Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,29

already have too much food. Even with Tanner and Gray there it won’t all get eaten.”

Van’s heart clenched at the mention of Tanner. She hadn’t had time to run at all this weekend, and she missed seeing him. It was stupid, because she’d managed for all these years without him. Yet a couple of days and her heart was galloping at the thought of seeing him again.

“I can’t turn up empty handed,” Van told Gina. “What would they say at Chairs?”

“Chairs, schmairs. Just come and make an old woman happy.” Gina blew her a kiss. “Now I have to go, I have a bridge game in ten minutes. And if I get there late they’ll replace me with Della Thorsen.” She widened her eyes in horror. “That woman could cheat her own mother.”

Van laughed, making a shooing motion with her hands. “Go. And I’ll see you tonight.”

Gina put her foot on the gas, and her old brown station wagon lurched forward. The grin was still on Van’s face as she watched the car disappear around the corner, the roaring sound of the engine still audible above the sweet singing of the birds in the trees.

Five o’clock. That’s when she would see Tanner again, if she didn’t see him running first. Van was more than aware she owed him an answer about helping him with the drive-in. She’d been thinking about it for days, after all.

“So there are five of them?” Zoe asked, as Van lifted the old brass knocker on the Hartson’s front door. “Wow. I can’t imagine having five brothers and sisters.”

“It was always chaos at their house,” Van admitted, biting down a smile. Memories of sitting at the Hartson’s oversized dining table washed through her. Aunt Gina always managed to make sure there was enough food no matter how many of them were sitting around there. Often Gray would bring his girlfriend, and Logan and Cam would have two or three friends with them, along with Becca and their dad. It had been such a contrast to the meals Van would eat at home, which were usually a piece of toast and whatever canned goods she could manage to get open, while her mom was who knew where.

The Hartsons’ house had been her sanctuary growing up. She’d been envious of Tanner’s family, and overjoyed that they’d treated her like one of their own. She’d genuinely fallen for them all. Gray and his singing. Logan and his cooking. Even Cam’s obsession with football, which meant every Monday night was spent with the game blasting out from the television in the den.

“Hey!” Becca shouted from the side of the house. “What’s with you knocking on the front door? You always used to come around the back.”

Van let the knocker fall back into place. She felt Zoe nestle a little closer to her. “I didn’t want to presume,” she told Becca.

“Gah, you’re one of the family. Come on ’round.” Becca grinned at Zoe. “Hey, kiddo. Anybody told you that you look just like Van did when she was younger?”

Zoe blushed. “I do?” she asked with wide eyes. She looked at Van as though she couldn’t quite see it.

“Yep,” Becca said, as they made their way to the side of the house. “She had that whole angelic thing going, too. Though she was really naughty. Did she tell you about the time she spiked the communion wine at church?”

“That one wasn’t me,” Van protested. “It was Gray.”

“What was me?”

“Is that Gray Hartson?” Zoe whispered, her hand sliding into Van’s.

Van nodded. “Yeah.” There he was. The boy she used to know standing six feet three inches tall, his arms covered in tattoos, his hair artfully disheveled. And he was grinning at her, his handsome face lighting up as he caught her gaze.

Gray walked over to them, leaning forward to hug Van tightly. “Maddie told me you were back in town. You should’ve come to see me.” He stepped back and smiled at Zoe. “And you must be Van’s sister.” He held out his hand and Zoe took it, swallowing hard. Van tried not to laugh at the awe on Zoe’s face.

“Hi,” she squeaked out.

“You guys want a drink?” Becca asked. “Aunt Gina made iced tea.”

“I’d love one.” Van glanced down at Zoe who nodded, still star struck.

The next few minutes were taken up with hugs and greetings. Though Cam and Logan weren’t there, the garden still felt full. Maddie’s mom was there, and Becca’s friend, Laura, and her family. “We decided to eat