Page 179 of Love in Riverbend
I reach for the strawberries and my bag. “Thank you.”
The back door opens.
“Hey,” Justin says.
“Hi.” I step closer and kiss his cheek. “I’ll be right back.” Handing Justin the strawberries, I hurry upstairs. The truth is that I don’t have anything to do up here. I only want to give Justin and Ricky a minute to themselves. They both say everything is fine between them, but I worry.
Mom comes out of her room as I approach. “I thought you’d be gone.”
I speak softly. “Justin is downstairs. Ricky was there.” I shrug. “I wanted to give them a minute.”
Mom’s smile grows. “Honey, the boys will work out this new paradigm. You and Justin need to work out your relationship too. You aren’t responsible for theirs.” She reaches for my hand. “Thank you for all your help yesterday. The flowerbeds look fantastic.”
“They do.” I turn my hands until I can see my palms. “Even with gloves, I have blisters.”
“Imagine what their hands are like,” she says, tilting her head toward the back staircase.
Strong.
Rough.
Calloused.
Gentle.
As warmth fills my cheeks, I open my eyes wider, a bit nervous my expression is giving away my thoughts of what Justin’s hands can do. “I guess it just goes to prove I’ll leave the farming to them.”
“Tell the Sheerses we send our love.”
I lean my head. “We’re going to the Richardses’ house.”
“I spoke with Bridget Sheers yesterday at the supermarket. Everyone will be at Kandace’s. They’re very happy about you and Justin.”
My stomach drops. “Everyone?”
“Well, Justin’s parents. You know, Bridget and Randy, and the Richardses, Dax, Kandace, and Molly.”
“I didn’t know about his parents.”
“I guess now you’re prepared. Just be you, honey. They’ll love you. They already do.”
“Why?”
“Because you make their son happy.”
I bite my lower lip. “I want to.”
“You do.”
A quick look toward the back stairs. “I should go back down there.” I brush her cheek with a kiss. “Bye, Mom.”
“Have fun.”
As I near the stairs, the sound of Justin’s and Ricky’s laughs eases a bit of my tension. It’s good to hear them enjoying one another. They both turn as I appear from the stairs.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
Ricky looks at me. “Don’t worry. I would never tell embarrassing stories about you.”
