Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(49)

“I don’t know her all that well, but no.”

“Well, Erik did it, and lived to tell the story. I think it’s the only place in their lives he dares to pull rank.”

Carter studied Raylene as she talked. Her hair was scooped up in a casual ponytail that made her look about eighteen. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkling. “You’re in a good mood today,” he observed.

“It’s a holiday and the house is overflowing with company. What’s not to love?” Suddenly her expression sobered. “It’s probably the last one I’ll get to spend here like this.”

He frowned at her words. “You’re not still considering getting your own place, are you?”

“I have to, and you know why.” When he started to speak, she held up a hand. “Let’s not talk about this now.”

“Okay, but we will discuss it,” he said firmly. “I have my reasons why it’s important for you to stay right here. Promise me you won’t make any final decisions until we’ve talked.”

“I can do that much,” she agreed. She shoved a huge bowl of potato salad at him. “Take this outside. There’s a big table for the food on the patio. You’ll see.”

He hesitated. “Is everyone going to be eating outside?”

“Don’t frown like that. Some people will stay outside and some will come in here to be in the air-conditioning. I’m not going to be stuck in here all alone, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Have you been outside since the other day?”

She frowned at the question. “A couple of times with Dr. McDaniels,” she said tersely.

“And?”

“No meltdowns, but I’m not taking any chances today.”

Carter backed off. “Just checking,” he said. “Be sure you save a seat for me.”

“I’ll make sure there are places for you and the girls,” she assured him. “Annie’s in the living room holding them now. She’s always said she doesn’t give two hoots about the theory that women glow in hot weather, that she just sweats. Of course, since that argument made her look like a wuss, she says she’s staying in today because it’s too hot out there for the baby.”

“Is anyone buying that?”

“No, but they’re humoring her because Ty’s not here to wait on her himself. At last count, she had two glasses of lemonade and three of sweet tea on the table beside her, along with an entire bowl of her mother’s guacamole. Frankly, I think spicy food like that is a really bad idea when she’s still nursing the baby, but there’s no stopping her from eating it. Meg will probably wind up with terrible heartburn.”

Carter hesitated, struck by something that hadn’t occurred to him before. “With Ty on the road so much with the team, was he able to get back when Meg was born?”

“The team flew him home the second Annie went into labor. He made it with just minutes to spare.”

“That’s good,” Carter said. “I know I’d want to be there for the birth of my child.”

She regarded him with surprise. “Really? A lot of men would prefer to sit in the waiting room with a box of cigars.”

“Well, I’m not one of them. I had to deliver a baby once when the mom wasn’t going to make it to the hospital. I don’t recommend giving birth in the backseat of a car, but it was still pretty amazing. I definitely want to be there when my own kids arrive in the world.”

She regarded him thoughtfully. “So raising Carrie and Mandy hasn’t scared you away from wanting to be a parent?”

“Not so far,” he said. “Now let me get this potato salad outside and I’ll be back to see what else needs to go out.”

“I think that’s it,” Raylene told him. “I’m just going to fill a couple more pitchers with ice and sweet tea.”

“Then I’ll get those and let Erik know it’s time to put those burgers on the grill.”

He spotted Carrie and Mandy in the backyard when he set the potato salad on the table, spoke to Erik and offered to help with the grilling, only to be told once more that his help wasn’t needed. He went back to get the tea from Raylene.

“Tell me what you want to eat and I’ll fill a plate for you,” he said.

“You’d better take Annie’s order first,” she told him. “Travis is heading this way. I’ll send the tea out with him.”

He walked into the living room and found Annie seated in a comfortable oversize chair. She did have her daughter cuddled in her arms, so he supposed there was a case to be made that she had her priorities in order and wasn’t totally slacking off.

“Hey, little mama, what can I get you to eat?” he asked.

She grinned at him. “I just sent my mother out for fried chicken and potato salad, but now I’m thinking about ribs.”

“I’ll bring some in,” he promised. “Anything else? I saw what looked like some excellent corn on the cob out there.”

“Perfect.”

“You sure that’s it?”

“I have to pace myself. I know there’s peach pie, ice cream and Mom’s bread pudding for dessert.”

Carter’s mouth immediately watered. “I may have to start with those.”