A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(67)

“I am,” she admitted. “But I am even happier that you and Daed don’t seem as cross with me. I hate it when I disappoint you.”

“You have not disappointed me or your father,” her mother said quickly.

“I know you were disappointed when I left Ohio.”

“We were concerned,” her mother corrected. “We also weren’t happy that you left without letting us know first.”

Thinking back to the first time she’d talked to them on the phone after arriving in Pinecraft, Tricia thought that was putting things mildly. “You were rather cross.”

Her father looked down at her and frowned. “We were caught off guard.”

“You still weren’t happy when you got off that bus.”

“There is no reason to go over everything again. Though I haven’t made up my mind about this Ben of yours, I listened to what you had to say.”

“I’m glad you are following your heart,” her mother said. “Though, at times, I’ve often wished you’d be less impulsive, I also think it’s a blessing that you know your mind.”

Tricia hoped her mother was being honest. She knew there had been times in her life when her mother had been quite put out about her nature. More than once she’d advised Tricia to be more reserved.

They were on the front steps now. “I hope you will like Ben.”

“I hope we will like him, too,” her father murmured.

Though it was too late to worry about such things, a momentary panic rushed through Tricia. Was there anything about Ben that she should have warned them about? Anything she could do in order to make this first meeting go more smoothly?

Her mother gestured toward the door. “Knock on the door, child. No doubt they are wondering why we are simply standing here.”

Her father raised a brow. “Unless you want to argue about that, too?”

Practically rolling her eyes, Tricia stepped forward and knocked three times. Immediately the door was opened . . . by William.

“Hiya, Tricia,” he said with a smile. “Daed, Ben, and Mark are still washing up so I said I would answer the door.” Looking on either side of her, he puffed up his chest. “Hi. I’m William Hilty. Ben is my big brother.”

That seemed to be all that was needed to endear her parents to him forever. Her mother rushed inside and shook his hand, then brushed her hand across his blond hair. Her father shook his hand, too, and patted him on the back.

“You want to see what we got today?” he asked, his blue eyes shining with hope.

“Of course,” her mother said, immediately following the boy into the living room.

Sharing an amused glance with her father, Tricia followed them. She was learning that William was an excitable boy but also surprisingly sensitive. She was glad he’d seen something in her parents that drew him to them.

When they entered the living room, William pointed to a large cardboard box in the center. Inside was a thick fleece blanket and on top of that was a cat and two squirmy black-and-white kittens.

“Oh, look at that,” Tricia gasped.

William grinned. “Yep. We’ve got kittens!”

Just as Tricia was about to caution William to lower his voice so he didn’t frighten the babies, her mother knelt by the box and peered inside.

“My goodness! Aren’t they sweet?” She reached in the box and gently petted one. “Where did they come from?”

“We were working in the store this morning and saw their mother carrying them by the scruff of their necks to a little nest she’d made,” Mark said, stepping down the stairs. “She was so sweet, Daed said there was no way we couldn’t adopt the three of them.”

“Plus, I knew that Tricia would be mighty upset with me if we didn’t rescue them,” Ben said as he entered the room.

Waiting with bated breath, Tricia felt the tension in the room heighten as her parents turned to Ben.

“Mamm, Daed, please meet William’s bruders. This is Mark and Ben.” She could practically feel her skin flush when she heard how her voice changed as she said Ben’s name. It was full of bright happiness.

Mark stepped forward and shook their hands, as did Ben. After greeting Mark politely, her father focused completely on Ben. So much so, why there might as well have been no one else in the room. “So you are the man who has claimed my daughter’s heart?”

Without missing a beat, Ben replied, “I hope so. She has certainly claimed mine.”

“I’m Kathleen,” her mother said with bright pink cheeks.

“Pleased to meet you, Kathleen.” Looking at both of her parents, he said, “I’m sorry I wasna downstairs when you arrived. Time got away from us, I’m afraid.”