“Thank you.” Joanie smiled. “One year ago today, we were all having Veterans Day dinner at Tootsie and Smokey’s place. I’m wondering what we’ll be looking back on one year from today.”

“Well, every one of us has been touched by a veteran in some way, and we never know, when we’re part of a family like this, what the future holds,” Tootsie said.

Joanie cocked her head to one side. “The way you loved Smokey, I’m surprised you didn’t enlist full-time, Luke.”

“My stint in the National Guard was enough for me. I used the money to pay for my education and start up my business,” he said. “I could’ve gone active duty, but they wanted me to use my techie knowledge for something other than building games.”

“And now you’re a millionaire and retired at thirty-two,” Tootsie said.

“Not until November twenty-eighth.” He grinned. “Are we having a party?”

“Of course,” Tootsie said. “With turkey and dressing, cranberry sauce, and all that Thanksgiving dinner means. But we’re having one in four days that will involve birthday cake and wine for Diana.”

“Hmmm.” Luke held up four fingers. “Joanie cooked today. I get kitchen duty the next day.” Two fingers went down. “That means Carmen is next in line, and Diana is right after that on her birthday. A beautiful woman should not have to work in the kitchen on her birthday, so I’ll take her day. It’ll be my birthday present to you, Diana.”

“And I’ll take it with gratitude, so thank you.” Diana nodded.

“I’ll bring the liquor,” Joanie offered. “I stopped at a vendor and bought three quarts of moonshine. I’ve got apple pie, blackberry, and smoky peach.”

Where would Zoe be next year at this time? For that matter, where would Joanie be? She knew she wouldn’t be in Sugar Run, but would she and Brett fly or drive to wherever their daughter was for the holiday? Or would Zoe be able to come home for a few days?

“This party is sounding pretty good.” Diana smiled.

Carmen pushed back her chair and headed to the kitchen. “Tootsie and I’ll do decorations. Anyone want a glass of tea?”

“Not me.” Luke stood and waved over his shoulder as he left. “I’ve got some work to do, so I’m leaving early tonight.”

“And I’m going up to my room and getting some of my projects done early so I don’t have to work on Friday, since it’s my birthday.” Diana got up and headed for the stairs.

Joanie reached out and grabbed her hand as she passed. “It’s been over a week. Have y’all talked yet? The longer you wait, the tougher it is to get the words out.”

“I think the whole attraction is going to die in its sleep,” Diana said.

Carmen shook her head slowly from side to side. “From the way he looks at you, I don’t believe that it will.”

“Talk to him. Do it this week; promise me.” Joanie let go of her hand.

“I promise.” Diana hurried out of the room.

“You believe her?” Tootsie whispered.

“She’s never gone back on her word, so yes, ma’am, I think she’ll do it,” Joanie said. “I don’t like this tension between them. They were teasing and bantering until Halloween. I had high hopes that something would come of it. I haven’t seen her like this in years.”

“What will be will be,” Tootsie said.

“And to finish it like Smokey always did, ‘What won’t be might be anyway.’ Remember him saying that all the time?”

“Yep, I sure do, and he was always right,” Tootsie agreed.

Chapter Twenty-One

Saying anything about children had been a stupid thing to do. They had exchanged only a few kisses—hadn’t even been out on a date—but Luke had never been good with women. Knowing when to open his mouth, when to keep it closed, and, above all things, how to be romantic had never been his strong suit. He laced his hands behind his head and stared first at the ceiling and then out the window. Dark clouds occasionally obliterated part of the twinkling stars trying to throw a little light on a moonless night.

A howling coyote, a hoot owl, and the steady beating of his heart were the only sounds he heard until there was a light rap on the motor-home door. He glanced at the clock as he jerked on a pair of pajama pants. Seeing that it was one o’clock in the morning, his first thought was that something had happened to Tootsie. He flipped on the porch light and peeked out the narrow door window to see Diana standing there with a worried expression on her face. That put a knot the size of a basketball in his stomach—she was there to tell him that Aunt Tootsie had joined Uncle Smokey in eternity.

He flung open the door and said, “Give me time to get dressed.”

“What for?” She shivered as she stepped inside. “You don’t have to wear a shirt for us to talk, but it might be a little less distracting if you did.”

“Is Aunt Tootsie all right?” He could hardly get the words out.

Diana leaned against the cabinet. “Of course. Oh!” She threw a hand up over her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Luke. I should have led with that. Of course that would be the first thing you’d think about at this hour. She’s all right. I’m here to talk about us, and I came at a crazy time because I couldn’t sleep for thinking about it.”

He flipped on the overhead light, took her by the hand, and pulled her over to the booth. “Shall I make a pot of coffee or pour us some wine?”

“I’d rather have a beer,” she said as she sat down.

He went to the fridge, took out two longneck bottles, twisted off the lids, and set them on the table. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

It took him only a few seconds to pull a shirt over his head, but he took a minute longer to check his reflection in the mirror. “Don’t do anything stupid, Luke,” he whispered as he ran a comb through his unruly hair.

“Thank you for the beer and for putting on a shirt.” Diana smiled up at him when he slid into the booth beside her. “I’ll go first since I woke you up and scared you.”

“You did give me a start, but I wasn’t asleep,” he said.

“That makes me feel a little bit better. I like you a lot, Luke, but getting too serious might be putting the cart before the horse.” She turned up her beer and took several long gulps.