Holly gave Lily a quick hug. “If it’s not any better this time, then I’m not going again. Not even God can make me.” She flounced off to get her things.

“You kids ready?” Wyatt’s voice carried to the kitchen.

“In five minutes,” Holly answered.

“I’ll go warm up the car.”

“See you there,” Holly said.

Mack came through the back door so quietly that she didn’t even realize he was there until he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his body. “Are they gone yet?” he whispered.

The front door closed. There was the sound of the kids coming down the stairs, and Holly called out, “We’re leavin’, Mama. Talk to you later this evening.”

“I thought they might tell you goodbye,” she sighed.

“They did.” Mack kissed her on the neck and took a step back. “We just spent half an hour or more out in the barn with the goats. I thought maybe it would be best if I made myself scarce this time. Next time he comes around, I’ll introduce myself. Braden gave me a hug before he left, and Holly patted me on the arm. I’m making progress. Mama has invited us to eat with her and Dad tonight. It’s only a forty-minute drive, but I told her that I’d have to ask you.”

She turned around to face him. “Mack, are you sure you want to take me home to meet your parents? Things didn’t go well when you took Brenda and Natalie home to meet the folks, did it?”

“I don’t think I have anything to worry about. Besides, the third time’s the charm. ’Course if you don’t want to, that’s fine. We can always grab a burger at Dairy Queen and drive down to the river and watch the fish flop out of the water.” He grinned and then gave her a sweet kiss on the lips.

“Or I can make supper here,” she suggested. “But I’d love to see Nora and Orville again. I haven’t seen them since Mama’s funeral, and Nora was so good to organize and help Polly in the kitchen.”

Mack nodded and took his phone from his pocket. “I’ll send her a text and tell her to expect us in about an hour.”

“That leaves me fifteen minutes to get ready.” Lily started to leave the room.

“I thought you were ready.” He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. “You look beautiful to me.”

She pulled her blonde hair from the band holding her ponytail, ran her fingers through it, and shook it loose. “After a comment like that, what can I say except ‘Let’s go’?”

“Got your cell phone?” he asked.

“In my purse,” she answered.