Page 86 of An Engagement for Erica

“That’s because you picked out my outfit and I appreciate it. I guess I never realized how looking good or cute could give me so much confidence.”

“Fake it until you make it,” Harmony said. “We’ve all been there.”

“Never you,” she said.

“You’d be surprised,” Harmony said. “Good luck and I’ll talk to you when you get back. Or are you staying at Tucker’s tonight?”

“I’ll be home. I don’t need his mother to think ill of me any more than she might.”

Harmony laughed. “Now you’re being silly.”

She couldn’t tell her sister that she wasn’t being silly because Harmony didn’t know the truth.

She left the house and walked to Tucker’s. He was waiting outside for her on the front porch.

“Hi,” he said.

“Why are you out here?” she asked. “Did your mother kick you out of your house?”

“No,” he said. “I just thought that you might like me being here to walk in together.”

“So she’s in the house or the guest house?”

“She’s in the house putting snacks together. She’s as nervous as you are.”

“Really?” she asked. “Why is that? She’s got the upper hand here.”

“No one has the upper hand,” he said. “And she’s nervous because she knows how much I like you and wants to make sure she doesn’t upset you because that would upset me.”

It might be the only thing he could have said to help relax her.

“She won’t upset me. I understand her reaction to the lie to your grandfather. I can’t even fault it. It is a little out of character for both of us.”

“She’s come to terms with it. Now that she’s seen him, she’s seen how excited he is still talking about it. She’s upset and concerned because there were several things my grandfather was confused about. He forgot I lived here and then forgot your name, then remembered again. He even forgot her name when she walked in and then said it quickly. She understands more.”

“Not that I like hearing any of that,” she said. “Why didn’t you tell me before today?”

“Because it happened when she visited him yesterday and she didn’t tell me until last night when I got home. I didn’t want to bother you with it,” he said.

He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Tucker. It has to be so hard to hear these things.” She wasn’t sure why he wasn’t sharing it with her.

“It is,” he said.

He held onto her tight again, telling her that he needed the comfort more than her and she had to remember that was what it was about.

The door opened and she jumped out of Tucker’s arms as if she’d gotten caught necking with a boy at fourteen when she wasn’t supposed to be dating.

“Are you done telling your girlfriend all about me?” Clara asked.

“Sorry, Mom,” he said, grinning and turning. “Mom, this is Erica James. Erica, my mother, Clara Nelay.”

She shook Clara’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you,” Clara said, “And I’m sorry that I didn’t raise my son better than to keep you on the porch rather than bringing you in for a proper introduction. Please, come into Tucker’s house.”

She followed Tucker in to the sound of his laughter.

They took a seat in the family room in the back.

“Tucker has manners,” Erica said. “You raised him well. He speaks very highly of you.”

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