Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(49)

Holly picked up a pair of jeans and held them up, looking skeptically at Lily. “You can try these on but they look a little big to me. You’re smaller-waisted than me and Callie. I figure you’re at least a size smaller if not two. We’ll start with these, though and see how they fit you.”

Lily was hustled into a dressing room and never had to come out. Callie and Holly kept handing stuff in for her to try. In an hour’s time, she had an armful of jeans, two coats, one heavy and one a lighter windbreaker, plus two pairs of boots and two pairs of loafer-style shoes.

“It’s too much,” Lily protested as Callie and Holly hauled the clothing to the register.

Callie held up a hand. “Oh please, this is a drop in the bucket compared to some of the shopping trips I’ve made Seth take me on. They’ll be happy the bill was only this much.”

Holly laughed but nodded. “Callie was a born shopper, much to her fathers’ and brothers’ dismay.”

Lily joined in their laughter, enjoying the companionship of other women. Friends. God, how she’d missed having good times and social outings. Shopping trips.

Holly checked her watch. “Okay, we need to get to the clinic. We can either hit the boutiques after your appointment, or, if you trust Callie to pick up a few things for you, she can walk over while we’re at the doctor’s.”

Lily glanced over at Callie who raised her hands in defense. “I swear I’ll do right by you. I have a pretty good eye for what will look good on you. And it will give me immense pleasure to go shopping on my brothers’ dime.”

Lily laughed. “I trust you. I’m sure your taste has to be better than mine.”

Holly hustled the girls out of the store and into the truck where Ethan waited. They stuffed their bags in the back and piled in.

“Get everything you need?” Ethan asked.

“Take us to the clinic,” Holly said. “Callie’s going to do some shopping across the street while Lily is at her appointment.”

Two hours later, Lily and Holly walked out of the clinic, Lily clutching the bag with the starter pack of her pills and a prescription for several months’ worth. Callie was waiting in the truck with Ethan when Holly and Lily climbed in.

“I’ve had calls from all three of my sons demanding to know how things went with your doctor’s appointment,” Ethan said to Lily.

“Oh, everything is fine,” Lily said. “He looked at my arm and said it was healing nicely. No cause for alarm. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

She wasn’t about to tell any of them what the true reason for her appointment had been, although she was pretty sure Holly had a good idea.

Callie leaned forward and rested her arms over the back of Ethan’s seat. “I vote we go home and have the dads fix us dinner while Lily hosts a fashion show for me and Mom.”

“Spoiled much?” Ethan asked dryly.

“I’m not going to deny it,” Callie said with a grin.

Holly laughed. “Well, I could cook, but somehow I don’t think anyone wants that.”

“No, that’s okay,” Ethan said hastily. “I’m sure any of us would be more than happy to cook for our women.” He glanced back at Lily as he started to pull out of the parking space. “Were the guys expecting you for dinner?”

“I’m not certain,” Lily said hesitantly. “They were all so busy today. They said they’d see me tonight, but I don’t know when.”

“Don’t worry,” Holly soothed. “Ethan will call them and tell them all to come to supper. It’s been a long time since we all had dinner together, and I can’t think of a better occasion than now.”

In truth, Lily was excited about the prospect. She smiled and nodded and then leaned back, squeezing her arms over her chest and holding her happiness close, as if any moment it would be torn away from her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Seth and Michael pulled up to their parents’ house at the same time.

“How did it go?” Michael asked as he got out and walked around to the front of his truck to meet Seth.

“Got everything filled out. Spoke to a few members of the city council. They’re pretty excited that I’ve agreed to come on board. They’re calling a special meeting on Monday, but it’s just a formality.”

“Are you comfortable with the decision?”

Seth paused for a minute as he stared around the place he’d grown up in. “Yeah. I’m good. Glad to be coming home.”

They walked into the house and were greeted by the sounds of women’s laughter. Michael exchanged grins with Seth as they entered the living room to see Lily modeling in dramatic fashion in front of Callie and their mom.

Seth held a finger to his lips and motioned Michael to stay back. The sight of Lily so carefree and uninhibited and having fun was enchanting.

He watched her twirl and strike outrageous poses as Callie and his mom cheered her on. Lily’s face was flush with pleasure, her eyes alive and bright, and her smile was about ten thousand watts.

His dads had gathered in the doorway behind Lily, clearly as entranced as Seth and Michael were. But no one made a move into the room, not wanting to ruin the obvious delight of the women.

“Oh hell, they’re drinking,” Michael muttered.

Holly and Callie poured wine from a nearly empty bottle, handed Lily a glass and set the bottle down by two other empties on the coffee table.