27 Dates: The Rainy Date (The Dating Challenge Book 9) by Hale B. N

Author:Hale, B. N. [Hale, B. N.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Snowlight Publishing
Published: 2018-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Kate stepped out of the car and ducked under the umbrella. The rain had slowed to a drizzle but the wind still carried a chill, causing her to shiver. Pressed against each other under the umbrella, they hiked to the driveway and started towards the house.

“Just how long is the driveway?” Reed asked.

“Too long,” she said.

They rounded a curve and ascended to the house, which proved to be a two-story structure with a wraparound porch. A barn was visible beyond the house, as well as a pair of sheds. A battered truck sat in the driveway, rain washing at the rust.

They walked up the path to the house, the boards of the porch creaking as they climbed the steps. Reed collapsed the umbrella while Kate knocked on the door. It didn’t take long before the inside door swung open and a tiny, white-haired woman appeared. She took one look at them freezing on the porch and ushered them inside.

“You’ll catch your death of cold,” she scolded, and then turned toward the living room, where the sounds of a television rumbled. “HAROLD!” she shouted with surprising vigor. “Get some towels!”

A chair creaked and a large man appeared in the hall. With more hair on his chin than his head, he looked them up and down and then turned away, rumbling a, “yes, dear,” as he walked out of view. A moment later the giant returned with two towels.

“I’m Marge,” the woman said, “but everyone calls me Pepper.”

“Our car broke down up the road,” Reed said, drying his hair. “We were hoping to use your phone.”

“Of course,” she said. “Are you hungry? HAROLD! Go look at their car!”

“Yes, dear.”

A back door opened and shut before Reed could argue. “He doesn’t need to do anything,” he said. “My roommate will come and get us and I’ll call a mechanic.”

“Harold knows his way around an engine,” she said with a high laugh, shooing them into the kitchen. “Do you need a shower to warm up?”

“We’re fine,” Kate said, introducing herself to the woman. Reed did as well.

“Reed and Kate,” Marge said, nodding to them. “You make a beautiful couple. Now sit down so I can make you some food.”

Reed and Kate exchanged a look, but neither challenged her assumption. The effort would probably be futile, because she continued to chatter as she stepped into the kitchen and set to work. Reed grinned and took a seat at the table.

The entranceway led to the living room and dining area, which contained piles of newspapers and books across the table and chairs. Faded pictures of children and grandchildren covered the walls, and little glass mementos sat in a cabinet. The whole house smelled of warm bread, and Kate breathed deep.

“It smells wonderful,” she called.

“Bread’s almost out of the oven,” Pepper called back. “Do you prefer jam or cinnamon? Never mind, I’ll bring both.”

“Is she really going to feed us?” Kate whispered.

“I don’t think we can say no,” Reed said with a smile.

The clatter of the oven door preceded the sound of three bread pans being set on the stove.

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