Drew listened to her intently but couldn't help having the urge to laugh. Heath had trust issues?
"I think it's really sweet of you to look out for him," Drew said earnestly. "I knew who Heath was before he and I officially met. But I brushed him off at first because I thought he would turn out to be some egotistical asshole since he's pretty well-known now. I came to realize that he's not like that, and that's what I fell for. I couldn't give a rat's ass about whatever 'fame and fortune' he has. Besides, he hates getting recognized as it is."
Lana studied her for a moment before a slow smile spread over her face. "I like you," she said finally. "I like to think I have a good radar for people's character and I really feel like you're a good girl. At any rate, Heath's never brought anyone home before, and I've never seen him quite the way he is with you. I guess what I want to tell you is...be careful with him. He's a lot more fragile than you think. He'll never admit to that, of course. But he is."
Drew nodded as she finished loading the dishes, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. She wanted to tell Lana that no one was more fragile than she was, and that cracking any part of Heath's fragility was beyond what she was capable or desirous of doing. But she didn't.
"Well, I'm glad he seems happier," she said quietly. "He's a great guy. Any girl would be lucky to have him."
"He and his brother are cut from the same cloth," Lana said with a smile. "So I know just what you mean."
"You and Connor seem really happy, really close," Drew commented. "And your kids are really great. I like them a lot."
"They seem to like you a lot," Lana said with a laugh. "They were pretty good throughout dinner but they'll be back at harassing you again here pretty soon."
Drew laughed. "It's ok. I'm looking forward to that."
Just then, Connor stuck his head into the kitchen. "You ladies about done?" he asked. He winked at his wife. "C'mon, babe. The dishes can wait until later."
"We've just about got them loaded now anyway," Lana said, watching as Drew squirted in some detergent. Lana waited until she'd shut the door then cranked the knobs on the machine. The sound of running water hit their ears a moment later as the cycle began.
They followed Connor back outside and Heath's eyes sought hers immediately. She winked at him and smiled a little to let him know that everything was ok, and he half-smiled in reply. She wondered if he had actually been worried about Lana being hard on her. She took no offense to anything Lana had to say, and they were all valid concerns. Furthermore, Lana was like a walk in the park on a sunny day with cotton candy compared to her family.
The rest of the evening passed too quickly for Drew; she was having a great time, and eventually Maggie and Lucy had had enough of their manners and had dragged Drew bodily to their bedroom to show her their costumes, their dance slippers, pictures that their parents had taken of them at their recitals. Then, they showed Drew steps from their upcoming dance recital. Drew watched with a smile, her head cocked as she studied the girls. Lucy was already a graceful dancer for her age; she was very careful to make sure her feet, hands and arms were just right, that she kept her back straight and her tummy pulled in. Maggie was a little clumsier, but she seemed so happy to dance that her enthusiasm made up for her lack of technique. Drew asked the girls to teach her their dance and they spent the next half an hour teaching her the steps. Drew instructed them on how to do them properly, guiding the girls on their posture and form and technique.
That was how Heath found her a while later, standing between the two little girls, dancing their simple, beginner-level recital dance with them. She turned to look at him over her shoulder, her brown eyes sparkling as she smiled at him.
"How do we look, Uncle Heath?" Maggie asked, twirling toward him. Lucy joined in, clumsily turning several piqué turns until she crashed into his legs.
"Real good," he replied, ruffling their fine hair. "Can't wait to see you two on stage."
"Drew helped us get it all right," Maggie informed him. "We showed her our dance twice and she picked up everything. She's really good."
"I had two good teachers," Drew corrected, smiling at them. "You guys are going to be incredible."
"Will you come watch us?" Lucy begged.
"Please!" "Please! Please!" Maggie echoed, jumping up and down on each word.
"Of course," Drew promised. She put her hands on her hips and made a show of rolling her eyes. "Took you guys long enough to invite me!"
"Come on, shrimps," Heath said. "Come say goodbye to us and Grandpa."