Chapter Four
There was no way Chrissy was going to remember the names of everyone she’d met so far at Gran’s birthday party. Although she supposed she didn’t need to, since she wasn’t likely to see any of these people again after tonight.
The thought should have made her feel better, but instead, she was almost disappointed. Which was silly, right? Not that her family wasn’t great; she loved her mom and sister. While they didn’t see their few extended family members very often, Chrissy always enjoyed the rare occasions. But this party, where so many people gathered out of love for the family’s matriarch, was touching.
What could’ve been an awkward event was surprisingly enjoyable. A big part of that, though, had to do with Wyatt’s undivided attention. They’d gone to the party together, but she hadn’t expected him to stay nearby for the entire duration. He’d asked her if she needed something to drink before she realized she was thirsty, escorted her to the line where they chose what they wanted to eat for dinner, and then sat in the chair next to her at one of the tables.
Chrissy looked around the large covered patio as people ate and visited. The area had to be larger than her entire house. Honeysuckle and climbing roses covered the white fencing along one side, and their fragrance tickled Chrissy’s nose. Meanwhile, fans above kept the air flowing and chased away the Texas heat.
As fancy as the country club was, she’d half expected crystal and china. Instead, they used thick, plastic plates that were much fancier than paper but still disposable. Chrissy enjoyed her New York strip steak and mashed potatoes and gravy. Although, compared to the kind of food she usually ate, this was pretty uptown all on its own. Thankfully, she seemed to blend in with the crowd.
Wyatt gently bumped her shoulder with his. When she looked at him, she found him smiling with a hint of humor in his eyes. “Earth to Chrissy. You doing okay?”
“I’m good, thanks.” She drank the last of her punch. “Just people-watching. I’m usually too busy at the coffee shop to do a lot of that. It’s nice to sit and be invisible for a while.” He said nothing, and she glanced at him. He was watching her thoughtfully. “What?”
“Trust me, you’re never invisible.”
Chrissy’s hand immediately went to the purple streak in her hair, and her eyes flitted to her nails. Maybe she should’ve toned things down a little. Was he wishing that she had? Had someone mentioned something to him?
Before her mind could wander further, he captured her hand in his. “That’s not what I’m talking about.” He squeezed it gently before standing up.
Then what did he mean? She wanted him to elaborate, but he was already gathering their empty plates.
“I’m going to take these to the trash. Would you like something else to drink?”
She glanced at her cup. “Yes, please. More punch would be great.”
“You’ve got it. I’ll be back shortly.”
She nodded. He gave her a smile and disappeared into the crowd. He wasn’t gone a full minute before Violet slid into the seat across from Chrissy. She pushed some of her sandy brown hair out of her face and offered a friendly smile tinged with something else Chrissy couldn’t quite define. It was almost as though her smile was just a little too sweet.
There was a strong resemblance between Violet, Wyatt, and the other two siblings she’d met. They all had the same-colored hair, green or hazel eyes, and the same strong nose. A big contrast to her own family, where no one ever pegged Chrissy and Emma for sisters and were later surprised when they discovered that was the case.
Violet nodded toward the crowd of happy people. “So what do you think? I hope you’re having fun.”
“You know, I am.” It was nice to be able to say that honestly. “Everyone’s been very welcoming.”
“We’re a pretty good bunch. Most of us, anyway.” Violet folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “The fact that Wyatt brought you here is a big deal. He doesn’t do that, you know. Bring women to family functions. At least not since Ashley.” She paused. “He has told you about Ashley, right?”
Chrissy tried to control her reaction to the question. No, Wyatt hadn’t told her about Ashley. And why should he? They barely knew each other. Chrissy guessed Ashley must be an old girlfriend or something along those lines. She ignored the zing of jealousy as she scrambled for what to say. She wasn’t about to lie, and she couldn’t tell the truth, either. “I’ve never met Ashley, but I didn’t realize he was so hesitant to bring women to family functions. I guess I should feel honored.” Hopefully that answer would be good enough.
Violet leaned back in her chair then and studied Chrissy. “You certainly should. What did you say or do to convince him? Goodness knows the rest of us haven’t been able to accomplish in the last five years what you have in the last…” She raised an eyebrow. “Exactly how long have you and my brother known each other?”
Did that mean Wyatt hadn’t dated anyone in five years? Or had he only kept his love interests safely away from his sister? Curiosity burned until Chrissy realized Violet was still staring at her, waiting for an answer. Chrissy tried to push down the irritation that bubbled out of nowhere. Didn’t Wyatt say Violet was married? Where was her husband? Or kids? Surely she had someone else she could bother.
“I met Wyatt back in December.” That was the truth. Why it was bothering Chrissy so much to be accused of lying was beyond her, although her very purpose for being here was shady at best. There was something about Violet that rubbed her the wrong way. She may not know Violet well, but Chrissy could detect sibling mischievousness when she saw it. As much as she wanted to know who Ashley was, Chrissy was being baited, and she refused to bite. “Well, it’s been wonderful to help Gran celebrate her birthday.”
Speaking of Gran, she was sitting back in a comfy chair, happily visiting with anyone that stopped by and said hello. While the wrinkles on her face and the thin skin on her shaky hands attested to her age, her laughter and the way she seemed to enjoy life spoke of a much younger woman. Chrissy could tell Evelyn Tabor was a woman she would enjoy sitting down and visiting with.
Chrissy barely remembered her own grandmother. She’d never had the kind of close relationship that Wyatt and his sisters seemed to have with theirs. Was it wrong to envy them for it?
Wyatt returned and set Chrissy’s cup down in front of her. He sat to her right and let his arm drape across the back of Chrissy’s chair before fixing his sister with a curious look. “You two doing alright?”
“We’re good. Just chatting.” Violet seemed to take them both in. “So Wyatt, when are you going to bring Chrissy to a family dinner?”
Her question seemed to throw him, and he hesitated. “What?”
“When are you going to bring Chrissy to one of our family dinners? It’d be nice if we had a chance to get to know her in a more intimate setting.” There was something about her expression and the tone of her voice that suggested she wasn’t all that fond of the idea.
