Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(24)

“You will,” Irma said with a cackling laugh.

“Mom, quit it, you’re scaring the girl.” Sarah turned towards me. “She’s an instigator, this one. Just giving you a hard time because Walker came home fit to be tied that you were planning on walking back to the guest cabin alone. You shouldn’t do that, by the way. He’s right about the cougars.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “I won’t. Now that I have my car, I won’t walk or run anywhere when it’s dark out.” Walker’s frustration and concern from the morning before flashed in my mind.

“I’m relieved to hear it,” Sarah said, reaching out to pat my hand. The gesture was so familiar, something my mom used to do constantly when we talked. A pang of loneliness hit me in that spot right between the breasts. “Listen, why don’t you come to dinner tonight. We’re making a pot roast and all the fixings, with marionberry pie for dessert.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say no. To make up an excuse. I’d planned to microwave some mac and cheese. But Sarah’s phantom familiarity made it difficult to refuse. That trickle of loneliness flowing through my veins pushed me into agreeing to something I’d sworn to avoid.

I cleared my throat. “I’d love to.”

Sarah clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Wonderful.”

“Can I bring a couple bottles of wine? I’d offer to cook something, but I’m afraid I’m pretty hopeless in that department.” One of my goals for this year was to learn to cook. I’d done a search for beginner recipes and printed a few things out but hadn’t moved past the planning stage.

“That’s so sweet of you. The boys aren’t big wine drinkers, but why don’t you bring a bottle for us girls.”

“I’d be happy to.”

“Great. Why don’t you come over around six. We eat on the earlier side since Noah has an 8:30 bedtime.”

“That sounds perfect. See you then.” I turned to Walker’s grandmother, who was studying me with an attention to detail that had my palms sweating. “It was lovely to meet you, Irma.”

“You too, honey pie,” she said with that twinkle in her eye. “I look forward to seeing what tonight has in store.”

“Oh, stop it, Mom,” Sarah said. Rolling her eyes at me, she continued. “If we let Irma have more than one glass of wine tonight, we’re likely in store for some off-key show tunes.” A soft laugh escaped my lips.

“You lie, Sarah,” Irma huffed. “My pitch is perfect.”





I threw my car in park and rubbed a damp palm down my jeans-clad leg. I hoped that jeans were the right choice. Sutter Lake seemed like a casual environment, so as I’d strewn clothing all over my bedroom, I’d decided against the maroon cocktail dress and gone with dark skinny jeans and a pale blue top that brought out the color of my eyes.

I fidgeted with my keys. I could do this. I’d repeated that over and over as I got ready. Over and over as I drove. But one more time couldn’t hurt. I could do this. I could spend time with the Cole family and not let them into my heart.

All I had to do was keep an emotional distance. I’d become an expert at dodging personal questions over the past few months. This dinner would be no different. I could enjoy the family’s company without their closeness breaking my heart. I just needed to keep that distance.

I pushed open my door and slid out, grabbing my purse and the two bottles of wine from the passenger seat as I went. I studied the house as I walked up. It must have been designed by the same person who built the cabin because the styles were perfect complements to each other. The ranch house had the same dark wood-beamed fa?ade and lots of windows. A wraparound porch hugged the outside and was home to eight rocking chairs and a porch swing. It was the perfect family home.

As I climbed the porch steps, the front door swung open, and Noah rushed out. “Tay Tay! You’re here! Come and see my airplanes!”

I let out a light laugh. “I’d love to see your planes.”

Jensen appeared in the doorway. “After dinner, okay, Noah?”

“Okay. I know all there is to know about planes. You might not know a lot about them, but don’t worry, I can teach you.” He had taken hold of my hand and was pulling me up the stairs and inside the house. I grinned at Jensen.

“He’s not kidding. If he doesn’t end up a pilot or a mechanic, I’ll be shocked.”

“Fighter pilot, Mom. You know that,” Noah said as he dropped my hand and went racing away.

Jensen winced, turning her gaze back to me. “I’m hoping he’ll change his mind and shift to a career path that has a slightly lower mortality rate.”

“He’s got time.”

“Thank goodness for that. Oooh, did you bring wine?”

I raised the two bottles, one in each hand. “You know it.”

Jensen clasped her hands under her chin. “My hero.”

I let out a laugh. “Girl after my own heart.”

Jensen took one of the bottles from my hand, studying the label. “And you’ve got good taste, too. I knew I liked you.” She began leading me back to what looked like an open kitchen and dining space. “We should go out next weekend. The saloon is having a live band, and Mom said she’d watch Noah for me if I wanted to go.”