Page 65 of Rekindle My Heart

“Yeah, sorry for the late notice.” Jim handed one to Brannon as he walked by. “And Ryan, you’re bringing the beer.”

“Will do.” He’d stop at the liquor store on his way home tonight.

“Oh, Doc wanted to know if you did your last tux fitting.”

“I’ll stop by there this afternoon.” The wedding was only one week away. He’d thought he had plenty of time. Guess not.

He gave a quick glance at his computer screen. Still no new messages. Not that he really expected them to come flooding in during the two-minute conversation with Swenson, but he could hope.

“Screw it.” He shut down his screen, disconnected from the docking station, and shoved the laptop in his messenger bag. Time to call it a day. A cold one was calling him.

After the fitting. Not that he was worried about upsetting Liz. No, she was cool. But her aunt was another story.

Ryan shivered at the thought of the Whitter matriarch’s wrath if he messed up the wedding in any way. He didn’t know if she’d peel his balls and have tErica scanned the mid-century homes lining the street. Most started their lives as one-level ramblers, but several have been remodeled to add a second floor, including her parents’ house. The upper level flowed seamlessly into the original styling cues of the home. No one would have ever known the top floor had been added on the year Erica turned three.

For most of her elementary years, the interior was a work in progress as her father added trim and updated finishes in his spare time. Warren Randall was a true DIYer in every sense of the word.

She parked behind her mother’s Honda and opened the door. Karma leaped over her and sprinted to the entry. His yips cut through the quiet neighborhood. He did a complete circle before he plopped down and waited to be let in.

Her dad opened the door, dog treat in hand. “Is that my favorite grand-puppy I hear?” Karma’s butt shimmied with excitement, just like every other time Grandpa held out a treat. “Here you go, buddy.”

Karma gently took the Milkbone and trotted past her dad into the house. In less than five seconds, he settled into the fluffy dog bed Grandma Ruth had bought him for Christmas last year.

“Hey, Dad.” Erica gave him a hug.

“Nice to see he brought my favorite daughter as well.” He held the door for her. She shook her head but didn’t correct him. He’d called both Sarah and Erica his favorites. And while he didn’t say it in front of Mom, because he knew it bothered her, he still called Erica his favorite every time she was home.

“Where’s Mom? She mentioned having some projects for me the other day.”

“Yes, and I remember you saying you’d be here on Wednesday.” Her mother’s voice preceded her into the room.

“Sorry, didn’t you get my text? I had to switch shifts this week.” She took in her mother’s summer-weight sweater and dress slacks. “I thought we were working on the fall decorating?”

“You and your father are. I’m going to play bridge at Doris’s house.”

“Doris Daniels?” Erica hadn’t realized her mother still socialized with the Daniels. Not after…

“Yes, she called yesterday to invite me. I guess Pat Edmund is visiting her son in Illinois this week, and they are short a player.”

Erica opened her mouth, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.

“What, Erica? Spit it out. Don’t just stand there like a babblehead, dear.”

Babble? Oh. Realization dawned—her head was moving.

“It’s bobblehead,” Dad chimed in.

“Whatever.” Ruth waved her hand in the air as if to dismiss his words.

“It’s just… I didn’t realize you were friends. I ran into her the other day.”

Ruth picked nonexistent lint from her pants. “Just because her boy broke my Sarah’s heart doesn’t mean I would be so petty as to blame his mother.”

Warren snorted.

If her mom’s look could kill, Erica would be doing CPR on her father at this very moment.

“Well, I have to go. I don’t want to be late.” She gathered Erica’s cheeks in her hands and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “I left a list of chores for you and your father on the counter.” She picked up her purse and keys before turning back to her daughter. “I have a roast in the crockpot. Are you staying for dinner? There’s more than enough.”