An Unexpected Family by Jenna Mindel

Author:Jenna Mindel [Mindel, Jenna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-02-05T16:47:08+00:00

Chapter Nine

Later that night, Rose regretted that the drive back to the diner had seemed so short. They’d laughed about their evening of fishing. After tonight, she felt part of the Cam and Greg club. “So, you’re really going to cook that thing?”

Cam pulled into the back alley and parked. “It’s a turkey.”

“I know, but it’s summertime.” Rose thought he was crazy for taking the huge fresh turkey from his parents so he could use it for a special this week.

“Wait till you see what I do with it. My mom was going to freeze it. I couldn’t let her kill all that flavor.”

Rose shook her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anything but frozen.”

“Fresh is juicier and, well, fresher. Plus it’s from a local farm.” He gestured toward the back seat. “Greg, grab those leftovers for you and your mom.”

“Okay.”

“Just the pierogi, Greg. Leave the potato salad for Cam.” Rose unlocked the back door, flicked on the light and dropped her beach bag near the stairs.

Cam hefted the turkey under his arm and followed them inside the diner kitchen, where he stashed the bird in the fridge.

Rose didn’t want to think about how recently that turkey had been walking around. Cam encouraged her to buy as much as she could locally, but she still ordered from a food salesman that Linda had used.

“’Night, Cam. Thanks for fishing.” Greg yawned.

“’Night, bud.”

Rose thought she saw her son look between them and then smile, but wasn’t sure. She and Cam both watched Greg dart up the stairs, leaving them alone.

An awkward silence settled between them, so Rose said the first thing that came to mind. “I can’t believe he’s turning in this early.”

Cam rubbed the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. “Yeah.”

Rose wasn’t going to drag this out even though part of her wanted to do just that. “Thank you for this evening, for fishing and your mom and family and, well, everything.”

“You’re welcome, Rose.” There it was, that caressing sound in his voice that made her knees feel weak.

“It’s late. I’d better turn in, too. Good night, Cam.” Rose backed away.

“Good night.”

She was equally relieved and disappointed when he left. She heard him lock the door and raced up the stairs. Her pulse hadn’t quite settled back to normal yet.

After spending the day at Helen and Andy Zelinsky’s large home with its large deck and long picnic table, her apartment seemed small and inadequate. Was it so bad to want a home of her own with a husband who’d love her enough to stick around?

Rose squared her shoulders, searching for a more grateful attitude, but came up empty-handed. Kurt had robbed Greg and her of days like today filled with family life. She slumped onto the couch and remembered the tickets in her pocket.

She pulled out two tickets to the chicken barbecue held by Cam’s church only days away. “Hey, look what Cam’s mom gave me. With the Fourth of July on a Sunday, the diner will be closed and we can go before the fireworks.

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