Chapter 35 #2
“You’d better move fast if you want a bite of that couenne, because I’m pretty sure my dad’s been ‘accidentally’ dropping pieces of that pork roast for Frankie and Oscar since we got here,” Rowan says with a smirk.
We all turn our heads in time to catch Mr. LaFleur feeding Oscar a piece of the crispy pork belly from the Cajun microwave and chuckling to himself.
“I guess I could go for a plate, if you really don’t mind,” I concede. “Oh, and don’t forget the rice dressing.”
His smile grows, and he reassures me that he’ll be back soon. I take a sip of the tea, cautiously raising my gaze to Daisy and Landry, who look even more pleased than Rowan.
“What?” I ask defensively. “I like meat.”
“You should probably ask my brother for some of his sausage, then, since you seemed to enjoy it so much last time. I’m sure he’d be all too happy to share it with you,” Daisy drawls, and I choke on my drink as an unexpected laugh bubbles out of me.
“Easy, Blondie. I’m starting to think you spend too much time with my sister,” Landry says, stifling a grin.
She clicks her tongue. “Well, I have to hang out with someone, since my brother stole my other friend.”
“Like you haven’t been prioritizing hubby booty over bestie duty,” I say with a snort, and Daisy frowns. “I’m only kidding, Daze. That’s the way it should be.”
“Babies don’t just make themselves you know,” she says softly, glancing back at Landry for support, and Juniper whines at her feet.
But I’m the one struggling not to crumble after I’m hit with the realization that I’m a shitty friend, just a half-second before my jealous side nails me with a gut punch.
“You’re pregnant?” I ask quietly, my lips trembling with the effort it takes to keep the corners of my mouth up.
“Not yet, but we’re hoping to be soon,” she replies with a shy smile and a pink tint to her cheeks.
“That’s great,” I choke out, pausing to clear the emotion from my throat so I can hide my bitterness with some playful taunting. “I mean, how exciting? Especially for you, Lan.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Landry rewards my suggestive eyebrow wiggle with a short laugh, but I can tell he’s not buying what I’m selling.
I’ve never been more grateful for Rowan’s timing when he returns with my lunch. Daisy’s still staring at me with what looks suspiciously like pity, but I ignore her and bite into a piece of roast.
“Gertie and Giles are waiting for me to take them to the barn,” I mumble through a mouthful when Rowan regards me curiously.
“Better finish soon, then,” he replies, gesturing to Gertie as she walks our way.
After some negotiation, Rowan’s dad stays behind to keep Frankie and Oscar out of trouble, while another of Rowan’s nieces joins the party, and Heath drives us out back on the UTV.
We catch the tagged lambs from before and bring them into the barn for inspection and a refresher on their care, and I can’t help beaming with pride when Gertie takes the lead and shows her cousin how to select another lamb with show potential.
“I knew you were an amazing teacher,” Rowan leans down to whisper near my ear, and I swallow hard.
“Smart kids,” I say. “Must run in the family.”
He hums and hooks a finger through the side of my overalls again, tugging me closer and raising the thermostat out here. I’m already letting out a measured exhale when Gertie’s gaze seems to settle on us.
“So, I know you have a lot of options, but I’d like to be considered when you pick a flower girl. You know, when you get married,” she declares, stroking the lamb she’s cradling in her arms.
Rowan and I both force an awkward laugh, and Heath swoops in to chide her.
Gertie rears her head back. “What do you mean, they don’t know yet?”
“She doesn’t have an engagement ring,” her cousin points out, and Gertie frowns.
“Tante Daisy and N’oncle Lan decided to get married before she had a ring,” Gertie argues.
Heath cringes. “Tante Daisy and N’oncle Lan sort of … did things out of order.”
I cross my arms over my middle at the reminder that my mere presence is enough to scandalize most of Rowan’s family.
“They still did it the right way, though,” Rowan adds.
“Sometimes grownups get mixed-up. Even Saint Joseph and the Blessed Mother’s marriage probably seemed a little crazy to some of their friends and family at first. But so long as we keep trying our best to listen to the Lord and to obey Him, and to love one another, of course, there’s nothing that can’t be unscrambled. ”
“Cool. So, can I be in your wedding, too?” Giles pipes up, and I stifle a whimper.
Heath smirks. “Come on, kids. Why don’t we give these grownups some time to discern where the good Lord is currently leading them, and we can meet up inside later.”
“Okay,” Gertie concedes, though she’s not happy about it. To be fair, neither am I.
I watch as Heath has to practically drag her away from the barn, already debating my next line of defense.
Should I pick a fight with Rowan? Make him think I’m absolutely disgusted with the idea of marrying him? Maybe I can get away with a few crude jokes about the barn loft and plant a few more seeds of doubt.
My heart quickens as Rowan turns to face me. “Come on,” he says softly, inclining his head. “I figure that’s enough torture for one day.”
“So you’re giving me a free pass?” I ask, careful not to let him hear the regret in my tone.
“It’s that or a proposal, and I figure you might kick me if I get down on one knee,” he says, but he doesn’t bother hiding his disappointment.
“I probably wouldn’t complain if you got down on both knees, though,” I mumble, and he snorts.
“You and your barn fantasy,” he murmurs as he takes my hand, and he doesn’t let it go until we reach his parents’ house.
“I’ll go around to get the dogs if you want to start saying goodbye,” he tells me, so I nod and go in through the back door.
“What’s he really doing with her, though? I mean, can she even get married in the church?”
I stop in my tracks when I hear the conversation coming from inside the kitchen.
“She might need an annulment.”
“But if she’s unbaptized, it wouldn’t be a sacramental wedding.”
My breath catches in my throat as I hear what sounds like Rowan’s sisters debating our future.
“They could have a natural wedding, but she’d have to convert for it to become sacramental.”
“Then again, if she’s already been married, I’m sure his willpower has been put to the test.”
One of them chuckles. “Are you kidding? Have you seen the way he looks at her? There’s no way they haven’t already—”
“Enough!” I wince when I recognize Daisy’s voice.
“Maybe she will need an annulment, maybe she won’t.
Maybe she’s already been baptized, and for all I know, they’ve done a better job of remaining chaste than any of us.
Well, except you, Rose. But, anyway, she’s a lovely person, and one of my best friends.
None of us know exactly what she’s been through or what her first marriage was like, and it’s not our place to say what kind of future she and Rowan could have together, if she even wants that.
Regardless, she deserves your respect and certainly not your judgment. ”
“Well, forgive me for worrying about my brother’s heart and his virtue.”
“I’m perfectly capable of minding those myself, Maggie, but thanks for your concern,” Rowan’s deep voice rumbles through the kitchen, and my stomach dips.
“We just don’t want to see either of you get hurt,” someone adds, maybe Heath’s wife. “I can’t imagine how hard it would be if you fell for one another and then found out it wasn’t meant to be.”
My eyes sting at the reminder that every person in the room doubts I’m good enough for him, Rowan included.
It especially hurts when I stop to think that Daisy and Naomi wouldn’t have felt the need to half-ass defend me if they didn’t recognize that this is a mistake.
And the fact that I didn’t hear his mother chiming in on my behalf doesn’t make me feel any better.
I fight against a sob as I attempt to silently slink out of the house, but Frankie yips and comes waddling over before I can make it to safety. I curse under my breath and blink back my tears before I venture into the kitchen.
“Claire,” Daisy’s hand flies up to her chest. “Have you been back there long?”
“Just walked in from the barn,” I say, tugging on my overalls. “I hesitated to bring the outside in.”
I avoid looking at Rowan, but I can feel his gaze on me. “The kids have Oscar in the living room, so whenever you’re ready …” he directs at me.
“Oh, no, you’re not leaving already?” Mrs. LaFleur says, walking across the kitchen. I suppose she could have been out of the room before, but I still can’t imagine she wouldn’t have sided with her daughters.
“Thanks again for having us. Happy Easter, everyone.” I barely manage to say the words without my voice cracking. Rowan’s mom shuffles over to give me a hug, and a tear accidentally slips out when she adds some affirmations about my return. But I don’t even hear them, not really.
“See you later?” Daisy asks when I pass by and don’t stop to embrace her.
“Mm-hmm,” I agree and focus on dodging the rest of them on the way to Rowan’s truck.
“How much of that did you hear?” he asks when we finally settle inside.
“Why? What did I miss?”
He sighs. “You’re not a very good liar, Claire.”
If he only knew. “Okay, fine. I walked in when someone was talking about your virtue. I assume that means your sisters finally arranged that intervention after they heard you’d gone off the deep end and started screwing around with a divorced heathen,” I say nonchalantly, as if the offense disappears with a wave of my hand.
“You know that’s not what they meant, right?”
“Yeah, I know,” I retort. Because they meant worse. “But they’re right.”
He growls. “When are we going to get past this?”
“You tell me. Which one of us is more stubborn?”
“You might have a harder head, but I have more patience. So I guess we’ll see which of us outlasts the other,” he replies.
I roll my eyes and open my mouth to respond, but I’m cut off by the sound of my phone ringing. “Ugh. I was going to say the timing was perfect, except it’s my mom.”
“Then answer it,” Rowan insists.
I scoff. “I’m not gonna—”
Then the son of a biscuit baker reaches over and accepts the call.