know what works, and if you want us to come out there instead, we’ll make the time.”
“And if you want us to hold off for a little while, we will.” His mother made a face. “If we must.”
“Right now, I think she’s a little overwhelmed by family,” Zach admitted. “And you’re right, Dad, her schedule is pretty wild. But I’m enjoying spending time with her. There’s something very comfortable about being with her, but not worn-out-couch comfortable. Like, interesting comfortable.”
His parents beamed again, and his dad was just about to say something when all of a sudden, an explosion went off in the background, billows of smoke rising behind him.
Zachary Senior gave a quick wave goodbye, then his screen went blank.
Pamela Sorenson barely blinked, minor disasters being part and parcel of her husband’s work over the years. “Well, I won’t grill you too much more, but I’m glad to hear your news. I hope things go well for you and Julia.”
“Me too. And I know, if I ever want to talk, yada, yada, yada.”
“Please,” his mother rolled her eyes. “If you haven’t figured out the sex thing by now, I’m not sure I even want to try—”
“Mom,” Zach said with a complaining laugh.
She grinned. “You’re so easy to tease. If you want to talk about gushy, emotional things, call your father. He’s the romantic. But let us know if you need anything. We do love you.”
“Give Quinn and her family a hug from me,” he said before hanging up.
He was in his car and headed for town before he thought it through. There probably weren’t too many more days to enjoy taking Delilah out. A little time driving on the gorgeous fall day, top-down and fresh air all around him, just affirmed what was already a solid part of this day.
He and Julia had something good going on. Maybe George Coleman wasn’t a fan, but Julia had said she trusted him. That was enough to make the road forward a lot smoother.
He pulled into an empty parking space outside of the Buns and Roses coffee shop, whistling as he stepped in the doorway.
It was way too soon to be thinking thoughts like: How would he and Julia act forty years from now? But as he spotted her at the table, laughing with her sister, he couldn’t stop the daydream from coming.
The morning had been a sweet bit of comfort, in more ways than one. Lisa had loaded Julia and Karen up with fancy coffees and some of the best baking in town, then they’d talked quietly about nothing.
It was a momentary bit of ordinary that Julia had desperately needed. It also helped tangle the threads of connection between her and the two women at the table even further. They understood that talking about calendars or hobbies or their favourite pair of sandals that they’d miss once the snow started to fly was important.
It wasn’t until Lisa got up to chat with Tansy Fields at the counter that Karen laid a hand on Julia’s arm. “How did it go having Dad around last night?”
Julia’s cheeks probably flamed bright red, thinking about her and Zach being overheard while they fooled around. “Kind of forgot he was there,” she confessed.
Her oldest sister’s brows rose. “That’s…good?”
No. Not really, but Julia wasn’t ready to explain the change in her and Zach’s physical relationship.
There was a different topic she wanted to touch on. “He’s kind of oblivious at times, isn’t he?”
“Dad?” Karen snorted, a very unladylike sound. “Um, yeah.”
Julia took a big breath. “I’m sorry my presence means he’s visiting more often. It seems as if it’s tough for you to have him around.”
Karen stared at her for a long time before letting out a sigh. “I don’t want to mess up your relationship with him by dragging in my baggage. You need to figure out on your own what you want in all your interactions with the Coleman clan. I like spending time with you, and I want you to enjoy yourself. That’s kind of where my thoughts begin and end.”
“But you deliberately went out of your way yesterday to help make things go smoother. I saw that,” Julia said softly. “And I know it wasn’t easy. So, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Karen winked. “One thing you need to understand is we girls in the Whiskey Creek clan learned the hard way we needed to support each other. It doesn’t matter that I’ve only known about you for a short while, you are my sister. I