Page 76 of The Backup Bride Proposal

“Okay.”

“Pour me some of that iced tea, Donna.”

“Okay, Dad.”

“We have a problem to discuss, too,” Tess said. “About James.”

Adam frowned. “What’s going on with James?”

Kane and Tess filled him in on their conversations with Kane’s father. In the middle of the conversation they all made their way outside, and, wow, the back porch was a beauty. Huge, with a built-in kitchen, fans overhead and a vista that was not to be believed. Mae saw a winding river a ways out that was certainly within walking distance. She hoped they’d get a chance to see it.

“James and I don’t talk all that much,” Adam said. “Can’t really recall the last conversation we had. I think he called on my birthday, but the call was short.”

“Your birthday is in June, Dad,” Tess said. “Now it’s November.”

“Huh. You’re right. We used to talk every week. Then it was once a month. I guess I just didn’t notice. That’s my fault.”

“We’ve been busy here,” Donna said. “But that’s no excuse. We should have stayed in touch.”

“And he could have shown up more often,” Tess said. “He hasn’t. When was the last time he visited?”

“Not anytime I’ve been here,” Kane said.

Tess raised her hands. “I don’t remember the last time.”

“Was it for Grandpa’s seventieth birthday?”

“He didn’t show up for that,” Donna said. “Claimed he had a business trip and that your mom wasn’t feeling well.”

“Well, hell,” Tess said. “There is definitely something going on.”

“What about your mom, Kane?” Donna asked. “What does she say?”

“As little as my dad. Whatever’s going on, it’s both of them.”

“I guess y’all can get to the bottom of it when your dad gets here,” Donna said. “When’s he coming?”

“He said he’d be here Wednesday,” Tess said. “Oh, and Dad, I got him to come by telling him you weren’t doing so well, healthwise.”

Adam nodded. “I’ll cough a few times.”

Tess looked over at Donna. “See? I told you.”

Kane shot Mae a shrug. She smiled at him. This family was something. Something she really liked.

They finally took their bags upstairs and Mae had a few minutes to admire all the amazing work that it must have taken to build this home. The structure was incredible. She normally wasn’t into the log cabin type of look, but it was such a big, spacious house and they had wisely not put wood everywhere so it didn’t feel stifling. Thick wood beams here and there and the occasional paneling were more than enough to give it that woodsy feel. The arched ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the expansive woods and incredible view of the river made her pause at the top of the stairway, gaping at the scenery outside.

“Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” Kane asked.

“I don’t know how you ever left this place. If I had been raised here, I never would.”

“I wasn’t raised here, unfortunately. But I came as often as I could. And, trust me, it was hard as hell to leave this ranch. Which is why, when I have a little time off, this is where I come.”

“I can see why. It looks beautiful out here.”

He started walking down the hall, so she followed. He opened a door to a bedroom that was much larger than sheexpected, with a huge bed that she also didn’t expect. There were French doors that led out to a balcony overlooking that amazing view of the river and beyond. “Wow.”

He put the luggage down and walked with her to the door. “Wait till I take you on a tour. You’ll fall in love.”

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