Jack draped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m glad you are here and that we can be together for the rest of our lives.”
Lottie came close to swooning when she heard him say those words. She wished that she could truly believe that she and Knox would someday still be in love.
We have made great progress today. You just admitted that you are someone Knox can love.Her therapist from years ago popped into her head.
Lottie ignored the voice and picked up a box marked COOKBOOKSand carried it into the cabin. “Aunt Mandy, I’ve never known you to measure anything. Why did you bring all these?”
Mandy led the way into the house. “Because one belonged to my grandmother, another to my mama, and the rest are from churches we attended. Seemed like there was always a committee to raise money for the missionaries by making a cookbook, and I have recipes in them. You wouldn’t believe how many I gave away when I downsized.”
“When you make out your will, I would love to have one with your recipes in it,” Lottie said.
“Why? You don’t cook,” Eddie said with a smile.
“Not one time did I say I could not cook. I said I canmake canned soup and sandwiches, and that is not a lie,” she shot back at him.
“All these years,” Thomas growled.
“Yep, all these years, but now I’m not going to work with y’all anymore, so I figure the secret can come out.” She grinned.
“You are downright mean,” Gabe said.
“You are learning,” Mandy told him. “She’s a fine cook. Her grandmother and mother saw to that, but she always liked a hammer more than a frying pan.”
Lottie put the box down on the counter and popped her hands on her hips. “I smell rain, and there’s dark clouds down in the Southwest. Are you going to stand around here and argue with me, or get that truck unloaded? I’d hate to see Aunt Mandy’s furniture get soaked.”
Mandy tucked a strand of gray hair back into her ponytail. “Put those cookbooks on the top shelf. I’ll have to get a step stool to get at them, but then they are more keepsakes than something I use very often.” She waited until the guys were all back outside before she said, “Tell me about you and Knox.”
“What about us?” Lottie asked.
“Jack told me that y’all hit a rough spot. Did you get through it, or is it still going on?”
“We talked it out, and we’re fine,” Lottie answered. No way was she going into the particulars of the argument with so many guys coming in and out with furniture and boxes. Learning that she could cook was enough for them to knowin one day, or forever for that matter. Like the old saying about Vegas, what happened in New Iberia stayed in New Iberia.
“That’s good, but honey, it will not be the last time you argue. That sofa that Knox and Thomas just brought inside is proof of that. Jack wanted a leather one to match his recliner, but I like a soft fabric that’s warm when I sit on it. We finally compromised. I picked out what I wanted, and he got the chair he wanted,” Mandy told her.
“Truck is unloaded. Thank all of you for the help,” Jack said above the noise of dozens of conversations. “I’ll help Mandy if…” His phone rang, and he stepped into the utility room to answer it.
When he came back out, Eddie was holding the door open for several of the guys to go on outside. “If you’re going to keep from getting wet on your way to the trailers, you better jog instead of walk. I felt a little mist on my face a minute ago.”
Lottie laced her fingers with Knox’s and said, “We’re the lucky ones. We don’t have to move anything but two cats and a rooster when we leave this place.”
“One cat and a chicken until you finish up the summer in El Paso,” he answered.
Jack yelled before the crowd dispersed. “Would all y’all take a few minutes and meet me in the rec hall? I just now got a phone call, and I need to discuss something with you.”
Thomas made an abrupt turn. “Anyone have an idea what this is all about?”
“Nope,” Lottie answered, and then a chill danced down her spine. Had something happened to her parents? Had they decided to give up their cabin and live in Dallas?
“Are you okay?” Knox asked.
“Why are you asking?” Lottie frowned.
“You look worried, and you shivered. Are you getting sick?”
“Just worried. Let’s see what the news is before I panic. Uncle Jack could be going to hand out our bonus checks early, and my imagination has run wild for nothing.”
Jack raised his hand to get their attention when Lottie and Knox made it inside. “I’ve just gotten off the phone with Walter’s wife. There’s two things y’all need to know. He has had a mild heart attack and has decided to retire for good. Gracie says that he is doing fine, but the doctor says he has to eat right and avoid stress.”