Tiffany hazarded a glance at her son. Was that what he wanted? A large family, complete with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents? How could she blame him? Hadn’t she, at his age, longed for the very same thing? “Maybe, in time, it’ll all work out,” she offered and didn’t add, But I wouldn’t hold my breath.

“Sure.” Katie seemed convinced. “It won’t be easy, but, hey—” She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it work? We’re all adults—well, most of us,” she added, winking at Stephen. “I’m looking for Josh right now. I don’t suppose you’ve seen him?”

“He was, uh, playing in the hayloft with some of the younger kids,” Stephen said, obviously uncomfortable, as if he’d broken some code of honor by telling a parent where to find her son.

Katie rolled her eyes. “He’s probably ruined his new slacks and jacket. I just bought them for this deal and I was hoping that he wouldn’t grow out of the blazer before he wore it again—say, for Bliss’s wedding—but now it’s probably ruined. Oh, well, such is the life of a single mother.”

Tiffany thawed a little. Katie’s warmth and enthusiasm were downright infectious. Besides, she and Katie had so much in common. Not only were they John Cawthorne’s illegitimate daughters, but they were both struggling as single parents and working women.

“We really do have to go,” Tiffany said. It wasn’t a lie. Mrs. Ellingsworth had been pressed into duty to watch Christina, and Tiffany wanted to take Stephen home and set down the rules.

“Then call me for lunch someday,” Katie replied.

“I will.” Tiffany didn’t know if she was ready to embrace this ready-made family, but one lunch wouldn’t matter. As Katie headed for the barn, Tiffany asked Stephen, “Didn’t you bring your skateboard?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll get it.” He jogged over to a shiny Dodge pickup, reached into the back and withdrew his wheels. “I, uh, got a ride out here from the wedding,” he explained when he rejoined them.

“You went to the ceremony?”

“Uh-huh.” He lifted a shoulder.

“Who gave you a lift out here?” She bristled, as she didn’t recognize the truck. She hoped he wasn’t foolish enough to ride with strangers.

“Trevor McBaine.”

One of Katie’s twin brothers. Part of the extended family. Perfect, she thought with more than a hint of sarcasm.

“He’s got a kickin’ truck.”

“That he has,” Tiffany said tightly. She didn’t know whether to throttle her son or hug him close and beg him not to pull any more stunts like this.