About two hours later, Ava got a text. Her parents were finally home and inviting her to supper. She returned the text, telling them to set an extra place for dinner because she was bringing Hunt. Then she texted Hunt, telling him her parents were home and she’d committed him to dinner at their house tonight.

The plumber, Danny Wilson, was in the bathroom and Hunt was working in the kitchen when he received the text. He sent her a thumbs-up emoji and then called the florist shop and ordered roses for Ava, to be delivered at the hospital before 3:00 p.m.

He was still smiling as he put the phone back in his pocket, when Danny called out, “Hey Hunt. You need to come take a look at this.”

Hunt sighed, and headed for the back of the house.

But every day was progress, and the sooner he was finished, the better.

* * *

Karen and Larry Ridley were glad to be home. Las Vegas had been fun, but they had given up spending the holidays with Ava to do it, even though she had assured them she’d be working more days than not.

The moment they walked into the house, Karen began unpacking and doing laundry, while Larry went through the refrigerator, making a list of what they needed to restock since they’d cleaned it out before they left.

Karen stopped long enough to let Ava know they were home and to come to dinner tonight. When she got the text back from Ava, her heart skipped a beat. Ava was bringing a man to dinner. Even if it was just Hunt, she could always hope.

Karen was a shorter version of her daughter. A little blond Barbie doll of a woman who was not nearly as serious as her girl. Ava was a lot more like her father, Larry, who tended to be the one to get things done. He was still making the grocery list when Karen came into the kitchen.

“Get extra steaks. Ava is bringing Hunt.”

Larry looked up. “Hunt Knox?”

“Yes, he came back for Marjorie’s funeral, remember?”

“Oh, right. I remember now. But why would—”

Karen rolled her eyes. “Larry, I love you to pieces, but you can be so oblivious. How many times has Ava ever brought anyone here to dinner?”

“Uh…never?”

Karen giggled. “Right! So this could mean our girl is finally on the love track.”

Larry frowned. “The love track? Where does this stuff come from that comes out of your mouth?”

“Out of my head, I guess. Stop frowning. Please God this is serious. I want grandbabies while I’m young enough to enjoy them.”

Larry sighed. “Adding two more steaks to the list.”

“And potatoes. And another bag of salad, and—”

Larry grinned. “Calm down. I’ve got this.”

“Do we have gas for the grill?”

“Yes, got that, too,” Larry said.