Page 47 of A Match Made in Montana

All along the way, people got up to greet Annie. It was difficult not to notice the side looks in his direction and the whispering. One thing was clear—just about everybody in town had heard the rumors.

As they were about to sit down at their table, someone called his name. When he looked behind him, his parents were sitting at a table close by. For a moment, he considered grabbing Annie’s hand and leaving.

“Craig, do you know those people?” Annie asked.

“My parents.”

“But then we have to sit with them, come on.” Taking his hand, she walked over to where his parents were sitting.

His dad got up as they neared. “Craig,” he said, smiling uncertainly.

His mother’s eyes had zoomed in on his hand around Annie’s.

“Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan, it’s so nice to meet you,” Annie said, her beautiful smile in place.

“Mom, Dad, this is Annie Miller.”

Smiling, his mother also got up and shook hands with Annie. “Miller? Are you related to Vivian who is marrying Aiden?”

“Yes, she’s my sister.” Annie smiled.

“Won’t you join us?” his dad asked.

Craig opened his mouth to decline, but Annie was already pulling out a chair. “Thank you, how kind.”

Reluctantly, Craig sat down next to Annie. This was so not what he’d had in mind for this evening. He and Annie were going to have dinner and wine. Afterward, he’d planned to take her to the room at the hotel where he’d take his time getting her naked before he would’ve made love to her until the sun rose.

The reality couldn’t be more different. Having dinner with his parents—with just about half the town as nosy onlookers to boot—was so not his idea of a hot date.

*

Apparently, Craig’s parentshad also just arrived at the saloon and hadn’t ordered yet. The next few minutes were spent deciding on what to eat and what to drink. The waiter finally left, leaving a slightly awkward silence behind.

Craig was looking at his hands, his dad was staring at the roof. Seriously, didn’t this family talk to one another?

Catching Craig’s mom’s eye, Annie smiled. Well, she was not going to be quiet. “Mrs. O’Sullivan, Craig tells me you’ve been with Doctors Without Borders since he was ten?”

Craig’s mother smiled. “Please call me Claire and my husband is Robert. We’ve always been drawn to help those in need. As students, we volunteered to help out where needed. When Craig was ten, we were once more made aware of the need of so many people all over the world. At the time, Rwandan refugees were dying in Kisangani, in Colombia thousands were displaced, Georgian refugees wanted to return home, to name but a few. Doctors Without Borders were looking for people to help in these parts. Robert’s brother Sean and his wife offered to have Craig stay with them while we were away, making it possible for us to go and help where we could. So that’s what we did.”

The waiter arrived, and while he handed everyone a drink, Annie looked at Craig. His jaws were clenched together, his hands restlessly rubbing his legs. Without conscious thought, Annie reached out and touched him. Craig grabbed her hand as if she was his lifeline.

“Wasn’t it hard for you?” Annie asked Craig’s mom. “At ten, my world revolved around my parents. They were the people who made me feel safe. I can’t imagine a childhood without their support and love.”

Shaking her head, Craig’s mom smiled. “We’ve raised Craig to be independent. We knew he was happy and well looked after. Sean and Cara raised him as their own son. We saw him during our off times, but his timetable became so busy and we were away for long periods of time. But now that we’ve retired, we’re hoping we can spend more time together.”

Craig’s dad cleared his throat. “Yes, we’re on our way to Yellowstone National Park and we’re hoping to persuade Craig to come with us. It would only be for a few days, we’ll be back for Aiden’s wedding.”

“You’ve been invited?” Craig asked.

“Well, yes, we’re family,” his mom said.

Next to her, Craig exhaled slowly. “I hope you enjoy your trip, I won’t be joining you. Going to Yellowstone National Park is one of those things I would’ve loved to do when I was ten.”

Both his parents looked perplexed. Fortunately, the waiter arrived with their food at that precise moment.

Annie looked at the three people with her around the table.What’s wrong with them?She could bang their heads together.Why don’t they just talk to one another?Surely, if Craig could share his feelings with them, they’d know how hurt and scared he’d been.

Picking up her knife and fork, Annie inhaled deeply. Not her business. They’d sort out their own problems. Besides, after tonight, she wouldn’t see Craig again except at the wedding.

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