This Time Forever. Carol Steward

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      Lisa pulled her arm from his grip. “What has you so worried, Adam? This story…?” Lisa sank into the leather sofa with her back to the door and stared defiantly at him. “Or did you tell someone that we caught that bouquet? I thought that was our secret.”

      He set his cup of coffee down on the marble coffee table with a crash, spilling hot liquid on his hand. He muttered under his breath. “I didn’t tell a soul. As for the story, Liz sent the paperwork, I didn’t. This is a bad time, is all.”

      Lisa crossed her arms over her chest.

      His voice faltered and he narrowed his eyes in warning. “Don’t look at me that way.” He pulled a couple of tissues from the box on the mantel and wiped up the spilled coffee, then tossed them into a wicker trash can as the doorbell rang.

      “Yoo-hoo! Adam? Anyone home?”

      Despite his chilling glare, Lisa kept her back to the door and remained silent.

      He was minimally surprised that she didn’t back down. Not that he should be. After all, he’d heard stories from his brothers of how stubborn her sisters were. Why should this Berthoff woman be any different?

      Adam glanced at the houseguest, then to her sisters, who didn’t seem to notice Lisa sitting on his sofa. He was surprised to see Susan and Elizabeth had also arrived while he and Lisa were arguing.

      “What’s the big emergency?” Alex asked as he helped the very pregnant Katarina take her coat off.

      “Emergency?” Adam echoed.

      Kevin took Alissa from her car seat while Emily showed Ricky where to put his wet snow boots.

      After a quick “Hi, Uncle Adam,” Susan’s boys grabbed hold of Ricky and ran directly to the private family room to play with Adam’s stash of old toys. “Mom called and said we all needed to be here in an hour. What’s so important that you had to wake us all at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning?”

      Susan, Elizabeth and their husbands shared their annoyance at the early beckon to rush right over.

      The door opened once more, and Millie strolled inside with a smile on her face. “Morning, everyone. How about some warm muffins fresh out of the oven?”

      The room hushed to an eerie silence.

      All eyes were on Adam. He raised his hands in front of him. “Don’t look at me. This isn’t my doing.”

      Lisa stood and turned around, diverting the attention away from him. “Hi, everyone.” Her bright clear blue eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

      Lisa’s sisters screamed as they made their way over to greet their youngest sister. Emily hugged Lisa and held her at arm’s length. “I didn’t even recognize you. You’re so thin….”

      Katarina nudged Emily aside and took her turn for a hug. “You look wonderful, Lisa. What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call?”

      Alex glanced at Adam with a puzzled look, and Kevin, still holding his curly-haired toddler, gave Adam the thumbs-up, then took his daughter over to meet her long-lost aunt. The toddler immediately grabbed a handful of Lisa’s silky blond hair.

      Adam caught Susan shrugging her shoulders as Elizabeth asked why they’d been called over for a Berthoff family reunion.

      “Lisa, why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” Emily’s smile and question were genuine.

      “I didn’t know. It was a last-minute assignment. I just arrived last night.” Lisa smiled at the child, seemingly wary of frightening the child. “I meant to call. I just ran out of time.” Her voice was soft, and she covered her eyes, playing peekaboo with Alissa. The toddler giggled, then hid her face in the crook of Emily’s neck.

      He had no more doubts that Lisa was right. This time his paranoia was getting the best of him. Too much time spent trying to avoid Cupid’s arrow, he guessed. The fact that the festival coordinator had managed to dub Adam and herself as host and hostess for the masquerade probably didn’t help right now.

      With their niece in her arms, Lisa made her way through the crowd to him. “Now are you convinced?”

      “Point made,” he grumbled, giving Alissa a raspberry on her baby-soft neck. The toddler instantly dove into his waiting hands. “It still doesn’t mean I want to be a part of your magazine.”

      Elizabeth’s eyes lit up. “The magazine? You mean, we—we’re going to be featured? Really?”

      Lisa’s eyes brimmed with mischief. “Not if your brother doesn’t stop being so obstinate.”

      Adam felt his face turning red. “I never dreamed you were serious, Liz. You might have warned me. Who would have thought an unfinished lodge would stand a chance? Especially as a romantic bed-and-breakfast.”

      Elizabeth winced at her brother’s raised voice. “You’ve opened Grandma and Grandpa’s house to others as if it were a bed-and-breakfast since the day you moved in, Adam. If adding a touch of romance can help us keep the ranch in the family, isn’t it worth considering?”

      “Not only does my brochure not mention bed-and-breakfast or romance, but we’re not even open yet. Didn’t you have to send testimonials or something?”

      While the others laughed, Elizabeth immediately defended herself. “I sent your brochure as is without one change. Remember, romance is a matter of personal opinion. As for customer recommendation, you shouldn’t be surprised that your friends gave you wonderful reviews. Admit it, Adam, this was a great idea.”

      He had to remember, though he held the majority of the interest in Whispering Pines, he couldn’t forget that he wouldn’t be standing in this spacious guest house without the help of his family. Kevin and Alex had donated their time and talent on the lodge construction, Elizabeth and her husband, Kirk, had offered not only financial backing, but business insight, as well. Susan and Mike had donated manual labor to the project each weekend. And without his mother’s encouragement, Adam never would have had the courage to tackle the project at all.

      “Why don’t we have some muffins and juice?” Millie suggested. “I see Adam has coffee made.”

      The conversation eventually drifted away from the article, but not before Liz made arrangements to come back later in the day to visit with Lisa and show her around the ranch. After serving refreshments, Adam’s mom and sisters left, leaving only Lisa’s family.

      While the women visited, Adam, Alex and Kevin discussed unfinished details on the lodge. When they returned, Emily and Katarina had already bundled the little ones in their coats and were ready to leave. “We’ll see you both at church in the morning, right?”

      Adam looked directly at Lisa, waiting for her response. “Your sister’s welcome to join us.”

      Before Lisa could reply, Katarina waddled over to give Adam a hug. “It’s settled, then. Sunday dinner will be at our house this week. Emily’s on call.”

      Lisa took her coat from the hook and followed them out the door. He watched her hug everyone goodbye, then walk around the side of the lodge with Toby.

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