.

“I guess we both have good taste,” I said.

“Aw, he’s too sweet for you,” Dakota said to Kit.

Kit threw his arm around my shoulders and leaned in to kiss my temple. “He’s just the right amount of sweet. That’s why I like him so much.”

“Reminds me of your mother, never able to take a compliment,” Mr. Willis said.

Everyone turned to stare at him.

Mr. Willis had grudgingly accepted my place in the family. He’d remained polite but coolly distant. His wife, in particular, had been a touchy subject for a long time.

“What?” he grumbled. “You remember how your mom was. She was always deflecting any praise. Because she loved everyone around her so hard.”

“I remember,” Dakota said softly.

Kit nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Remember when she won a blue ribbon for her blueberry pie at the county fair and she told us how her neighbor friend, Audrey, should get all the credit for giving her good feedback on her recipes?”

Mr. Willis chuckled. “Ah yes, she was so sweet, your mom.” He glanced over at us. “She’d have liked you, Joey.”

His words hit me hard. My throat closed up. I picked up my glass of iced tea and sipped it. Cleared my throat. “That, uh, means a lot.”

“Don’t get me wrong. She’d have kicked your ass if she’d met you while Dakota was in the hospital⁠—”

“Dad,” Kit said, sounding pained.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I wouldn’t have expected anything less from Dakota’s mom.”

“But she’d have forgiven you,” Mr. Willis said. “Like Dakota and Kit, she had a big heart.”

He didn’t say he forgave me. Not in so many words. But he was extending grace to me.

I pushed my chair back. Stood on shaky legs and rounded the table. Mr. Willis looked wary.

I leaned down and hugged him. “Thank you.”

He patted my shoulder awkwardly. “Don’t get all worked up about it.”

I laughed a little and drew back. “I can’t help it. It means a lot to know she’d forgive me.”

He met my eyes, and we both knew we weren’t really talking about his wife. He nodded. “Sure, kid. Just keep making Kit happy, and we’re good.”

I retreated to my chair, exchanging a long look with Kit that spoke volumes. His dad had given his acceptance, sure, but never his blessing. This hit differently.

“Well, how was work, Kit?” Mr. Willis said. “You torture any new patients today?”

Dakota and Felipe laughed, the tension breaking.