“Ella and Blake are too young to work.”
“They’ll enchant the customers,” Dad said.
“There aren’t any customers yet,” I pointed out.
“There will be.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”
“It takes guts to do your own thing,” Andrew chimed in.
“We’re right here with you,” Trish said. “Anything you need.”
I looked at my family, overwhelmed with gratitude. I swallowed thickly. “Thanks.” It was all I could come up with, words failing me.
The oven timer beeped three times. Baker peered inside. “It looks ready?”
I stifled my smile. My girl didn’t have a clue.
Trish wandered over and took a look. “It’s ready.”
It was odd to see Easy with oven mitts on, but she handled the hot pan like a pro as she deposited it on the stovetop.
Horror filled her face. “I forgot the bread.”
Trish touched her shoulder. “We’ll put it in now while the lasagna cools.”
Baker nodded. Dad winked at me. Andrew sipped his wine like nothing out of the ordinary took place around him. I guessed it wasn’t.
I took a second to appreciate what I hadn’t felt maybe since I’d left New York all those years ago. I’d made my own life in Wyoming. Found friends and had people I cared about there. But it wasn’t this. Family.
Things weren’t perfect. I still struggled to find my place. A sense of rightness settled in me, and I wondered if I’d been my own stumbling block all along.
Andrew slung his arm around me and spoke low in my ear. “Maybe we should wait.”
Before I could reply, the doorbell rang again.
“I’ll get it.” I set my beer on the counter and immediately wished for the label underneath my fingers.
I hesitated with my hand on the doorknob. I’d arranged this without thinking things through, a decision I questioned the wisdom of.
Best to rip the Band-Aid off now and get it over with.
I threw open the door. Marlow stood on the opposite side with Blake cradled in her arms.
She glared at me. “You win.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Baker
Holt invited his sister?
Mr. Dixon leaned against the edge of the counter while Andrew’s grip on his wine glass tightened. Trish absently kneaded an oven mitt in her fist.
The levity that had been in the room only seconds before evaporated, and a thick tension replaced it.
“I didn’t know the whole family would be here,” Mr. Dixon said as Marlow trailed Holt into the kitchen. “I’ve missed my grandson.”
Without hesitation, he pushed off the counter and moved toward his daughter. He planted a kiss on both her and Blake’s head. She stiffened, and Mr. Dixon flinched, but quickly recovered.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Marlow glanced away and clutched her son at her father’s admission.
“It’s awkward as hell being the unexpected guest.” The attempt at humor fell flat.
I cleared my throat. “We’re glad you could make it. You’re just in time.” I smoothed the surprise into something I hoped resembled pleasantry. “Wine?”
“Please.” Her shoulders rounded even as she shot me a grateful look.
* * *
Once everyone had settled in around the table, Mr. Dixon looked at his three children.
“I see I wasn’t invited strictly for my dazzling company,” he said, though a line of worry creased his forehead.
“Dad—”
“That’s exactly why you’re here.” Holt cut off Andrew and discreetly dug into Marlow’s thigh under the table.
They both appeared caught off guard, but Marlow covered quickly. “We’re trying to work things out.” She touched Holt’s arm, genuine remorse in her eyes.
“I figured if everyone was coming over for dinner, it wouldn’t be right to exclude my sister just because we got into a little argument.” Holt bumped shoulders with her and flashed a disarming grin.
Mr. Dixon appeared uncertain, but hope beat out his skepticism. “I’m glad to see you two working past your differences.”
“I didn’t even have to referee,” Andrew said, pointing his fork at his siblings.
What was happening? I thought we were here to deliver the bad news. In the last thirty seconds, we’d made an abrupt U-turn from that plan.
Holt nudged my hand. “You went to all this trouble to make dinner and now you’re not going to eat?”
I glanced at my untouched plate. “I was letting you go first. You know, in case something happened.”
“You trying to get rid of me, Easy?”
“Maybe. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a new roommate.”
“You can’t replace me.”
“Looks like the living arrangements are working out.” Marlow slugged back a swallow of wine as she eyed Holt and me.
“Better than I imagined.” Holt threw his arm around my shoulders.
“You didn’t think it would?” I wriggled out of