“Yeah, that’d be cool if it was all right with you guys. Maybe after I could stop by the Shack?” The Shake Shack had been a Petal institution since it opened in the mid 1990s. Kids from the high school often hung out on weekends and evenings. But it was well lit and the wildest thing they got up to was hollering at each other as the cars drove in.

“You’ve been a pretty solid kiddo for the last few weeks. I think maybe a few hours at the Shack would be a good reward.” And the kids he’d started hanging out with would be there. His little ruffian friends would be at the convenience store on the other side of town. She liked keeping them apart.

He shot off inside, and Beth followed her up to her place so she could get changed.

“Nathan’s going to be there. You should wear something that shows off your boobs.”

“He’s seen them a few times. Also, I don’t know why you keep bringing him up. He’s a friend and Chris’s teacher.”

“Whatever. I’ll pretend I don’t see how you two look at each other then.”

“Fine. I’d do the same for you.”

“It’s inevitable. You two are made to be together.”

“I thought we weren’t talking about that anymore. All those chemicals have scrambled your brains.”

Beth laughed. “You’re full of crap.”

“Yeah? Well, you kissed Ricky Crandall. And you let him touch your boob.”

Beth turned bright red. “I can’t believe you took that out of the vault.”

“I had to change the subject. I’ve got loads more. You want to go?”

“Girl, you were no angel yourself!”

They both laughed. “Yes, but you totally let a guy with a mullet feel you up. I win.”

“Feel me up! He just touched the outside. He didn’t even touch the nipple. It doesn’t even count.”

“You just keep telling yourself that.” Lily took one last look in the mirror and then headed out.

“It’s inevitable.” Beth sang it as they headed back down to collect Chris and Pamela.

She knew Nathan would be there. Beth didn’t have to tell her that. First, he seemed to be everywhere she was these days. Lily cut her gaze to Beth where she stood talking with Tate. Those Murphy women were part of it, she knew. Funny how every time she was scheduled to be somewhere with any of them, Nathan just happened to show up.

And second, this was a family event so of course he’d be there. When they’d first gotten together, it had been that connection to his siblings that’d drawn her to him the most.

As if he knew she stared, he looked up from where he’d been engaged in a cutthroat game of cards with his brothers and Matt Chase. His grin sent all sorts of naughty and inappropriate signals pinging through her body.

Boy howdy he was pretty.

“Lily Travis!”

She turned to catch sight of Polly Chase click-clacking over. Even at a backyard barbecue she wore toweringly high heels. She was a lovely, if slightly scary woman Lily had known most of her life.

Polly opened her arms, and Lily went, hugging her right back. “Mrs. Chase! It’s wonderful to see you. Mom was just talking about you and the project you and the historical society did for the old library. I wanted to tell you that if you needed the services of a photographer I’d love to help.”

“Aren’t you sweet! Thank you, honey. I most surely will. I’m glad you’re back. I know your momma has had a hard time of it. Your brother’s looking better than I’ve seen him look in a long bit of time. Nathan and Beth both tell me it’s all down to you.”

“Well that’s what you do for family.”

“No, that’s what you do for family. Most people wouldn’t have bothered. You know, I consider Tate and her brothers and sisters part of my family too. She sure has been good for my boy. A good woman does that. She makes a man want to be better. Be he a boy trying to make his sister happy, or a man like Nathan, who made some big mistakes. You’re a good woman, Lily. Make Nathan a better man.”

She blushed, but held back her immediate comment. She hadn’t been raised to sass an elder. “Nathan already is a good man. And he’s Chris’s teacher. And our history is complicated. He doesn’t need me to be a better person. He’s doing just fine.”

“Bullpucky, girl. He doesn’t need you so he can be a better man. He wants to be a better man because of you. See, that’s how you know it’s real. They’re all good at talking a woman right out of her drawers.” Polly waved that away and then called out a hello back to her husband Edward. “He’s the biggest scamp of them all. Why do you think all my boys fell so hard when the right woman came along?”

“You talking about me, lamb?” Edward Chase shook his head as he smiled toward his wife.

She wanted that. More than she’d ever wanted anything. Wanted that sort of connection with someone that made her light up.

Maybe she should try one of those computer-dating things. She deliberately didn’t look at Nathan that time.

“I most assuredly am. But it’s all good. I save the bad stuff for when I’m mad at you.”

Lily laughed and patted Polly’s hand where it laid on her arm. “I’ve always admired what you and Mr. Chase have built.”

“Thank you. It’s been work, I tell you. I’ve had my own share of times when I despaired of the man I loved. Wondered if I made the right choice. Wondered if I could forgive something he did.” She raised her shoulders briefly. “Any other man on the planet, I’d have probably run from. That one though? He’s the one for me. He lets me natter on and on. Nods his head. Remembers the big days. He’s a great father and grandfather. A good, solid man who also happens to have great buns and a face that still turns my head. A woman needs that. Needs that to keep her place, you understand what I’m saying?”