Chapter 11
Catherine
“You spoil us,” Mason said over Hallie’s shoulder as he inspected the buffet that had been arranged on the kitchen island.
She handed him a plate. “Well, do me a favor and eat it so I don’t have to put up any leftovers.”
“Will do,” Levi said as he reached around the two of them to snag a biscuit from the pile that was tucked in a wicker basket.
Hallie swatted his hand. “You will use manners in my kitchen, Mr. Caldwell.”
Savannah elbowed Levi out of the way. “Yeah, Mr. Caldwell. Ladies first.”
Hallie hip-checked her down the line. “The cook eats first, thank you very much. You ornery lot can wait a minute.”
There were grumbles of “Yes, ma’am” as Hallie made her way down the packed buffet.
“Mrs. Wilder,” Mason said with a teasing lilt to his voice as he motioned for me to go next.
I laughed as I started down the line, loading up my plate with a pork chop smothered in apple butter. “I’m not Mrs. Wilder.”
“Yet,” Hayes said as he joined the back of the line. Dark eyes caught mine, making heat creep across my cheeks as I rounded the corner to get a scoop of snap beans.
Savannah pretended to gag. “Don’t make me get a spray bottle,” she said as she pointed a serving spoon at me. “Are you actually changing your name for all this? You’ll just have to change it back when you’re done being the good wife.”
Hayes’s eyes widened, that intense gaze quickly morphing from surprise to fear.
“She knows,” I blurted out, hoping to put him at ease. “We can trust Sav.”
Hayes steeled his expression, but he didn’t look anywhere close to relaxed.
“Don’t worry about me, Richie Rich,” Savannah said dismissively as she dropped a biscuit on the very tip-top of the mountain of food she had put on her plate. “I know how to keep my mouth shut.”
“As long as there’s food in it,” Levi teased.
Zach snuck into the kitchen, quiet as a church mouse.
“Play nice, children,” Hallie said as she shooed Zach into the line.
“I’m always nice,” Levi said with a grin as he made eyes at Savannah.
She flipped him off.
While Savannah and Levi went at each other’s throats, I lingered at the edge of the kitchen island until Hayes made his way around. “Hey,” I said as I laid my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I told Savannah what was going on, but Hallie and I need more help and—”
“It’s fine,” he said, brushing it off.
But it wasn’t. It was clearly bothering him, and that bothered me.
“We can trust her. She won’t say anything to Lewis or anyone in town.”
Hayes’s reply was curt. “I know. I said it’s fine.”
“But you’re upset.”
He sighed. “I just wasn’t expecting other people to find out is all. I have a lot at stake here.”
Great. He was already mad at me, and we had barely been engaged for five minutes.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he said, but his tone sounded dismissive as he went back to filling his plate.
I let out a caustic laugh. “Clearly I do because you’re still bothered by it,” I muttered under my breath as Zach passed us by.
Hayes looked over his shoulder. “I’m not bothered, Catie.”
Well, now I was.
We took our places at the table. Hayes sat at the head while I took the seat to his right. Forks clicked and knives scraped against the porcelain plates as everyone dove in. Curious eyes darted between the two of us, but no one dared to call us out on the obvious tension.
Hayes chewed his pork chop like it disappointed him, and I stabbed each and every green bean with vengeance.
“Don’t tell me you two need marriage counseling already,” Levi joked as he scooped up the last crumbs of dinner while the rest of us were just taking our first bites.
I steeled my expression while Hayes stared at his plate.
“I think you two make a good match,” Mason said out of the blue.
“When are you gonna finally let a woman make an honest man out of you?” Savannah quipped to Mason.
Hallie suddenly became utterly fascinated with her plate. At least the attention was off Hayes and me.
I let a silent breath slip and tried to let go of some of the irritation.
Something brushed my leg as I reached for my glass of tea.
I glanced down and found Hayes’s hand on my thigh.
His eyes met mine as he gave it a squeeze.
They were softer than before, and the knot inside my chest began to unfurl.
“You ready for school to be out?” Mason asked Zach.
Zach just shrugged. “I guess.”
Hallie’s expression tightened. “Please use your manners with Mr. Bishop.”
Zach flicked his gaze up, making eye contact with Mason for a fleeting moment. “Yes, sir.”
“Got any plans?” Mason asked.
Zach shook his head.
Hallie glanced at me, sharing her silent frustration.
Her attention was diverted when Mason gave her a reassuring smile. “Best meal I’ve ever had. You outdid yourself, Hal.”
Hallie’s spirit lifted as the rest of us nodded, echoing the praise.
“Doesn’t look like there are many leftovers,” Savannah said as she peered over at the remnants on the island.
Hallie chuckled. “Well. Thank y’all for humoring me and coming up for dinner. But the dishes wait for no one.”
Before she could even get out of her seat, Mason took her empty plate and placed a gentle hand on her back. “Sit and enjoy yourself. I can handle a few dishes.”
Hallie looked longingly at the mess of cookware and serving dishes. “But—”
“Let me take care of it,” Mason insisted. “If it will make you feel better, you can hang over my shoulder and tell me what I’m doing wrong.”
“We have a dishwasher, you know,” Hayes said as he wiped his mouth. “A really nice one.”
Hallie sighed. “I know. But I never feel like it gets them clean enough. I just like doing it myself.”
“Do I need to get someone out here to look at it?” Hayes asked.
“No,” she muttered.
Savannah put on a grave face. “Do we need to have an intervention about your need for control?” she asked solemnly.
Hallie rolled her eyes.
Savannah tossed her arm around Zach. “Is your mom actually a robot who’s programmed to do everything by herself?”
“I don’t think so,” he mumbled, though I saw a small smile crack through his stoic demeanor.
“Hm.” Savannah tapped her chin. “We’ll have to keep a closer eye on her.”
“Hush with that nonsense,” Hallie said dismissively. “If y’all don’t cut it out, you’re all going to lose your supper privileges.”
“How about I help you with the dishes?” Mason said.
“I’ll help too,” I chimed in, only to earn a glare from both Mason and Savannah.
Never mind.
The seven of us cleared the table and stacked the dishes by the sink. I felt a little bad about not helping with the cleanup and was about to find a way to pitch in when Hayes took my hand and tugged me through the patio doors.
“What are you—”
Hayes put his finger to his lips and helped me navigate the paths that snaked through the roses. When we were out of earshot, he laced his fingers between mine and slowed his pace.
“I’d ask if you’re getting cold feet and have decided to become a runaway groom, but I don’t think you’re supposed to bring the bride with you when you do that,” I said.
Hayes’s grip on my hand softened. “I’m sorry about earlier. I just…I was caught off guard.”
I looked down at the pebbles that crunched underfoot. “If we’re going to pull this off, I need you to trust who I trust.” I stopped in my tracks. “We both trust Hallie. I trust Mason and Levi. Why don’t you trust Savannah?”
He sighed. “I do. It’s just…This is new.”
I laughed. “Yeah, it’s pretty new for me too. I’ve never gotten married on a whim before.”
“I didn’t expect it to be harder than being a normal couple,” he admitted. “I just thought we’d show up to the ceremony, do the damn thing, and call it a day. We don’t know how to be—you know—together.”
“I don’t think we have to know how to be an engaged couple. I think…it’s a partnership, you know?”
“Partners.” His strong brow knitted together as he worked the meaning of the word over in his mind. “I like that.”
“I’m on your side,” I said gently. “We’re in this together.”
Hayes let out a sharp breath. “I know. I just have a lot riding on this working out.”
I squeezed his hand. “I’m here. You don’t have to do it alone.” I tipped my head toward the house. “That’s why they’re here.”
The faintest smile appeared, and he nodded. “I’m figuring that out.”