"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," I protest as she pours me a glass of wine.
"Nonsense. Having you here is worth celebrating." She pauses in her bustling to look at me seriously. "I've missed you, Mia. More than you know."
My throat gets tight. "I've missed you too."
"Good. Then we're all caught up on that front." She hands me the wine with a smile. "Now, tell me about this shelter of yours. Tom and I drive by it sometimes, and we're so proud of what you've built."
I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face, and an hour later, I'm stuffed full of the best pot roast I've ever eaten and feeling more relaxed than I have in weeks.
Tom's been regaling us with stories from his old hardware store, each one more ridiculous than the last. Carol keeps refilling my plate despite my protests.
And Ryder...
Ryder's been the perfect dinner companion. Charming without being overwhelming, funny without being the center of attention. His hand found my thigh halfway through the maincourse, a warm weight that sends little sparks up my spine every time he shifts.
"So, Mia… This fundraiser night on Saturday," Tom says, leaning back in his chair with the look of a man who's eaten too much. "Ryder tells us it's going to be quite the event."
"It is," I agree, still not entirely believing it's real. "Your son has gone a little overboard."
"That's my boy," Carol says proudly. "Always did have a flair for the dramatic."
"Hey," Ryder protests. "It's not dramatic. It'sthorough."
Tom chuckles. "I have to say, Carol and I are pretty excited about it. We haven't been to a hockey game in years."
"I even convinced your mother to loosen those purse strings a little," Tom adds with a wink at his wife. "We're sponsoring one of the vendor tables."
Carol swats at him with her napkin. "Don't make it sound like I'm cheap, Thomas Scott."
"Never, my dear."
Tom winks at me and I laugh at their banter, feeling that familiar warmth that comes from being around people who genuinely love each other.
This is what I missed. Not just Ryder, but this. The feeling of being part of a family that actually works.
"Well," Carol says, standing to start clearing plates. "I think this calls for dessert. I made that chocolate cake you used to love, Mia."
"You remember my favorite cake?"
"Honey, I remember everything about you." Her smile is soft and knowing. "Some things in life are too important to forget."
As she bustles into the kitchen, Tom stands and stretches.
"And I think I'll check on the weather. Snow's been coming down pretty steady for the past hour."
Through the dining room window, I can see fat flakes swirling in the porch light. What started as a light dusting when we arrived has turned into something more serious.
"We should probably head out soon," I say to Ryder. "I don't want to get stuck."
"We'll be fine." His thumb rubs my thigh, sending heat spiraling through my core. "My truck handles snow like a champ."
Famous last words? I hope not.
Thirty minutes later, we're saying goodbye on the porch, loaded down with leftovers and promises to visit again soon. The snow is coming down harder now, snowflakes that stick to everything and make the world look like a snow globe.
"Drive careful," Carol calls from the doorway. "And Mia? Don't be a stranger."
"I won't," I promise, meaning it.
