He just used the key she gave him. He knocked, used the key and called out. The sheer normalcy, the intimacy of it was simple and absolutely positive.

“Awesome. Such great shows.”

Shep nodded. “They’re all in the kitchen and dining room. Just so you know, if Garrett acts like a jerk again today I’m saying something.”

Caroline smiled, touched. “Aw man, that’s pretty sweet of you. But I don’t want a scene. I just want to have a pleasant lunch.”

Shep and Royal looked at her and then at each other, and she knew they’d do whatever they wanted.

And maybe that sort of felt awesome.

They moved to the kitchen. Her grandmother was at the stove with Mindy, but when her sister saw her, she put down the spoon she’d been holding and came over to hug her.

Royal waved before turning to her grandmother. “I didn’t officially introduce you before. Royal, this is Abigail Lassiter, my grandmother. Grandma, Royal Watson.”

He took her hand, shaking it gently. “Nice to meet you.”

Garrett came over to where they all stood in the kitchen. “Let’s hope today goes better than the last time she was around her grandmother.”

“Stop it, Garrett,” Mindy warned.

Caroline ignored Garrett and indicated her grandfather. “My grandfather, James Lassiter. Grandpa, this is Royal Watson.”

“You her boyfriend?”

Caroline smiled tightly. This was starting way earlier than she figured it would.

Royal nodded with a grin as he shook her grandfather’s hand. “I am, yes, sir.”

“You’re a smart boy then.” Her grandfather rarely made such pronouncements, so it was really nice to hear. Even nicer when Royal blushed a little.

“My sister, Mindy.”

Royal nodded. “Hey, Mindy.”

Caroline found it odd how he’d gotten so very cool. He wasn’t unfriendly or hostile, but Royal was a big flirt. Didn’t matter if they were babies or old ladies in walkers, he was just one of those men who were charming. But he’d dialed himself back by half.

Royal didn’t make her introduce the last person. Instead he turned and took Garrett in. “And Garrett Moseby. We’ve met before a time or two.”

If Royal had been distantly polite to Mindy, he was glacially cold to Garrett. That comment he’d made hadn’t done him any favors in Royal’s book, that was clear. And super flattering. And so nice it made her chest tighten a little.

Still, he was in her grandparents’ house so he was polite, but at the angle she stood she saw the look that passed between the two men.

“Thank you for having me today,” Royal said to her grandparents, dismissing Garrett totally.

“Your name does tend to come up more and more frequently these days, so we thought it would be good to meet you.” Her grandfather patted his arm.

“Can I help?” Caroline asked her grandmother even though she knew the answer.

“You can take the glasses and the tea to the table.”

It was silly. Nothing exciting but damn it, it felt huge.

They all settled at the table and began to pass platters of food around. “I’m pretty excited, Grandma. Your pork chops are my absolute favorite in the world. Royal, you’re going to be so happy you came along.”

Her grandmother smiled. “Thank you. Royal, Caroline tells us you’re the face behind the Watson Organics.”

Royal did what Royal did so well. He was funny and charming. He listened. He had great manners. He got along with people. He even made it look effortless. She wondered if this was real, if he just dug chillin’ here at her grandparents’ house with Garrett, who kept making what he thought were super cutting remarks but he was such an amateur she sort of pitied him.

Until he decided to toss a live one her way.

“Can we just address the issue of Caroline giving talks about her mother’s murderer and dragging up painful memories for everyone?” Garrett asked.

“I told you we’d do this on my schedule, Garrett.” Her grandmother sighed. “You only make things worse so hush up.”

Caroline, her voice very cool and careful asked, “And what is it you want to address?”

Royal shifted his body, draping his arm over the back of Caroline’s chair. He wanted her to know he was there for her, and he wanted them to see it and know he would protect her.

“You need to call this thing with Millersburg police off, Caroline. I forbid it.” Her grandmother drank some tea before continuing. “This will only cause more pain.”

“I am not doing this for you. Or against you. Or around you. Or because of you. Or in spite of you. In fact, you have nothing at all to do with this. I respect your opinions and your pain. But you do not tell me what I can and cannot do. You do not tell me how it is appropriate to express my beliefs.”

And her grief. For God’s sake this was messed up. Royal wanted to toss her over a shoulder and run from the room.

But she kept calm. So much that he saw it at the edges, how that control was keeping her together. And that made him even angrier.

“That man killed your mother. Every time you go out there and say otherwise is a slap in the face to her memory. I am simply putting my foot down on this. You’re being selfish and rude.”

“You don’t own the market on grief!” Caroline’s voice rose for a moment before she found her calm again. “She was my mother, and it’s the worst thing I can imagine to know the person who killed her also killed my family when they let my father go down for murder. He did not kill her. I lived with them. You didn’t. I saw them in just about every type of circumstance. He didn’t do it. There is no motive. He was murdered by the same person and I will not remain silent. Not until the person who murdered my mother and tore my family up is in prison.”