13. Clara #2
“Well, everything’s set,” Lizzy said happily.
“I was thinking that maybe we could get some kind of daycare program going so I could work out as well. I’m not exactly full of energy these days, but if I don’t do something other than walk around the bar, I’m gonna have tubby thighs, and no man will ever want me. ”
“Impossible,” I smiled, hiding how upset I was about her father being a complete and utter ass. “You’re so beautiful. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“Well, you have to say that. You’re my mother.”
“It’s the truth, and the sooner you realize it, the sooner you’ll have the confidence to get out there and start dating again.”
Her blonde locks fell over her face to hide the sadness in her eyes. I’d seen it too many times before. Ever since Lizzy got pregnant, she had changed. My optimistic, bright star of the family had morphed into an uncertain woman with way too much on her mind.
Not that I would change a thing. Willa was so wonderful, and I knew Lizzy didn’t regret keeping her, but the secrets she kept hidden would eventually break her.
“Lizzy—”
“I know what you’re gonna say, Momma, but I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Not even to tell me if he’s still around?”
Finally, she looked at me, those blue eyes so fierce for the first time in a while. “He’s not here, and I hope he never returns.”
I was half tempted to ask Rob to look into whoever it was who had broken Lizzy’s heart. I wanted nothing more than to kill the man who could ever stomp out the light in Lizzy’s eyes, but I wasn’t so sure that was what she wanted.
The doorbell rang, interrupting our conversation, and Lizzy scurried away to get the door, evading the topic of Willa’s father.
I didn’t want to do any of this anymore. Ben had ruined my mood, but I wasn’t about to give up that gym space either. So, I put on a bright smile and played hostess like I had so many times before.
As expected, whenever word spread of our dinner, Maverick showed up with Remi and Wayne fighting, as usual.
“And I’m saying, just because I chose to get a new pair of boots doesn’t mean you had to go out and get the same damn pair!” Remi chastised his younger brother.
“Did you ever think that I just liked them?”
“Of course you do! You like everything that’s mine. Hell, you’ve been copying me since middle school, and even when I made fun of you to your face, you wouldn’t leave me alone!”
Maverick grinned at me sheepishly. “Sorry. I tried to sneak out of the station, but they caught me.”
“The more the merrier,” I laughed, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
“I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe me at least ten. This isn’t the first time you dropped by for dinner, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
“Well, you do make the best pie. Tell me you have coconut cream.”
“Not tonight. I have apple.”
“Apple?” Remi piped up. “Did someone say apple pie?”
“Yes, but I only made one, so you’ll have to fight everyone else for a slice.”
I stepped aside, letting the whole crew in, followed by Sam and Blake, who had just pulled in.
Deke was the last to stroll through the door, and angry as he looked at the thought of eating with the woman who was stealing his gym space, he couldn’t hide the hunger when he stepped through the door and smelled the roast on the table.
“Is that—”
“There’s a whole table of food laid out,” I said, leading him into the kitchen. “There are plates in the other room. Grab one and dish out whatever you’d like.”
I grabbed Remi and Wayne by the shirt sleeves just as they were about to run off. “No dessert until you’ve eaten all your dinner.”
Like two kids being reprimanded, they trudged into the other room with their heads hung low.
With the men in the other room, I took my chance to talk to Blake. “So? Where do we stand?”
“Well, he wasn’t too happy about coming to dinner. But then he kept asking what we’d be eating. He didn’t seem too thrilled about the pork roast, but when I mentioned pot roast, that seemed to turn the tides. And of course, I raved about your pies. I hope there’s enough to go around.”
I looked at the one meager pie on the table, wishing I had made more. But with so much food, I really didn’t think anyone would have room for dessert, which was silly considering the men always found room for more.
“Well, if anything, I’ll lock Remi and Wayne upstairs until he gets a good slice. They can’t eat it if they aren’t here.”
“What possible reason could you have for making them go upstairs?”
“I’ll tell them I need something brought down, and then I’ll lock them in the room.”
“They’ll climb out the window.”
I sighed, knowing it wasn’t a perfect plan. “It’ll at least slow them down.”
Deke walked back in, following his nose around the table, pausing as he eyed the Cornish Hens at the far side. “No way,” he murmured.
“Oh, I just love making Cornish Hens,” I gushed. “Now, the secret is that I use Rosemary and lemon, and then I—” I zipped my lips, eyeing him warily.
“What? What is it?” he asked eagerly.
“No, I’m sorry, but I can’t give it away. You’ll have to try them and see if you can pick out what I did to them.”
“And I get a whole one for myself?”
There were only four of them, but if he wanted the whole thing, I wouldn’t stop him. Besides, they were small, and there was plenty of other meat.
“Only for you, but you have to promise to give me your honest opinion.”
Chuckling, he snuck past me and grabbed the whole hen, sliding it onto his plate. The skin was golden and crispy, and with my secret ingredient, there was no way he’d kick us out of the gym. I had this in the bag.
And all it took was a Cornish Hen.