A Winter Wedding(41)

She did nothing to imply that, however. “Thank you,” she said. “You have a lovely place.”

“It’s nothing fancy, but we like it.”

Lourdes focused on Olivia. “And you are...”

Kyle stifled a smile—because it was obvious to him that Lourdes was far more interested than she was letting on. “This is Brandon’s wife.”

“Olivia.” Brandon, who’d followed them in, along with his father, added her name.

“Good to meet you,” Olivia said.

“Likewise,” Lourdes responded. “So...do you live close by?”

“Not far,” Brandon replied. “Maybe five minutes.”

Once again, Lourdes attempted to draw Olivia into conversation. “I believe I’ve met your sister.”

Olivia glanced at Kyle. No doubt she was wondering how much Lourdes knew about their situation.

“Noelle dropped dinner off to thank me for the water heater,” he explained.

“Oh.” Olivia sighed. “I’m sorry. I keep telling her to quit bothering Kyle, but...”

“It was delicious,” Lourdes said.

Kyle thought of the odd comments Noelle had made when they were on the phone this morning but chose not to mention them. He figured it was just more of Noelle doing what Noelle did. Her emotions carried her in all kinds of different directions. She was in love with him one minute; she hated him the next.

“Would you like a piece of fudge?” Paige asked. “It’s homemade.”

“How can I refuse anything that’s homemade?” Lourdes said and let Paige talk her into sitting at the kitchen table and sampling one of everything.

Lourdes seemed more comfortable as time passed, but her gaze kept drifting to Olivia, who seemed to be at least as curious about her. Whenever their eyes met, they’d both smile and shift awkwardly, and Kyle would make a renewed effort to get Lourdes out of the house. But Paige thwarted his every attempt by pressing some new treat on Lourdes. So then he’d have to wait a few minutes longer.

Finally, he stood. “Why don’t you make a little plate for us to take home?” he suggested. “I’m afraid Lourdes is going to be sick if she eats any more right now.”

“Great idea!” Paige exclaimed.

While his mother bustled about the kitchen, Olivia walked over and sat next to Lourdes. “How long will you be in town?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I’ve got a lot of work to do. When I finish it, I’ll go back.”

“It’s lonely being away from home, especially during the holidays. I know I speak for Kyle’s parents when I say that we’d love to have you come over for Christmas dinner.”

This kindness seemed to take Lourdes by surprise. Kyle had made the same offer, but that was different. This was coming from Olivia. “Thank you. I’ll definitely consider it.”

“I hope you’ll come,” Olivia said, and then, at last, Paige was done.

Armed with a mountain of fudge and cookies and directions on where to find the extra Christmas decorations in the garage, Kyle motioned Lourdes ahead of him.

“Aren’t you sorry you went in now?” he murmured once they had the ornaments and garland and were in the privacy of his truck.

Lourdes looked a bit baffled. “No. Not at all. I just wish I hadn’t liked her so much.”

“Olivia?”

She made a face at him. “Who else? It would be impossible not to like your mother.”

He started the engine. “Don’t tell me my little matchmaker is feeling discouraged.”

“A bit overwhelmed by the challenge ahead of me,” she said. “But I’ve managed difficult feats before.”

He pulled away from the curb. “Exactly. And you’ll do it again.”

When she smiled, he knew she understood that he wasn’t referring to the challenges in his life.

*

“It’s gone.”

Kyle had just wrestled the tree through the door. He’d had to cut off another two feet at the base, and the top was crammed against the ceiling, which made it look like just the midsection of a tree. But at least he’d salvaged their efforts by finally getting it into the tree stand. For the first hour, he’d thought they’d have to scrap what he’d cut down and start all over. “What’s gone?” he asked absently, brushing the pine needles from his clothes.

“All the dishes,” Lourdes said. “Even the food.”

Now she had his full attention, because he had no clue what she was talking about. “What dishes? What food?”

“The meal your ex-wife brought. I planned to warm up the leftovers so we could eat before we decorate, but...there’s nothing left.”

His eyes darted to the kitchen table, where he’d begun to stack the empty containers. They were gone, just as she’d said. “She brought four chicken breasts, and we only ate two.”

Lourdes froze as she noticed something else. “Oh, boy...”

Thanks to the change in her voice, Kyle was fairly certain that oh, boy wasn’t related to his accounting of the leftovers. “What is it?”

She moved the gloves and hat she’d dropped onto the counter out of the way and handed him what she’d spotted—a note.

“Fuck you!” it read. There was no signature.