Mind Games - Page 213

“All right, my Thea, I invited Ty and Bray to Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Oh. Wouldn’t they go to his family?”

“He says they’re scattered, going different places. I couldn’t have that man and that little boy alone like that.”

“Of course not. So they’ll come?”

“He was worried you’d be uncomfortable.”

“That’s just silly. I— Wait, I need to whistle for Bunk.”

She went out and around to the corner of the porch, let out a long, loud, three-note whistle.

Sipping her tea, Lucy smiled when she came back in. “Remember the summer I taught you and Rem how to whistle like that?”

“It took him longer to get it.”

“He’s younger. Lord, it’s nice to sit. I’m going to be running around all day tomorrow. Got a list of errands as long as my left leg.”

“Do you need help?”

“No, no.” She waved that away. “We all have our work. Now, when are you and Maddy getting that wedding dress?”

“She’s got her eye on one online, but I’m dragging her out Monday, she’s taking the day off, and we’ll see if we find something like it, or she likes better. If we do, we’re Zooming with her mother and sister. Do you want to Zoom?”

“I absolutely do. Leeanne wants to see Maddy’s dress, and yours, too, before she starts hunting for hers. Though I’ve already seen a dozen mother-of-the-bride dresses she showed me. Leeanne, Abby, and I are going to make a day of it when she’s ready. Fancy ladies’ lunch included. I can’t think of the last time I went to a fancy ladies’ lunch.”

“We should do that.” When she heard Bunk’s let-me-in woof, she rose. “Why don’t we ever do that?”

“I guess we’re not fancy ladies.”

“That’s true, but it doesn’t mean we can’t put on the fancy now and again.”

She opened the door, and Bunk wagged his way in. “What is it today?” She untied the ribbon on his collar and held up a flower cut from construction paper, its misshapen petals in every color of the rainbow pasted on a thick green stem.

“Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”

“It is,” Thea agreed. “Bunk’s been bringing home sweet things all week. The card and photo there on the fridge, a smiling sun out of a paper plate. Now this. Bunk gets to play, and I get a thank-you for it.”

Lucy just laughed. Her Thea was as sharp as they came—about most things. “Honeypot, that’s not a thank-you. Those boys are courting you.”

“Grammie.” Thea laughed it off. “With construction paper flowers?”

“You’ll think of them every time you see it, or that card—or the sun I want to see before I go. That’s some very clever courting.”

“I’m not—” Flustered, Thea looked down at the flower. “Nobody courts anymore.”

“You’re holding that sweet flower in your hand right now. He’s a patient man, and I wondered if he’d be too patient. Now I see he’s just subtle. I like his style. And I’m glad I was right about him all along. Haven’t lost my touch.”

Saying nothing, Thea put the flower on the refrigerator.

“Made you smile,” Lucy pointed out. “And I bet your heart fluttered with it.”

“Maybe.” Sitting again, Thea picked up her tea. “Maybe a little. Don’t look so smug.”

“I look smug because I am smug because you look happy.”

“Maybe.” Thea drank some tea. “Maybe a little. If I let him back in, Grammie, open up to that again, he’ll hurt me again.”