Page 8 of From Rivals to I Do

Chapter three

Chapter Three

“Finally! That’s the last one,” I say with a grunt as I set the box labeled ‘plates’ on the kitchen counter, wiping a bead of sweat from my

brow.

“Hard to believe that the whole farmhouse can fit in here,” Sparrow says.

“Are you making fun of my new house?” I tease, raising my eyebrow at her.

“No! I love it; it’s so cozy,” Sparrow insists.

“You mean tiny?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“C’mon now, don’t put words in my mouth.” Sparrow frowns and I can’t help but laugh.

“Well, it’s just me now since you and little Joe are adults, you know?” I reply as I lean against the counter. “But I do have the one guest room if it’s ever needed.”

“It’s definitely gorgeous in here,” Sparrow remarks as she runs her fingertips against the lacquered cherrywood wall.

“Well of course it is, your mama has good taste,” I say with a wink. “Thank you two for taking the time to help me move.”

“It’s really no problem, Mrs. M,” Daniel, Sparrow’s husband, says with a smile as Jade babbles in her little play chair. “Just glad we could help.”

“Well, I appreciate it all the same,” I reply. “I’m hungry, why don’t I treat us all to Chinese?”

“Ooh! That would be awesome!” Sparrow chimes in cheerfully, Chinese being one of her favorite foods. “Can we get some sesame chicken?”

“Of course! I’ll grab some of that, lo mein, some fried rice, beef and broccoli. . . and what was that one thing you like Danny?”

“Oh, um, shrimp and scallops in the spicy garlic sauce,” Daniel replies.“You got it!” I pick up my cell phone and look up the local

Chinese place and put in our order. It’s not long before they get to the house, and all of us begin to chow down, sitting crisscross on

the hardwood floor, famished from unloading the truck since early on in the morning without any of us except Sparrow taking a break

to feed Jade.

“So, when do you start at the new hospital?” Sparrow asks.

“Monday,” I reply, and it’s obvious that Sparrow isn’t thrilled about it, her eyebrows furrowed.

“Are you serious?” she gasps.

“Well yeah, Bird, what’s the point in waiting?” I ask.

“You just did a big move across Texas,” Sparrow replies. “It’s a bit crazy that you’re not going to take any time to settle in and unpack,

or get used to the town, Mama.”

“I don’t really have a choice, honey, I need to be able to pay the bills,” I reply.

“You worry me,” Sparrow replies as Jade begins to whine, and she picks her up out of her play chair to let her roll around on the floor.

“You could have asked Daniel and I to cover your first month of the mortgage, you know.”

“Yeah, definitely,” Daniel agrees. Daniel makes quite a bit of money as the CEO of his own tech company, and as much as it would

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