Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

The evening has been going smoothly so far. Being here with Olena’s parents is soothing in a way I didn’t know I needed. I’ve missed this—feeling like part of a family. The only slightly awkward moment was seeing Wyatt again after our encounter at the deli. After a stoic handshake, he now seems to have settled into a cautiously optimistic opinion of me. I’ll take it.

My eyes drift to the dining room where Natalie and her boyfriend, Graham, are sitting at the table drinking wine with Wyatt’s boyfriend, Sam. The couple evidently just arrived back from a week in Portland. They look both rested and tired, somehow. They show Sam their vacation photos on Nat’s phone, laughing.

Graham squeezes Nat’s shoulder as he gets up and walks into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge.

“I’m glad you could make it, Graham.” Lynn pauses as she removes a stack of plates from the cupboard to raise her eyebrows at him. “I guess that office of yours finally let you escape?”

“Hey, Lynn, I haven’t given you a proper hug yet,” he says to her warmly as he closes the fridge, beer in hand. Graham crosses the kitchen to slip an arm around Lynn’s shoulders. She pats his hand and looks up at him, smiling; he’s probably half a foot taller than she is, with red hair and freckles.

“Graham works too much,” Lynn explains to me and then ducks away to continue setting the table.

“What do you do for work?” I ask him.

“I’m an accountant.”

“He works at that big property management company in town,” Olena explains.

“Sitka Properties, yeah,” he says, popping the lid off his beer with a bottle opener. “We just got this big contract with a new developer and we’ve been slammed lately.”

I nod.

David pokes his head in from the patio and asks Lynn for his raincoat, which she retrieves for him from the front hall. Watching him zip it up, I can see raindrops have already collected on his glasses.

“How’s the big landscaping project going?” Graham asks. “Up on Dogwood, right?” He takes a sip of his beer. “Nat told me a bit about it. Sounds like quite the place.”

“Yeah, we’re almost finished, actually,” I say. “And it’s looking great. Olena’s design was perfect for the property.” I extend a finger from around the beer bottle and brush it against her upper arm, smiling down at her.

“Well, it’s been a team effort,” Olena hedges, blushing slightly.

I give her a look.

She straightens. “I mean… thank you.”

I smile and pull her in to kiss her cheek. That’s right.

Despite the rain, the food is soon declared ready and we all move to the dining room to eat. Alongside the barbecued skewers, there’s a bowl of steaming rice, an enormous green salad, roasted potatoes, spicy garlic green beans, fried mushrooms, and fresh bread rolls.

“Everything looks so good,” Olena says. “Thanks for having us, Mom and Dad.”

Murmurs from around the table confirm everyone agrees.

“Oh my goodness,” Lynn says. “Our pleasure. We’re just so glad you’re back from Seattle, Olena.” She takes a sip of her wine.

Olena gives a small smile at the mention of Seattle.

“Yes, honey, we are so happy to have you home safe and sound,” David adds, reaching for the potatoes. “Marchmas wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she replies quietly, her eyes lingering on her plate as she sets down a chicken skewer. Knowing what happened to her before she left, I’m inclined to agree with her parents, but I can’t help but notice she looks uncomfortable. I put a hand on her thigh under the table, hoping to reassure her.

She gives me a quick, brave smile, then reaches for the salad.

“I tell you, I never liked that Sean,” David goes on, oblivious to her reaction. He drops a spoonful of mushrooms over the small pile of rice on his plate.

“Dad.” Olena gives him a wide-eyed stare.

Nat pauses as she puts down the bowl of green beans. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat, smiling at the others. The silence hangs.

Wyatt’s eyes are wide, his fork hovering midair. He gives Sam a loaded look.