She laughed. “Fine. I guess I’ll be better about you helping me.” She gazed up at the house. “So this is your place?”
Kicking a few gravel pieces with my boot, I replied, “Yeah. It’s not much. I’m sure you’re used to places that are a lot finer.”
“Rev,” Annabel chided softly. When I looked at her, she shook her head at me. With her eyes, she conveyed the message that I shouldn’t be ashamed of what I had. “I like it. It looks very cozy.”
“You may change your mind when you see inside.”
“Are you saying I might be shocked at what a bachelor’s house looks like?”
“A bachelor biker’s is probably even worse.”
“Hmm,” she mused.
“Nathaniel,” Mama Beth called from behind us.
Annabel whirled around and widened her eyes at the sight of my mother. “Hey, Mama,” I said, hurrying down the driveway to her side.
I hugged her tight before pulling away to kiss her cheek. Her bottom lip trembled slightly, and I could tell she was fighting back her tears. “I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m fine.”
She gave a slight shake of her head. “Don’t do that to me again. And don’t ever leave in the middle of the night to do something so very dangerous.” She brought her hand to her chest. “My heart just can’t take it.”
With just a few words, she had the ability to cut me down and make me feel three feet tall. I rubbed her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mama. I truly am. But you don’t have to worry anymore. I’m home safe and sound.”
“I’m a mother—my worry never ends. Especially when I have three such headstrong sons.”
“If it makes you feel better, I did miss you.”
She chuckled. “You missed me? Or my cooking?”
I appreciated her effort to lighten the heavy mood. With a smile, I replied, “A little of both.”
Mama Beth then turned her attention away from me. Glancing over my shoulder, she said, “Hello there.”
It was then I realized that Annabel had come across the driveway to stand quietly behind me. Taking her arm, I drew her up beside me. “We have company,” I said.
“Hello,” Annabel said softly.
Extending her hand, Mama Beth said, “I’m Elizabeth, Nathaniel’s mother.” Mama Beth gave Annabel a kind smile, but she didn’t make a move to hug her. In her infinite wisdom, she could sense Annabel’s apprehension and was giving her the space she felt she needed.
“I’m Annabel.”
“Won’t you both come to my house? Supper should be ready soon. I decided to cook a little later when you told me you were coming home today.” Before I could say yes or no, Mama Beth frowned. “Or maybe you’d rather rest. I’m sure that was a tiring drive.” Mama Beth was rambling a bit. I had slightly unnerved her by showing up with Annabel. I was sure she would have a million questions for me the moment we were alone.
Before Annabel could answer, Willow came bounding off Mama Beth’s porch with her almost-grown puppy, Walter, yipping after her. “Uncle Rev!” she shrieked.
She dove into my arms the moment she reached me. “Hey, rug rat, you miss me?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She gave me a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You and Uncle B were so mean to leave at the same time Mommy and Daddy did. I’ve only had Grandma Beth and Walter to play with.”
Mama Beth wagged an accusatory finger at Willow. “Now you know that isn’t true. You’ve had Jenny over to play almost every day.”
Jenny was the youngest of Case’s children. With the loss of her father, I was sure she needed the playtime just as much as Willow did.
“But she doesn’t do everything I say like Uncle Rev and Uncle B do.”
I grinned. “So you’ve met your bossy little match in Jenny, huh?”
“I guess so.” Her dark eyes, which were her father’s, peered into mine. “Did you bring me anything?”
I laughed. “Was I supposed to?”
Willow’s lips turned down in a pout. “Mommy and Daddy brought me back some presents from their trip.”
My brows rose in surprise. “Deacon and Alexandra are back?”
Mama Beth nodded. “Got back this afternoon just in time for Alexandra’s doctor’s appointment.”
The word “doctor” got my attention. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, worrywart. Just the usual appointments for pregnant women.”
“Good.”
Placing her hands on my cheeks, Willow turned my face to look at hers. “What about the present?”
“Willow, where are your manners?” Mama Beth chided, but I only chuckled.
“I just might have something for you in my suitcase.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes lighting up.
“I’ll give it to you after dinner.”
Although she didn’t look too thrilled at the prospect of waiting, Willow managed to nod. Once she got the topic of a present out of the way, her attention was drawn elsewhere, right to Annabel. “Hi,” she said brightly.
“Hello,” Annabel replied with a smile.
Bending over closer to my ear, Willow whispered, “Did you bring home your girlfriend?”
While Annabel’s cheeks tinged pink, I couldn’t help laughing. “You’re a nosy little shit.”
“Well, it’s about time you had a girlfriend,” Willow answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Now it was Annabel’s turn to laugh. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but your uncle and I are just friends.”
Willow appeared genuinely let down at the news. “But you might grow to like each other. My mommy and daddy didn’t like each other at first, but then they grew to love each other.”
I shook my head at her. “You’re too much, you know that?”
She giggled. “Daddy says that all the time.”
“Come on. Let’s get inside and get washed up for dinner,” Mama Beth suggested.
I gazed over Willow’s head at Annabel to gauge her reaction to the invitation. When she nodded, I knew she was fine with having dinner with Mama Beth.
I eased Willow down to the ground, and she bounded straight over to Annabel. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Annabel.”
“Does anyone ever call you Belle like in Beauty and the Beast?”
Annabel laughed. “No. Not really.”
“I think that’s what I’ll call you.”
“That’s okay with me.”
At the sight of Willow slipping her hand into Annabel’s, I held my breath that the touch would be okay. While I knew she was still gun-shy about men, I didn’t know how she felt about strangers in general.
But Annabel didn’t shrink away. Instead, she squeezed Willow’s hand tight. The small gesture made my heart swell. Glancing back at us, Willow said, “I’ll show Belle where to wash up.”
“That would be very nice of you.”
“That way you’ll have time to get my present out of the car,” she replied sweetly.
I groaned but obediently nodded my head. As the women disappeared up Mama Beth’s walk, I went back to the car and got out the ballerina alligator. I would worry about our luggage later.
When I got into the house, Willow was chattering incessantly to Annabel about ballet. Annabel was nodding as she tried to keep up with Willow’s fast-paced conversation. As soon as she saw I had returned, Willow abandoned Annabel in midsentence and came galloping over to me. I knew there was not a chance in hell I could wait until after dinner to give her the stuffed animal. So I merely thrust it at her instead. “Here you go, rug rat.”
She grabbed the alligator and squealed with delight. “Ooh, it’s a ballerina just like me.” She then wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight. “Thank you, Uncle Rev.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
“All right, it’s time to wash up,” Mama Beth instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” Willow replied. She once again grabbed Annabel’s hand. “I’ll show you where the bathroom is, Belle.”
“Thank you. I would appreciate that,” Annabel replied.
“And I’ll show you my old room. I get a whole new room at my mommy and daddy’s house.”