constant activity.
“These cookies are still warm,” Holly Ann said. “There should be enough.”
“You didn’t have to bring them,” Etta said, checking behind her sister-in-law to see if August had come in with her. “You might need them for your party.”
Holly Ann gave her a smile and a half-hug, the sheet tray of dessert between them. “They bought five dozen cookies, and I’m taking six. Someone has to eat the dough, because these aren’t gluten-free.” She continued on toward the counter and slid the tray onto it.
A groan came out of her mouth as she sat on a barstool next to Oakley. “Did you ask her?”
Etta looked out the arched doorway, expecting her brother, Ace, to enter with his and Holly Ann’s son, but no one stood in the foyer.
She took a moment to admire the angel tree and think of her father, then her grandmother and grandfather, while Oakley said, “No, I didn’t ask her.”
Etta took a deep breath and told herself to calm down. August said he’d come to lunch, and Etta had gotten confirmation from almost everyone in the family that they wouldn’t embarrass her. She wasn’t sure if that was truly possible, but she’d prayed for help, sent the text, and she supposed whatever happened during the meal would have to be what happened.
Her nerves trembled, and she turned back to her sisters-in-law. “Go ahead and ask me,” she said.
Holly Ann exchanged a glance with Oakley, who nodded for her to go ahead. “We know you don’t get to see August very often,” Holly Ann said, blinking her long lashes like she was actually nervous. “And we wanted to ask him—or let him know—that we’ll take Hailey anytime he wants. Or needs.”
“So you two can go out alone,” Oakley said. “It won’t be weird, because they live here now.”
“I asked Charlie, and she said she’d of course take Hailey anytime.”
Etta hadn’t expected such an offer, though now that it had been vocalized, she should’ve. The women who’d joined the Glover family over the past five years were some of the best Etta had ever met. Her heart expanded, and she turned back to the slow cooker which held the baked beans she’d put together.
“We won’t ask him or offer if you don’t want us to,” Holly Ann said. “That’s what we wanted to ask you. If we could talk to him about that while he’s here.”
Etta started to nod, the motion slow and somewhat deliberate. “I think that would be fine,” she said, lifting the crock from the heating element of the slow cooker. She turned toward the counter and set the baked beans on a hot pad she’d laid out. “As long as Hailey isn’t nearby. He is not ready to tell his daughter about…us. Dating. Going out.” She met Holly Ann’s eyes, then Oakley’s, hoping they understood. Hoping they didn’t find her naïve or weak for going along with August. “I’ve never had a child,” she whispered. “I don’t know what it would be like to have to talk to them about dating.”
“No judgment here,” Oakley said. “We’ll respect his wishes.”
Holly Ann nodded, and they all looked toward the side door as it opened, and Willa’s voice filled the air. “Hold it, Cam. Lynn, hurry up…No, Chazzy, leave the ladybug outside.”
A dog barked, and Willa told Tank to hurry up too.
They all spilled into the house—Willa with her four youngest kids and two dogs. She seemed frazzled and yet put together at the same time. “Mitch is here, isn’t he?” A glance into the living room told her that no, her son was not there.
“Haven’t seen him,” Oakley said, getting up to go help her with the kids. “He’s probably with Link, and Ranger was going to meet him, Bear, and Sammy in the equipment shed.” She balanced Fawn on her hip and took Lynn by the hand. “Come get a cookie, sweetheart.”
Chaz ran everywhere he went, and he barreled toward Etta, saying, “Etty, Etty, Auntie Etty,” and she scooped him into her arms, laughing.
“Chazzy, look at your new shoes.”
“He left his other ones outside,” Willa said dryly. “One of the ranch dogs chewed holes in them.”
“Meat,” Chaz said, grinning down at Etta.
She burst out laughing. “Chazzy, did you leave meat in your shoes for the ranch dogs?”
He nodded, clearly pleased with himself, while Willa bobbed her head too, obviously not pleased with him. He turned his head and caught sight of Holly Ann, his face brightening. “Gun,” he said, squirming to get down. “Gun,