Andrew watched his brother’s face while the men talked about those upcoming projects. The work would be hard, mostly manual labor in the summer heat, but Aaron looked as though he couldn’t wait to get started. He hadn’t shown nearly as much enthusiasm for his last couple of jobs, both in sales with comfortable working conditions and a more-than-adequate income. Who’d have thought he’d get this stimulated working in resort maintenance? How much of his eagerness had to do with his new and exciting relationship with Shelby? Would it last or would it fall apart with time, leaving everyone involved disappointed and heartbroken?
Andrew had no precognitive talent, but he wanted to believe his brother would make his new direction in both romance and career work for a lifetime. Their family had a history of short courtships and long marriages, so maybe Aaron had inherited that gene.
As for himself—
“Oh, look, Hannah’s back,” Shelby said, waving toward the doorway behind Andrew. “She’ll be so happy you’re here, Andrew.”
Hoping his smile didn’t look as sickly as it felt, Andrew nodded, taking a moment to steel himself for the performance ahead. He sensed his brother studying him a bit too closely—or was that just projection on his part? Avoiding Aaron’s eyes, he glanced in Maggie’s direction, only to find her looking at him with a slight frown.
Clearing his throat, he stood and turned to watch Hannah approach, a credible expression of pleased surprise on her face when she saw him there. Pasting on a bright grin, he stepped forward. “Hello, Hannah. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Chapter Two
Even though nearly everyone had private quarters, the Bell clan often gathered at the end of a workday for meals. The family compound lay on a clearly marked private drive off the main resort road. Three almost-identical redbrick ranch-style houses were occupied by Hannah’s grandparents, her parents and her aunt and uncle, with her grandparents in the center. As the third generation had become adults, they’d chafed against living with their parents and invested in homes of their own at the end of the road. Four similar tan-and-cream, two-bedroom mobile homes were grouped two on either side of the dead-end drive. Their grandfather grumpily referred to the tidy cluster as the “trailer park,” but Hannah and her sister and cousins had been content with their quarters. Lori was the only one of their generation who still lived with her parents, though for most of the year she was away at college.
Mimi and Pop were the hosts on this Monday evening, and everyone was there except Lori, who had a date, much to the displeasure of her family. While Hannah was away, it had come to light that Lori’s current boyfriend was Zach Webber, a long-haired, bearded rebel who had dropped out of college and was currently scraping by as a guitarist in an alternative garage band. Maybe the family could have accepted all of that, Hannah mused, had they not known he’d done time in juvenile detention for breaking and entering. Probably his legal records were sealed now that he was twenty-one, but Zach had long been the subject of local gossip and tongue-clucking and the family was not at all happy that Lori had chosen to stage a mini-rebellion with him.
The topic of the evening was still the excitement of the day before, though Shelby soon got tired of rehashing it and begged everyone to talk about something else. Grouped around the two large picnic tables that sat behind her grandparents’ house, the family obliged, several new conversations breaking out at once among the twelve diners enjoying Mimi’s white chicken chili and jalapeño corn muffins. Steven’s lazy yellow lab, Pax, wandered around the tables, not exactly begging but giving longing looks to everyone with a plate. With amusement, Hannah saw several members of the family slipping bits of chicken to the dog even though Steven expressly forbade them to do so.
Obsessed as always with work, Hannah’s father spoke up above the chatter, directing his words toward Aaron. “You know anything about running electrical wiring?”
“I’m not a licensed electrician, but I’ve helped with a few basic projects. Why?”
“I’m wanting to install a few more security lights along our private drive, especially there around the sign,” Hannah’s dad said gruffly. His meaningful glance at Shelby made it clear that he was thinking of the one short, dark stretch on the drive where Shelby had been snatched while walking home late from visiting Aaron’s cabin. None of them knew if more lighting would have prevented the attack, but maybe she’d have seen him lurking there had the shadows not been so heavy.
Aaron nodded approvingly, reaching out to cover Shelby’s hand with his in a sweet, loving gesture that made Hannah’s throat tighten for some reason. “I think I can help with that,” Aaron said.
“Oh, by the way, Hannah,” Mimi called out from the next table. “I saw Jenny Malone at church yesterday. She wants to host a baby shower for you. We’re thinking maybe in about six weeks, which will give you ti
me to prepare a list of guests you want her to invite and to register for gifts.”
Hannah felt her face warm in response to having everyone’s attention turned to her—one person’s in particular. “That’s very sweet of her,” she murmured, “but not necessary. I really don’t need a baby shower.”
“Of course you do,” Mimi insisted with a firm bob of her head. “Just because you’re an unwed mother doesn’t mean you won’t need baby supplies. And your friends will want to do this for you.”
If Hannah could have slid beneath the table gracefully, she would have done so then. She looked quickly to her sister for help, hoping Maggie would get the message to change the subject.
“Hannah’s going to be a wonderful mother,” Mimi said in Andrew’s direction before anyone could say anything. “We’re all very excited about the baby.”
Andrew glanced at Hannah briefly before responding to the older woman. “I’m sure you are.”
Looking archly at Shelby and Aaron, Mimi added, “You know, Andrew, even though Hannah’s expecting, she isn’t involved with anyone at the moment.”
Hannah choked on a sip of iced tea.
Mercifully, Maggie stepped in. “Mimi, I forgot to tell you that I saw Esther Lincoln in town Saturday. She said to be sure to tell you hello.”
Predictably, their grandmother bristled at the name of her old archenemy, thoughts of matchmaking abruptly forgotten. “I’ll just bet she did. She knew it would remind me of her and her scheming ways which she figured would ruin my day. Well, I just won’t let it.”
“Esther and Mimi competed in bake-offs at the county fair when they were younger,” Hannah heard Shelby explain in a low voice to Aaron and Andrew. “It was not a friendly competition.”
“Because she cheated in every which way she could, from kissing up to the judges to using recipes she found in the Julia Child cookbooks,” Mimi retorted indignantly, proving there was nothing wrong with her hearing.
“Now, Mom, don’t get started on that again.” Hannah’s uncle C.J. changed the subject to tell a funny story about a quirky customer he’d served at the marina that afternoon, which led to other anecdotes for Aaron and Andrew’s benefit. Everyone laughed at the appropriate times, but Hannah could see that her grandmother still fumed about her old grievances and her aunt Sarah kept looking at the empty space where Lori usually sat.
Andrew’s chuckles sounded a bit strained—understandably. She figured her own smiles would look forced to anyone studying her too closely, but she was fairly confident she was getting away with them for now.
She was going to have a firm talk with her grandmother later. This situation was difficult enough; it would be untenable if Mimi decided to try matchmaking between Hannah and Andrew while he was here. Mimi meant well of course, and she had no idea Andrew was the father of Hannah’s baby. Once she found out the truth, the pressure would intensify. If there was one overwhelming thing Hannah did not want, it was for Andrew to feel obligated to propose to her just because her family—or his, for that matter—expected him to do so. The very idea depressed her.