Chapter 71 The Surprise Guest
Even as she rushed into the house, Hallie still tried to deny that he could be here.
Maybe someone their family had invited for Thanksgiving had purchased that same exact car. Though it was not a very common brand for Texas ranchers...
When she blasted through the entrance hall and into the dining room, she saw the unthinkable: Luke was seated at the table with her family, enjoying a late afternoon fancy tea.
He had the same seat, next to Hallie’s usual place. Terry and Bill looked up in surprise, along with mama and daddy, but Luke himself was too busy saying something to Gigi and her boyfriend while twirling a biscuit in his hand.
“I don’t believe this,” Hallie exclaimed.
“Good afternoon to you too,” her daddy replied.
“What is he doing here?” she pointed at Luke, forgetting about all rules of politeness.
Luke finally seemed to acknowledge her presence. He was as handsome and smug as ever, decked out in a burgundy bowtie decorated with a diamond pin. “I got an invitation, so I’m here.”
“You got an invitation from my parents, not from me,” Hallie said.
“Hallie, I didn’t raise you to be rude to a guest in your home!” her mama exclaimed. “It doesn’t matter who invited him. Luke is here, and I expect you to show him the same hospitality as you would any person under our roof.”
“They’re having trouble with their relationship, dear,” Gigi cut in, “don’t be too hard on her.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about this?” Vivian wondered. “Are you two having a fight? What’s going on?”
Hallie hesitated, now that her love life was suddenly in the spot light. Luke raised one eyebrow slightly, as if letting her know the ball is in her court.
He had nothing to lose, but Hallie’s newfound status as the favorite child was under threat if her parents suddenly found out the relationship was at an end.
As much as she hated Luke at the moment, she still hadn’t told mama and daddy they had broken up.
“Uh... we’re working through some issues,” she began. “So I was surprised to see Luke here. Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell.”
“Let me pour you some iced tea,” Luke said, seizing the opportunity to appear suave and helpful.
Everyone calmed down and returned to their conversations, and Hallie had a moment to rein in her temper.
Meanwhile, Gigi’s boyfriend was talking earnestly with Luke. “I can vouch for you at any time,” Bob was saying, “I think any woman would be lucky to have you, and I can put in a good word for you if you like. Hallie trusts my advice.”
Hallie had only talked to him a couple of times in her life, but he seemed to have an over-inflated opinion of his influence. Also, like many older people, he didn’t seem to realize his voice carried much louder than he had meant.
She stifled a smile. This was the kind of thing she and Luke would have laughed about before, but now that Luke had acted like a jackass, it was no fun to share such moments with him.
Still, she snuck a peek and saw that he was trying to maintain a serious face.
“Thank you, that’s very kind,” Luke said. “I may ask you to do that one day.”
He glanced at Hallie for only a split second with a subtle smile that she easily read as, ‘you know you miss me.’
She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of responding, even if she was tempted to joke around with him like they used to; she was equally tempted to stab him with the cheese knife.
“I’m really sorry you two are having problems,” Terry pronounced, plastering what was supposed to be a sympathetic look onto her face. “I hope you two love birds can work it out.”
“Please let us know if there’s anything we can do,” mama added, “I hate to see the two of you like this!”
There’s not much you can do now, Hallie thought. It’s a little too late.
“Vivian, let them work it out on their own,” Sam advised.
“They’re not doing so great working it out on their own, are they?” Vivian fired back. “I’m telling you, I don’t like this one bit.”
“It’s all right,” Luke said calmly, “I’m sure Hallie and I will come to an agreement. Maybe we just need time.”
“You better!” Vivian wagged a finger at him.
After that, the conversation shifted to other topics, and Hallie was relieved not to be the center of attention on this particular occasion.
When everyone got up from the table to go sit on the porch, Gigi whispered in her ear, “Don’t let them pressure you. Take your time to decide what you want.”
“I will,” Hallie said, giving her grandma a warm smile.
It was a leisurely afternoon followed by an ample dinner. Everyone seemed in good spirits, though Terry was suspiciously checking her phone every couple of minutes.
All of a sudden, Terry went to the window and waved to someone outside.
“The news van is here,” she said, sounding like an actress rehearsing her line, “I wonder why?”
For a moment, Hallie thought there was some kind of conspiracy between Luke and Terry, but then she saw Luke’s alarmed expression and realized it was all Terry’s doing.