“Which is why you said you’d have a date for the wedding.”
“I had to do something. He’s so busy pretending I don’t exist I have to poke at him to get any kind of acknowledgment at all.”
“Are you familiar with the expression ‘Don’t poke the bear’?”
“Is he? I’m a Bear, too!” Emmalyn snapped. She flounced back in her seat, her arms folded now. She glared at nothing in particular as she thought about Barron. Her features softened and she looked at Daisy again. “Do you really think he loves me?” she asked, her tone indicating she was almost afraid to hear the answer.
“He does. I’m sure of it. But he’s afraid, too.”
“Too? I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of anything!”
Daisy shook her head in frustration. “He’s afraidtoo,” she said, putting emphasis on the word ‘too’. “He spent so long trying to show you how he felt, and all you did was ignore him, or brush him off, or make light of him trying to show you how you should be treated, that he’s probably tired of being shut down. So he’s not so quick to do it anymore.”
Emmalyn sat quietly for a few moments before she finally answered. “I just wasn’t ready. And I was afraid.”
“Well, now he’s afraid, and maybe it’ll take some convincing to make him believe you’re finally ready. If you are, ready, I mean.”
Emmalyn nodded.
“Are you? Ready?” Daisy asked.
“I don’t know. But I know that whatever I’m doing, I can’t see it without him.”
Daisy smiled as she put on her blinker to turn onto the next highway that would take them into town. “You’re ready. Seeing him is just the beginning. It’ll be fine.”
“He’s not interested anymore. He keeps his distance from me now.”
“I’m pretty sure threatening to send any date you have home without a heartbeat is proof of him being interested.”
Chapter 2
Shortly after lunchtime Everly parked her car beside Brandt’s truck, and started up his stairs to his wrap around porch. As soon as she placed her foot on the third step, Brandt was standing on the porch watching her as she approached his front door.
“Aunt Everly! What brings you over here?”
Everly looked up at him, and bestowed one of her most beautiful smiles on him. She didn’t have to pretend to be happy to see him, she loved him as much as she did one of her own kids. “Just thought I’d come pay a visit to my favorite nephew.”
“Barron isn’t here, but I can call him for you,” he teased.
Everly shook her head. “You know I came to see you. I love Barron, too, but it’s you I came to see.”
Brandt laughed as he opened the gate at the top of the stairs and held it open for her as she reached the last step. “Come on in.” He led her across the porch and into the house, hugging her as she paused beside him to kiss his cheek.
“Where’s Tempest?” Everly asked, noticing the quietness of the house as soon as she stepped inside.
“Tempest went to visit her family for a little while. It’s just me at the moment.” He walked over to the refrigerator and reached for a bottle of water.
“Good, I kinda needed to talk to you alone.”
Brandt hesitated, reached for a beer instead. “Want one?” he asked.
“No thank you, I’m not sure it’d be strong enough.”
Brandt left the beer where it was, closed the fridge and went over to the table where she stood. He pulled out a chair for her. “Have a seat.”
Everly sat down in the chair he offered, then crossed her hands, threading her fingers together and resting them on the tabletop in front of her. “I haven’t spoken to Bam about this, nor anybody else. I thought it best that I come right to you.”
“What’s the problem?” he asked.
