“We did!” Cash calls back. “What do you take us for, Dolly?”
It’s an easy, relaxed atmosphere, but it’s definitely more people than I expected. For a second, I hesitate, because it’s always a bit scary to meet people who matter to the people you care about. I remember Lainey saying her parents wanted tomeet me, and I have to wonder what they’re expecting. What do they already know?
But then Lincoln and Lainey’s mom gets up and comes over, smiling a version of Lainey’s bright smile.
“I’m Helen,” she says. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Harper. I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you too.” I hold out my hand for her to shake, and she smiles brighter.
“I’m a hugger, if that’s all right with you.”
Ordinarily, it wouldn’t be, but something about the day makes it all right now. So I nod, and she wraps me in a warm hug and then draws me over to the rest of the group.
Lincoln watches as I meet his dad, shaking his hand firmly, and then Cash claps my shoulder as he introduces me to his uncle Tommy.
“Cash says you have a hell of a voice,” Tommy says, and I blush.
“I do all right,” I say, and he laughs, but it’s a warm sound.
Dolly pulls me over to her, inspecting me from head to toe. “I haven’t seen you at the diner in too long,” she says. “Have these boys been feeding you?”
It’s funny to see her looking at them like a scolding parent, when she’s the one who was talking them up to me when I first got here. I assure her that Cora and I eat very well at home, and she backs off, patting my arm before going to get something to drink.
The awkwardness I was feeling fades quickly, replaced by the kind of easy warmth I’m not used to but am starting to crave more than I want to admit.
I end up beside Lincoln on the blanket as the food is laid out, and I lean toward him to murmur softly. “I didn’t think this is how I would be meeting your parents. I’ve been nervous about making the right impression.”
He glances down at me, lips twitching into something soft. “There was no reason to be nervous. I knew they were going to love you. Everyone in town loves you.”
Cora runs by, catching our attention, and then stops short when she sees something in the distance. I shade my eyes and look in that direction, spotting what looks like a group of horses grazing in a field.
Her eyes go wide, and she moves to tug at Lincoln’s shirt, pointing at the horses insistently.
Before I can even say anything, all three of the men spring into action like it’s something rehearsed.
Lincoln looks at Everett, who knows more about property lines and all that. “Someone must have brought their horses over from a neighboring pasture,” he says.
Everett gets up and checks for posted signs, making sure it wouldn’t be trespassing to go over there.
Lincoln and Cash get up when it seems clear, and Cash takes Cora’s hand, helping her over the little ditch that separates our little grassy area from the fence line.
I can hear him murmuring to her about how it’s important to never touch a fence on someone else’s property until you know for sure it’s not electric. It’s unclear if she’s even listening, her eyes still trained on the horses.
The three of them tromp over to the animals with her, keeping their distance and holding her back until one of the horses trots over to investigate. Then Everett lifts Cora up again, giving her the boost she needs to be able to gently stroke the velvety muzzle.
I stay back in the shade, watching them with a little smile on my face. Dolly comes over and eases herself down beside me with a quiet sigh and a satisfied look.
“You know, if you had told me that hunted, guarded woman who came into my diner that first day would be here on a blanket watching those men with her kid, I would not have believed it.”
“Really?” I ask, even though I wouldn’t have believed it either.
“Of course not. You came in looking half wild and totally shut down. No offense.”
I have to laugh at that. “You’re not wrong. It feels like a long time ago now. I was scared out of my mind, but I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Dolly shrugs. “Well, I saw through that in about two seconds flat. I knew you weren’t a tourist or someone just passing through normally. I knew you were running from something.”
“How did you know that?”