Jeni asked about Kansas City, and Lauren told her about the best restaurants and coffee shops, and where the best shopping venues were. She liked Jeni very much and made a mental note to suggest they get together sometime in the near future.

Halfway through the meal, Andrew’s mom frowned at her son. “Andrew, you’re not eating much. Are you okay?”

The table went silent.

“I’m fine.”

“Do you feel sick?” Valerie asked. She sat on Andrew’s opposite side and put her hand against his forehead.

Andrew gently pushed her hand away. “Seriously, I’m fine. I’m just not very hungry.”

Rhonda leaned across Lauren. “You’re always hungry. Are you nauseous? I can get your medicine, if you need it.”

Lauren felt Andrew stiffen, and it was obvious he didn’t appreciate the attention.

“You know, appetites come and go during chemo treatment. It’s completely normal,” Lauren said. “Andrew’s been doing great, there’s nothing for any of you to worry about.” She paused, searching for a change of topic. “You mentioned earlier you were making a pie, Mrs. Bishop. That’s my all-time favorite dessert, and I’ve never met a kind I didn’t like. What did you make?”

It did the trick, and the conversation moved on to Mrs. Bishop’s famous buttermilk pie recipe and how many times it had won awards at the Nebraska State Fair. Andrew reached his hand under the table and squeezed Lauren’s fingers with his own. It was quick, the contact a mere second, but her skin tingled as if he still touched her.

After dinner, Lauren found herself on the screened-in back porch with Jeni and Duke, the big dog whom she’d learned was the family pet that refused to be left at home alone. The men insisted on doing the dishes, and the rest of the family had moved into the living room to watch a movie with the kids. Valerie discovered Andrew’s phone in the pink purse Alva was carrying around and returned it to its proper owner.

The porch, outfitted with a small fireplace and a space heater, was surprisingly cozy, and the women enjoyed mugs of coffee while they chatted.

Andrew joined them not long after, and in a move that was an obvious ploy to leave them alone together, Jeni excused herself, Duke jumping off the chair to follow her.

Andrew settled on the couch next to Lauren, close but not touching. He propped his feet on the coffee table and leaned his head back, the corners of his eyes crinkling adorably as he smiled at her. “Well?”

“Your family is…”

“Loud? Overbearing? Nosy?”

“I was going to say wonderful.”

A shade of relief fell over his features. “Yeah?”

Lauren nodded. She turned her upper body to face him, pulling her right knee up to her chest. “I barely know any of you, but I felt included. Like I was part of it.”