Page 76 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

From the corner of her eye, Macie had seen Holt leave the house. She wasn’t sure where he’d been when she arrived, but she’d seen his truck.

Was he upset with her? Surely, he knew she was there. Barb had made sure their entrance was noticed by everyone. And in Barb fashion, she’d demanded the truth about her and Holt when Macie had called and timidly asked for a ride. She didn’t want to ask Holt because he’d only be too sweet and kind and she couldn’t keep leading him on if his mother was truly set against them. Macie couldn’t bring herself to cause the Prosper family any more pain.

So, Barb it had been. And once Macie told Barb, that yes, she and Holt had been seeing each other, Barb was all in. Maybe it was the gossip-monger in her, but she’d done a one-eighty.

All Macie could do right now was stick close to Ruby. It would keep Macie’s mind and hands occupied. Because she had yet to greet Heidi. Ruby currently sat on Rex’s lap, with her hovering nearby.

Other family members were here as well—ones Macie had probably met if they’d been there that one Christmas she’d come with Knox.

A blonde woman approached. “Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself. Kellie Prosper.”

“A cousin?” Macie asked in a bright tone that she didn’t feel.

“That’s right,” Kellie said. “How are you liking Prosper?”

“It’s great,” Macie said. What else could she say, surrounded by all these people?

“Yeah, Holt caught me up.”

Macie stared at the woman. There was a lot of meaning behind her words. “He did?”

Kellie placed her hand on Macie’s arm. “If there’s one thing I can say, it’s that the Prosper family is strong. A little setback isn’t going to last long, so maybe take your gift over to Heidi. See what happens.”

“Oh,” Macie said, her hand tightening on the gift bag she’d been gripping for the past twenty minutes. “Am I that obvious?”

“Only to me.” Kellie winked. “I’m kind of observant, though.”

Macie nodded, feeling the nerves twist her stomach hard. Heidi was at the kitchen table, smiling over something an older lady was telling her. She’d opened a couple of presents, telling people they shouldn’t have brought anything, but still smiling about it.

“Ruby.” Macie bent to eye level with her daughter. “Do you want to help me give Grandma her present?”

“Yeah!” Ruby slid off Rex’s lap.

Macie gave him a grateful smile, and he winked. She decided that was the shot of courage she needed.

Macie perhaps gripped Ruby’s hand a little harder than necessary as they moved around a couple of people, then arrived at the table where Heidi was holding court.

With no reservation, Ruby wrapped her arms about Heidi. “I love you, Grandma.”

Heidi smiled down at Ruby, then kissed her on top of her head.

It was so simple for children. Their love wasn’t weighed down.

“Mommy bought you a present,” Ruby continued.

At that, Heidi raised her gaze to Macie’s. Her smile was more polite than anything.

“Yes,” Macie said, trying to keep her tone unaffected. “We were in San Antonio earlier today, and we found something we thought you might like.” She handed over the gift bag.

Heidi drew out the book wrapped in tissue paper. When she uncovered the book, her brows lifted in interest. “Signed by the author?”

“It’s a first book!” Ruby said.

“A first edition,” Macie clarified.

“I’ve read some of this author’s later books, but not this one.” She opened the front cover. “How lovely.”

“And there’s more,” Ruby said, shoving the bag closer to Heidi.

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