“Good for you. Want to talk about it or dinner?”
“Dinner,” Harlow said with a laugh. “People are going to be getting hungry. You choose the wine, and I’ll call in the order. Austin can pick it up while I set the table. How’s that?”
“Perfect.”
Robyn started for the wine cellar, wondering if two bottles was enough or if she should get three. With luck, the weirdness of the day had passed, and dinner would be a quiet affair with only mundane conversation. That was the fantasy.
At least the meeting between Mason and Cord had been easy. Her ex hadn’t known what to make of the other man, and after a brief greeting and handshake, Mason had pretty much dismissed Cord as uninteresting. She should have known not to be worried.
Mindy and Payne had made an afternoon appearance. They seemed to have worked through most of their issues and had asked to join everyone for dinner. Hopefully Cord, Mindy and Payne would head back to Florida in the morning, and the rest of them could get on with their lives.
She took three bottles of wine to the dining room. Harlow was there with Mason, pointing to the various dinner sets in the large hutches.
“It’s Italian,” she was saying. “I’m not sure which plates go best with Italian.”
Mason stared at her helplessly. “Why does it matter? It’s food on plates. Isn’t that enough?”
Harlow patted his arm. “Silly man. Of course it matters.”
“It really doesn’t,” Robyn said lightly.
They both turned to face her. Mason immediately looked relieved while her daughter appeared more disappointed.
“Oh, Mom, I was hoping to torture him a few more minutes.”
Mason stared at her. “You were playing me? You don’t care about the china pattern?”
“Of course not, but it was fun to make you think I did.” She grinned. “I have a wicked sense of humor. You’re going to have to get used to that.”
Robyn set down the bottles of wine and moved to him. “I think she likes you,” she said in a low voice. “Teasing is a sign of affection.”
“Then why don’t you tease me more?”
She leaned close and whispered into his ear. “I show my affection in other ways.”
“Good ways,” he murmured back.
“Hey, keep it clean, people,” Harlow said, pulling down dishes. “There are things I don’t want to know about you two.”
“That is very true,” Mason told Harlow before crossing to her. “These plates?”
“Yes. They’ll look lovely with the lasagna. See how the floral pattern will pick up the red of the sauce?”
He groaned. “You’re killing me.”
“Then my work here is done.”
* * *
The odd mix of company made for an interesting meal, Harlow thought, passing her brother the last tray of lasagna. Mindy and Payne had been charming, acting like a regular couple rather than one who had spent the past four days trying to save their marriage through screaming fights and sex.
Lillian was perfect as hostess, entertaining everyone with stories about travels with Leo and adventures with Robyn as a girl. Even Mason, normally more reticent at the larger meals, had talked about his life in the army.
Her father, usually the center of attention, had been oddly quiet. She kept catching him looking at her, as if he wanted to say something. Harlow wasn’t interested in whatever he wanted to tell her. The whole Zafina being pregnant thing made her want to throw up a little in her mouth, and she wasn’t ready to talk about going back to work for him.
She understood the benefits—that she could learn about the business she loved and planned to take over one day. She mostly liked working for her dad, and because of her relationship as his only daughter, she got more flexibility than the other employees. She could pick the best assignments if she wanted. Not fair but very much her reality.
And that was how she’d seen her life going. She had a wedding to plan and a new life to start. Why would she want to stress about her job?
Only that didn’t sound as right as it had a month ago. Everything she’d thought she’d known about herself and her place in the world had suddenly shifted.
She wanted... She picked at her salad, not sure how to explain the yearning inside. She glanced at Mason, who was telling a funny story about being in a broken Humvee on the side of an autobahn in Germany. Everyone listened, not only because he knew how to command a room, but because of who he was. Mason was the kind of person you respected. He was honest and careful, and she knew he would take good care of her mom.
She wanted to be like that. Oh, not the army or taking care of her mom, but more than a flaky kid who got by because her daddy let her.
She looked at Lillian who, in maybe her forties, had gone down South to register Black people to vote. She could have been beat up or worse, but she’d done it. And her brother, who took his time making his decisions, but damn did he get them right.
Nearly everyone was impressive but her.
Lillian leaned close. “You’re looking very introspective, my dear. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Harlow squeezed her hand. “I’m mulling over my options,” she said quietly. “Thanks to you, I’m figuring out how to be a better person.”
“I think you’re already delightful and someone I always look forward to seeing.”
Harlow suddenly found herself fighting tears. “You’re so good to me, Aunt Lillian. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too.”
Mason gave her a quizzical glance. “You all right?”
She smiled at him. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.
So your aunt’s house. Is it really big and weird looking with a long, long, long driveway?
She jumped to her feet, waving her phone. “I think Kip’s here.”
Austin groaned. “Man, then it’ll be three of us sharing a bathroom.”
“The lovebirds can move to another part of the house,” Lillian told him.
“Yeah, on the third floor,” Austin muttered. “Where all the sex is happening.”
Mindy flushed. “You knew?”
Payne appeared more smug than upset. “The headboard bangs into the wall.”
Mindy covered her face with her hands. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Don’t be,” Lillian murmured, picking up her wine. “Your enthusiasm was impressive. Made me miss my darling Leo.”