hi to your Aunt Annie.” He adorably toddled over to me and climbed up on my lap.
And the catching-up began. I talked about my life in White Pines; Bethany went on about Parker and all the stuff he’d been up to. In the back of my head, I kept thinking about Duncan. Part of me wanted to share the news that I’d met someone who was pretty amazing. But the other part didn’t want to get too crazy talking about a guy I’d only been on one date with, even though we’d had an amazing night of sex.
As if reading my mind, Bethany turned to me. “I’m going to get some more coffee – you want to give Mom and Dad some quality Parker time?”
“I think that sounds like a lovely idea,” I said with a smile. “What about you, kiddo?”
“Yeah!” Parker readily agreed. He might’ve been just a little kid, but he’d already learned the oh-so-important lesson that grandpa and grandma time meant he’d get all the spoiling a kid his age could ever want.
As soon as we were in the kitchen, away from listening ears, Bethany leaned against the counter, her hands on the edge, and flashed me a sly, knowing smirk.
“What’s that look all about?” I asked. I knew the answer – it was Bethany’s ‘I know there’s something on your mind and I’m going to get it out of you’ expression. But it was still fun to play the game.
“Come on,” she chided playfully. “You know I’m going to get it out of you eventually. Whatever it is, you might as well say it now.”
“It’s nothing.”
She laughed as she turned to the pot of coffee to change the filter. “Alright, so we’re past the part when I know there’s something going on and have arrived at the part where you’re trying to tell me what is going on isn’t anything major.”
“It’s…” I trailed off. She had me there. Bethany loved gossip and had a way of getting it out of people.
“It’s a guy, isn’t it?” Her eyes flashed as she spoke. “What’s his name?”
“God,” I groaned, running my hands through my hair. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to your attentive sister. You’re pretty good about keeping things on the down-low otherwise.” She filled the filter, poured in some water, and turned on the coffee pot.
“Alright,” I said, knowing there was no point in pretending. “It’s a guy.”
“I knew it!” she exclaimed through a huge smile. “Tell me about him? What’s his name, what does he do, what kind of car does he drive…all the deets.”
“I can’t.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because…he’s kind of famous?”
“What?” Her eyes were huge.
“Not like Hollywood famous,” I said with a laugh. “But famous enough in this area that you might know who he is.”
She scoffed and leaned closer. “And this is supposed to make me less interested?”
“No, it just means I can’t tell you much right now,” I replied, enjoying my secret a little too much. “We’ve only gone on one date, and I don’t want to start running my mouth like he’s my boyfriend too soon.”
“Well, let me ask you this – do you want him to be your boyfriend?”
I leaned back against the counter, processing the question. “With Dean, how soon did you know that you two had something special?”
“Right away.” Not the slightest shred of hesitation was in her voice. “I knew on the first date when I saw him in that sexy suit. Didn’t take any time at all. Why?” Her eyes flashed again. “Are you thinking he might be the one?”
“Okay,” I said, raising my palms. “That’s a little too much right now.”
She laughed. “Too much how? I mean, whoever this famous guy is, if you weren’t thinking there might be something special, I doubt you’d be asking a question like that.”
“I don’t know,” I said, wringing my hands together. “Maybe it’s just because it’s been so long since Andrew. And maybe because it seems like every other guy in the world’s either a jackass or pervert or both.”
“Don’t sell it short,” she advised. “If you feel something, it might be because there’s actually something, you know. Not just because you’re on the rebound.”
“Mooom!” Parker’s voice came drifting in from the living room.
“Alright,” Bethany said, pushing away from the counter. “You’re off the hook for now. But you know I’m going to get it out of you eventually.”
I smiled, so happy to be with my sister. Without saying a word, I stepped over and gave her a big hug. “So