The next two days were filled with planning, shopping, and preparing. Bethany and Glenda were more valuable than Susan could have ever thought.
Eric still didn’t like the idea of her alone in the house with family he really didn’t know and investors, or whatever they were, that he didn’t know at all. She understood his hesitation.
Then there was the debate that what if Dwight Peterson and Shooter didn’t have anything to do with what had been going on? What if they were just killing time and the real person was still out there? They’d killed animals. They’d stolen cars and broken into houses. They continued to lurk around the Morgan house. There was a lot of uncertainty.
Glenda covered the last dish with tin foil and held it out to Susan to pack. “This was so much fun. Not having any girls, I never had anyone to cook with like this.”
“My mother taught me to cook. I cherish time in the kitchen with other women.”
“Maybe we could do it again someday,” she said with wide eyes and a bright smile.
“Anytime. I may have to do it a few more times before I can go back to my house. I still have jobs coming up.”
“Oh, honey, you could use my kitchen any time. Even when you move back to your house.” She picked up a towel and brushed off the counter. “Are you going back to your house?”
“I wouldn’t see why not.”
“I thought maybe you and Eric might be planning something.”
Susan packed the dish into the box. “We’ve talked about it a little. But we just met.”
“I married his father after having known him a month,” she said grinning wide with her eyes beaming in delight. “He backed into my car. Made a mess of it. But the minute he got out of the car—it was love at first sight for me.” She rested her hand on her chest. “Eric was eight. I’m not sure he ever liked me much. I’m not sure he does even now,” her words shook. “He was a handful, but he loved his brothers and his father. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Susan was sure she could see Glenda’s eyes moisten. She moved to her and pulled her in to hug her. “He thinks of you as his mother. He’s a bit stubborn to admit it to anyone else, but he does.”
“Do you really think so?” Glenda asked as she wiped her eyes. “He sent me roses the other day. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t. But would you believe me if I told you he said so, to me? That he thinks of you as his mother.”
“I would believe it. Oh, that makes my heart so full.”
Susan looked up at the clock over the microwave. “I have to go.”
“Is Eric or Bethany going with you?”
“No. It’ll just be me tonight.” She said hoping she hadn’t let on to her what was going on. It was very obvious that she didn’t know anything about the dinner or where Susan was going.
“Maybe someday if Bethany is busy I could help you serve at one of your events.”
Susan felt the warmth spread through her body. “I’d really like that.”
After loading up her car, she waved goodbye to Glenda and started down the road toward Eric’s. She would change there and then head toward the Morgan’s.
Half way to Eric’s another car came toward her. It was a police cruiser and it slowed, so she did the same.
Douglas rolled down his window. “Heading to Eric’s?”
“For a moment before I head to work.”
He nodded slowly. “I’m just checking up on the area. Seems as though things have been quiet.”
“They have.”
Douglas looked around as if he were observing the area. “I was thinking about asking Bethany out this weekend. She’s something, isn’t she?”
“She is.”
“Lydia never would go out with me.”
“I didn’t realize you knew Lydia.”
“Sure. Small town feel around here, ya know? Her temper is as short as her hair.”
“I haven’t seen that side of her.” Susan looked at the clock on her dash. “I have to go. I’ll see you around. Good luck on your date proposal,” she offered, but having seen Bethany’s reaction to him she wasn’t sure he’d win her over. But then again, anything was possible.
Douglas gave her a wave and headed on. Susan continued toward Eric’s.
Bethany, Tyson, and Eric sat at his kitchen table. Between them were news articles they’d printed from the Internet as well as drawings Tyson had obtained from his grandfather on where they’d put the wells.
“If this is legit, this land is worth a lot,” Tyson said as Susan walked through the house to the kitchen. “Hey,” Tyson said with a smile. “Are you ready?”
Susan nodded as Eric stood. He wrapped an arm around her waist and planted a warm kiss on her lips. “I still don’t like this.”
“It’ll be okay. Did you already talk to Douglas about this?”
“Not about tonight, why?”
“I just ran into him between here and your parents’ house. He was just checking on things.”
“Good. That means he’s close if we need him.”
Susan turned to Bethany. “He wants to ask you out.”
Bethany’s shoulders dropped and she visibly deflated. “He gave me a freaking ticket.”
“Four years ago.”
“Still. I’m mad over that.”
She couldn’t help it, but Susan laughed. “I have to change, then head over.”
Tyson stood. “I have to get there too. He wants us to dress for dinner. I swear that man…” he stopped. “Oh, well. The things we do for our family, huh?”
Susan watched Eric’s eyes soften. He understood family more than he’d ever have let on under that crusty exterior.