did.
Soon it was time for Lauren to say good-night. Beau walked her to her car and Tim rather conspicuously hung back. “The holidays are just around the corner,” Beau said. “Have you made plans?”
“I’ve barely thought about it,” she lied. “There’s my sister, I guess. Every other year, we went to Beth’s. On alternate years, Adele, Brad’s mother, hosted. It was catered, of course. This would be Adele’s year. Beth could be planning to go to her mother-in-law’s house, but I’m sure they’d all be happy to drag me along or adjust for me. The girls...haven’t said anything...”
“How homey,” he said, smiling. “I took a proactive stand—I’m cooking. I invited my whole family. Of my two sisters and one brother and their families, I don’t know who’s interested yet. They all have in-law obligations, too. And the boys are free agents.”
“How do you do that? Just tell them it’s up to them?”
“Exactly,” he said with raised eyebrows. “The only caveat being, I’m not cooking for their mother. The first set of holidays will be hard on the people that don’t want the divorce to be happening. That’s one person—Michael. The divorce makes Drew uncomfortable, but he gets it. I have a feeling he wouldn’t be married to his mother, either.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s got some really firm boundaries with her. But Michael? I’m pretty sure he wishes I would have applied myself and fixed her. But the point is, once you figure out your holiday calendar, I’m having Thanksgiving here probably for a bunch of people. I’d love for you to join us, if you feel like it. Your girls, too, if they want to.”
“That’s so nice of you,” she said.
“Just an option to think about,” he said. “You might want something different this year, just to change things up.” He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed softly. “I’m really glad you came to poker night. Even if you did wipe us out.”
“You men aren’t exactly good losers.”
He chuckled. “You raised your hand to speak, just like a schoolgirl.”
“You won’t underestimate me next time,” she said.
He leaned toward her. “I sure won’t.”
She instinctively backed up slightly when what she really wanted to do was lean into him. Obviously sensitive to her movement, he pressed a brief kiss on her cheek. “If you’d like me to follow you home, make sure you get in safely, I’d be happy to do that.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll be alert, the street is well lit, the locks are good. Thank you for a fun night. Talk to you soon.” And she withdrew into her car.
He leaned on her car and she lowered the window. “If anything seems odd or weird, don’t get out of the car,” he said.
“Beau, I’ve been getting myself home from evenings out for weeks now,” she said. “I won’t take any chances.”
“When you’re home and safely behind locked doors, will you text me?”
She grinned at him. “You’re an old woman in a man suit.”
“I guess,” he said. He gave her car door a couple of pats and stepped away.
* * *
Tim was lounging on the sofa with his feet up on the ottoman, coffee balanced on his belly. He appeared to be in no great hurry to go anywhere. “That took a while,” he said to Beau.
“I was asking about Lauren’s holiday plans,” Beau said.
“You mean, you weren’t getting kissed?”
“I wasn’t, as if it’s any of your business,” he said.
“You’ve been chasing her for months! You used to have game,” Tim said.
“Lauren is understandably cautious,” Beau said. “And I am foolishly not.”
“Ah,” Tim said, sitting upright, feet on the floor. “So, you admit, this is moving too fast...”
“Not at all. Moving too slowly if you ask me. My marriage was over years ago. Pam and I have been separated almost a year now and if she’d just put away the damn calculator and wrap it up, it would be officially over. As for Lauren...” He ran a hand over his head. “It’s only been a few months for her. You’re right, I should slow down.”
“I didn’t say a word,” Tim said, feigning innocence.
“You learn that in priest class, don’t you? Getting information without exactly asking.”
Tim laughed. “With you, no lessons were required. You’ve always worn your heart on your sleeve.”
“Yeah, you’re right. No game.” He sat down on the couch. “What about you? What’s going on with you? You haven’t complained about your boss in quite a while now.”
“I have no issue with my Boss,” Tim said. “It’s