“I was offered a job at Texas A&M. A good job.” She shrugged, nibbling on the inside of her lip. And while she knew she’d throw herself into work and savor the challenges she’d likely face, that wasn’t the same thing as being happy.
Before her aunt had a chance to respond, Van walked into the kitchen. “Good morning.” He made a beeline for Camellia.
Aunt Camellia was up before he reached her side, welcoming him with open arms. “Good morning.” She tilted her head back and accepted his quick kiss. “You sleep all right?”
“Like a log.” He dropped another kiss against her temple. “Morning, Rosemary.” He grinned. “Anyone need a refill?” He nodded at their coffee mugs.
“You sit and chat with Rosemary.” Aunt Camellia guided him to a chair and patted his shoulder when he sat. “I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”
“How’s life, Rosemary?” he asked, totally serious.
She smiled at the older man. “It’s good.” Other than this thing with Everett, it was really good. That was what she needed to focus on. All the good in her life. There was so much good. “Almost as good as this biscuit.” Rosemary picked up the biscuit from her plate, and she took a big bite of Aunt Camellia’s light and flaky and perfectly buttery biscuit. “And you? How’s life, Van?”
“I don’t think it could get any better.” The man’s light blue eyes were trained on Camellia, watching her with a gentle smile on his face.
It wasn’t long before the kitchen started filling up. Magnolia arrived with Bea on her hip and Roman trailing after them. Tansy came in yawning and bleary-eyed but perked up at the sight of Aunt Camellia’s baked goods. When Dane and Leif trailed in the back door, Camellia pulled another tray of muffins and biscuits from the oven and made Leif sit and eat before sending him off. Astrid and Charlie wandered in a bit later after dropping the girls at school.
There was something wholly satisfying about being surrounded by all the people she loved most. Well, almost all of them.
“Did Leif mention all the DMs about your book?” Dane piled several biscuits onto his plate.
Rosemary shook her head. “I don’t think he said one word. Aunt Camellia was too busy feeding him.” Not that Leif seemed to mind. The boy had grabbed another two muffins on his way out the door.
“A growing boy needs to eat.” Aunt Camellia shrugged. “A bowl of cereal doesn’t stick to the ribs. No offense, Dane.”
“None taken. Dad and I have gotten better at bacon and eggs, but it can’t compare to your cooking, Camellia. Why do you think the two of us show up for breakfast every morning?” Dane eyed the biscuit he was holding with a sort of reverence. “For the company, of course.”
They all laughed.
Having Dane around no longer felt odd. He fit, Rosemary realized. He was family.
“I suspected as much.” Aunt Camellia sat beside Van, smiling at her husband as he draped his arm along the back of her chair.
Shelby was the last one to join them. “You let me sleep.” She glanced at the clock. “I don’t think I’ve slept this late in...a long time.”
“Ma ma.” Bea clapped and reached for her mother. “Yums Mimi Grapaw yums.”
“Did you hear that? That was a full sentence.” Roman smiled at Bea.
Rosemary grinned. She wasn’t sure which was more adorable: Bea’s baby-speak or Roman’s abundant pride over his granddaughter’s accomplishment.
“You go see your mama.” Aunt Mags handed off Bea.
“Hello, love. Are Mimi and Grampa giving you yums? They are taking good care of you, aren’t they?” Shelby hugged her daughter. “Thank you for letting me sleep. Both of you.” Shelby smiled at Aunt Mags and her father.
“Our girls need taking care of, don’t they, Mags?” Roman smiled up at his daughter. “That means you, not just Bea.”
Rosemary wasn’t the only one who picked up on theour girlscomment. Aunt Mags looked like she’d been pinched—before she smiled. A lovely smile.
That’s a surprise.But Rosemary took a sip of her coffee and tried not to stare. When her gaze bounced from Tansy to Astrid, they both had the same wide-eyed, mile-high eyebrows-of-surprise showing over the rims of their coffee cups.
Interesting.
“What’s on the agenda for today?” Aunt Camellia had a small notepad and pencil. “By that, I mean who’s going to be here for dinner?” After a head count, Aunt Camellia made up a grocery list.
“You were saying something about DMs about her books?” Tansy nudged Dane. “Before you got sidetracked by food.”
After all the back-and-forth, Rosemary had completely forgotten, too.
