How to Love Your Neighbour(84)

“I’m happy with how it’s turned out. You two want a drink? I’ve got some beer, wine, and soda. Or just water or juice if you’d prefer,” Grace said, glancing at her watch. Noah said he’d be here by now. She glanced out the side window. She could still see his driveway, even with the patio extension Kyle had added. She’d filed the paperwork through city hall to have it built and was crossing her fingers no one said anything about it being there before it was approved. Backward was better than not at all. Noah’s truck wasn’t in the driveway.

“You missing your boy toy already?” Morty asked.

“Leave her alone, Morty.”

“What? She’s the closest thing I got to a daughter. I ought to be allowed to ask her what’s happening with him and how things are going.”

“But that’s not what you did,” Tilly said. “You teased her.”

Grace looked back and forth between them, amused by the banter that didn’t seem to need her input. “Drinks?”

“I’ll have a beer and so will he, honey,” Tilly said. “Smells delicious by the way.”

“Thanks. Be right back.” She went into the kitchen, grabbed the beers for them and a soda for herself and set them on the counter. The lasagna had another thirty minutes or so. She’d bought a delicious-looking loaf of French bread and made a salad. Everything was ready. She just needed the final guest. The simple dining-room table was already set with the dishes she’d bought. Okay, maybe she’d splurged a little, but everything, other than the couch, had been a reasonable price.

She brought the drinks back, set them on coasters on the coffee table. Taking her own can, she settled in one of the chairs, bending her legs to the side so she could curl her feet up under her.

The rasp of the soda opening made her mouth water. “How’s the wedding plans?”

Morty opened Tilly’s beer, handed it to her, then opened his own and took a long drink.

“A nurse friend of mine has a pretty cottage near Irwin Lake. We’re thinking just before Christmas. December nineteenth. Evening ceremony, just close friends. Ceremony and party right there. Simple buffet-style dinner.”

“That sounds lovely. And soon.” It was already mid-October, but since there wasn’t much to plan, it should be fine.

“We don’t see much reason to wait. Really, we only put it that far off to give people a chance to plan to come. We’ll have some of Morty’s old crew from the electricians’ union. My nurse friends. I have one sister and two nieces. They’ll come down from Oregon.”

They continued to chat about plans, menus, and gifts, but Grace couldn’t stop thinking about whether or not Noah was going to show. He’d been going into his last meeting hours ago. She wanted to text him but didn’t want to seem . . . what? Needy? The timer on the oven went off.

“How come Noah’s late?” Morty stood up.

“Probably stuck in traffic. He had meetings all day. You know how busy the roads are,” Grace said, unfolding herself from the chair.

“Has he texted? Called?” He put his hands on his almost nonexistent hips.

“Morty,” Tilly said low, under her breath.

Grace grinned at them. “I don’t know. I thought it was rude to check my phone with two of my favorite people here. While I do that, you go use the bathroom and wash your hands.”

His eyes flashed with impatience. “What am I? A four-year-old?”

Grace laughed. He was so easy to rile up. “Just a suggestion. No need to be cranky.”

He growled. “Like a four-year-old?”

Tilly hid her smile behind her hand.

“I’m not the one who keeps saying it,” Grace said, pursing her lips and shrugging.

She started for the kitchen, Tilly right behind her, but noticed Morty heading toward the hallway. “Where are you going?”

He scowled at her, then turned to walk away, mumbling, “Have to use the damn bathroom.”

Tilly and Grace dissolved into giggles as they entered the kitchen. Grace pulled the lasagna out of the oven.

“What can I do?”

“Grab the salad and dressing from the fridge?” Turning off the stove, she reached for the covered basket of bread she’d already sliced. “The butter, too, please.”

“Got it. We can wait for Noah,” Tilly said.

Grace kept the oven mitts on so she could bring the hot pan to the table. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. I’ll check my phone soon as we get this set up.”

They did it together, Tilly setting out the butter and salad.

“Morty misses having you around the house,” Tilly said.

“Now why’d you go and tell her that? She’ll get a big head,” he said, shuffling back to the dining area.

Because she could, she leaned into him and gave him a hug. He returned it easily, making her heart happy. He was all bluster.

“I’ll try not to be too unbearable now that I know. You two sit. I’ll check my phone.”

Grace walked toward the mantel, where she’d left the phone, but heard Tilly and Morty exchanging whispered words. Tilly crossed the room, heading for the coatrack as Grace picked up her phone.

Noah

Game took forever. They wanted to do drinks after.

Noah