“Okay.” She smiled and Riley walked over, threading her fingers with Kacey’s.
Riley waved at Drew. “Bye, Mr.Murphy!”
“Bye,” Drew said before Kacey, Riley, and Colleen headed out of the room. He couldn’t wait to see Kacey tomorrow.
“I have a question, Aunt Kacey,” Riley announced after Kacey had dropped off Colleen.
Kacey backed out of Colleen’s driveway and then steered toward the end of the street. “Sounds serious.” She peeked over at her niece and gave her a feigned frown. “Is it top secret?”
Riley shook her head. “No, not really.”
“Then lay it on me.”
“Is Mr.Murphy your boyfriend? Are you going to marry him and stay here in Splendid Lake?”
“Slow down there, Riley.” Kacey braked at the stop sign at the end of the block and turned toward her niece. “What makes you ask all these questions?”
Riley seemed to eye her with suspicion. “You get googly eyes around him!” She giggled.
Kacey laughed. “Well, we’ve been friends since we were in middle school, and we like to spend time together.”
“I think he likes you.”
“What gives you that idea?”
Her niece shrugged. “He always looks happy to see you.”
Kacey turned down the street that led to her sister’s house as Riley’s observation settled over her. During the past week she’d tried hard to convince herself that Drew only wanted to be friends, but the curiosity took hold of her again.
When Kacey arrived at Dani’s, she helped her mother and sister deliver their supper—breaded pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans—to the table and then took a seat beside Riley.
Soon they were all filling their plates, and the sound of scraping utensils filled the room.
“So, how was everyone’s day?” Mom asked.
“Aunt Kacey has a date with Mr.Murphy,” Riley announced, and heat immediately filled Kacey’s cheeks as everyone turned to look at her, even little Kelly. “I told Aunt Kacey that Mr.Murphy likes her, but she says they’re only friends.”
Kacey gave a little laugh and then looked down at her niece. “Thanks, buddy.”
“That’s very interesting,” Dani cooed. “That makes three weekends in a row that he’s asked you out.”
Mom beamed. “Good for you, Kacey. It’s about time you dated someone. I can’t remember the last time you mentioned being interested in a young man.”
“Let’s talk about something else,” Kacey said as she slid a pork chop onto her plate beside her mashed potatoes and green beans. “Since Mom is hosting Thanksgiving next week, what are you going to bring, Dani? Besides dessert, of course.”
Dani lifted her glass of water. “I thought I’d make pumpkin pie and cookies for the kids. Also, Travis’s parents would like to join us. Peggy said she’ll bring cranberry sauce and green bean casserole.”
“You know they’re always welcome,” Mom said.
“Great.” Kacey looked over at Mom. “We can handle the rest, right?”
Mom nodded. “Sure.”
Then Kacey smiled over at Kelly, who sat in her booster seat and forked a small bite of green beans into her mouth. “Kelly and Riley need to make up their list for Santa, right?”
“Yes!” Riley exclaimed. “I’m already working on mine, and I’ll help Kelly with hers.”
While Riley announced her wish list, Kacey glanced over at her sister, who frowned, and guilt filled Kacey’s gut. She would get her sister alone and tell her that she’d help her with the girls’ gifts this year. She wanted to be sure her nieces had a magical Christmas morning.
