“I told you that the call back at the café was my father, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to ask you to meet him and my mother. Is that too forward or too soon for you? Dad and Mama are coming to Bloom on Saturday and staying over until Sunday after church. Since my place is so small, they’ll bring their motor home. I called Lettie right after I talked to them, and she said they could park it in the driveway and hook up to the electricity in the garage. They want to take us out to dinner so they can meet you on Saturday evening. If you’re not comfortable with that, or if you think I’m rushing things…” He hesitated.
“I’ve got a better idea,” Cricket said. “Bring them out to the farm when they get into town and have gotten things hooked up. We’ll grill some pork chops and cook supper at home. We can visit more that way. Tommy and Anna Grace will be there, too, so we’ll have a perfect group—three guys and three ladies.”
“Like I’ve said before, you are amazing,” he said. “Will you go to church with us on Sunday morning? They’ll have to leave right afterwards. Maybe we could take another picnic to the creek after we say our goodbyes?”
“I’d love to,” Cricket said, “on all of it.”
Bryce caged her by putting a hand on the door on each side of her, and then he leaned down and kissed her good night. Just like all the other times, he could have sworn the earth moved under his feet.
Cricket rolled up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck for the second kiss. “This has been the most awesome week of my life. I’m still not sure if it’s real or if I’m dreaming.”
“If you’re dreaming, then I am, too, and I don’t want to wake up.” Bryce kissed her one more time, and then whistled all the way to his SUV.
Cricket waved at him until she couldn’t see his taillights any longer and then went into the house to find Anna Grace cuddled up beside Tommy on the sofa.
“You look like you’re in love,” Anna Grace teased.
“So do you,” Cricket shot back.
“Guilty as charged, and happy to boot,” Anna Grace said. “Mama called this evening just before I closed up shop and begged me to come home. She said that Daddy would give Tommy a job in the oil company, and I could have my big wedding. She’d already contacted a planner.”
“And?” Cricket stopped in her tracks.
“I told her no,” Anna Grace said. “Tommy likes what he does, and I’ve decided I don’t want a big wedding. I do need three more months to learn more about being independent, though, before we have a small ceremony on the beach on Padre Island. I told her that she and Daddy could come to the wedding, but none of the Belles are invited. Not one of my friends has tried to get in touch with me since I moved out of Mama and Daddy’s house.”
Cricket slumped down in a rocking chair. “As strong as you’ve gotten in just the past few days, you should be able to bench-press an Angus bull by the end of three months.”
Tommy chuckled. “That’s similar to what I told her, and she cooked supper all by herself. We had chicken enchiladas.”
Anna Grace blushed. “It was a simple recipe. I can read; therefore I can cook.”
“Yep,” Cricket said and remembered what Jennie Sue had said. “I should leave you alone more often. Hey, just a heads-up. Bryce’s folks are coming over on Saturday for dinner.”
“I’ll do what I can to help.” Anna Grace nodded.
“And I’ll take the guys fishing so you ladies can talk about us,” Tommy said.
“Thank you both.” Cricket pushed up out of the rocking chair. “I’m glad you’re staying all summer, Anna Grace.”
“Will you and Bryce come to Padre with us, and will you be my bridesmaid?” Anna Grace asked. “I’m only having one, and it will be really simple. We’ve decided on the first weekend in August.”
“I’d be honored,” Cricket said, “as long as the dress isn’t too frou-frou.”
“I can guarantee that,” Anna Grace assured her.
Cricket went to her room, and sent Bryce a text: Will you go with me to a wedding on Padre Island the first weekend in August?
The answer came right back: Yes!
She fell back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. If someone had told her a few months ago that her life would turn completely around in one short week and that Anna Grace Cramer would ask her to be her only bridesmaid, she would have thought they were drunk or insane.
“But it’s real,” she whispered, and picked up her phone to call Jennie Sue.
Chapter Eight
Cricket, I’d like you to meet my parents,” Bryce said. “This is my mother, Darlene, and my father, Tim.”
“I’m pleased to meet both of you.” Cricket shook hands with them. “And this is my friend and roommate, Anna Grace, and her fiancé, Tommy Bluestone.”
“This is really sweet of you to invite us out here,” Darlene said.
“Yes, it is, and I hear there’s a good fishing hole right here on your property,” Tim said.
“There sure is,” Tommy said. “I caught several catfish yesterday. I thought us guys might grill them along with whatever we catch today. Or we can have a fish fry. Whichever way y’all like them best.”
“Grilled,” Darlene and Tim said at the same time.
Bryce leaned down and whispered in Cricket’s ear. “Do you want us guys to stick around awhile?”
Cricket shook her head. “Anna Grace and I have already made a blackberry cobbler and a chocolate cake for dessert, and the vegetables are prepped for supper, so we thought that us girls would go fishing with y’all.”
“Well, halle-damn-lujah!” Darlene grinned. “I love to fish. Let’s have a contest. If the ladies catch more fish, the guys have to do cleanup after supper. If they bring in a bigger haul than we do, then we’ll do cleanup.”
Bryce shook his head. “That’s not fair. We’ll be doing the grilling, and that’s half of making the meal.”
Cricket raised both eyebrows. “And we’ve made dessert and will be making the sides.”
Darlene took a step over to stand beside Anna Grace and Cricket. “I think they’re afraid we’ll show them up, girls.”
Cricket liked this woman. She reminded her of Lettie and Nadine twenty years ago. “Losing a fishing contest would be humiliating,” Cricket added, taunting the men.
“You’re on,” Bryce said. “And we won’t lose. Let’s gather up the equipment. Can we all go in the truck?”
“Sure.” Cricket grinned. “You guys can have the back of the truck. Just hang on tight. I’m driving, and I could hit a few potholes.”
“Want some pillows to sit on?” Anna Grace teased.
“We’re tough.” Tommy gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’m just glad that dessert is already made. If you ladies lose the bet, you might burn it, and my sweet tooth would cry if a cobbler was ruined.”
“I’ll get the keys then and meet y’all at the truck.” Cricket headed into the house. She went straight to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and took out a plastic container. She put it, several bottles of water, and some cookies into her tote bag; grabbed the keys for the truck from the end table; and went back outside.