“I’m sorry, Rose. I didn’t realize it was so close to seven. I just needed to get away from everyone for a moment.”

I understood his need. I felt it now myself.

A knock on the door jolted me, and Joe turned around as the door opened. The butler stood in the doorway. “Mr. Simmons, your presence is immediately required.”

Joe’s eyes sank closed. “I’ll be there in a moment.”

I wanted nothing more than for this night to be over, but I’d promised Joe I’d come. Brushing past him, I walked to the doorway. “I don’t want to stand out more than I already do, and everyone will be looking if we’re late. Let’s go.”

We walked to the dining room in silence, but Joe slipped his hand in mine. I clung to him despite my anger. I needed him to get through this. But when we entered the room, everyone was already seated. The only two empty chairs left were situated at opposite ends of the table.

Joe’s hand tightened.

His mother looked up with an icy smile. “Joe, you’re seated next to the Wilders and Rose, we have you with our dear old friends the Whitehills.”

Joe stood still for several seconds, his body tense, as he and his mother engaged in a staring contest. “Mother, seeing how Rose is my guest, I would prefer to sit with her.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous, Joe. Everyone is already seated. We’re not going to shuffle our guests around like we’re playing musical chairs.” She shook her head condescendingly, narrowing her eyes at our clasped hands. Then she glanced up at my face. “Unless Rose feels so out of her element that she can’t handle dinner without you holding her hand.”

Joe’s face reddened. All conversation in the room stopped, everyone’s focus entirely on Joe and me.

I kept my gaze on Betsy. I knew what she was doing. Mason was right. People could only make me feel bad about myself if I let them. “Joe, it’s fine.”

“No, Rose. It’s not.”

I turned to him and forced a smile. “Don’t be silly. I’m fine.”

Finally, Joe gently pulled me toward the empty chair at the left side of the table. He leaned into my ear. “I’m so sorry.”

Joe pulled out the empty chair while everyone watched. I looked up into his face, hoping for reassurance, but what I found there was barely contained rage.

“As soon as dinner is over, we’re out of here, okay?” he forced through clenched teeth.

I nodded before I sat, my head pivoting to take in the people around me as I pushed down my panic. Betsy watched me with a saccharine smile.

Joe walked around to the other side of the table, his body tense as he sat in the chair next to…Hilary.

This just kept getting worse. I’d been so focused on where I was supposed to sit that I’d paid no attention to who was sitting at the opposite end of the table.

Hilary glanced up at Joe with a bright smile, which she then turned toward me.

I wished I had ten-foot-long legs so I could kick her.

Dinner was awkward as I tried to figure out which fork and spoon to use with which course. The older couple next to me made a limited attempt at conversation out of politeness, but gave up as soon as they realized that I was from Henryetta and had worked in a DMV until a few months ago.

When the roasted chicken breasts were served, Joe’s mother looked down at me. “So, Rose, Joe tells me that you own a nursery.”

I tried to smile. “Yes, my sister and I opened it last week.”

“In Henryetta.” I picked up on her condemning tone of voice.

I lifted my chin, tired of these people looking down their noses at me. “Yes, in Henryetta.”

“They’ve done a great job with it,” Joe added, his eyes on me, offering me support. “They took a rundown space and turned it into a thriving business in less than two months. They’d be a great model for your small business program, Dad.”

Joe’s father didn’t look excited about the prospect. “Is your degree in horticulture or business?”

I took a drink of my water to stall, and then set the glass onto the white tablecloth. “Neither.”

“Where did you go to college?” Hilary asked, smiling so wide her whitened teeth nearly blinded me.

Balling my hands in my lap, I leveled my gaze at her. “I went to Southern Arkansas University for a semester before my father died. Then I went home to take care of my mother.”

Joe’s mother’s eyes hardened. “You don’t have a college degree?”

“No, and I’ve managed just fine without it.”

Joe looked tongue-tied.

A few people coughed.

“And what exactly do you mean by managed?” J.R. asked, his face hardening.

Joe’s face reddened. “I don’t see what difference it makes what her definition of managed is.”

The woman sitting on the other side of Joe put her hand on his forearm. She looked like an older version of Hilary. “It’s a fair question, Joe.”

Joe started to get out of his seat.

“Now, now,” Joe’s mother lifted her hands. “He’s right. We’re interrogating the poor girl.” Only she didn’t look very sorry when she gave me a condescending look of sympathy.

Joe sat in his chair, watching me for some cue about what I wanted to do.

“This is a happy night, we don’t want to mar it with poor manners,” Betsy continued. “J.R. and Joe have a special surprise announcement tonight.”