Marcus laughed. “I’m not your boss anymore, Peg. And the King family isn’t worried about this.”
Francie came over and hugged her. “You lost so much. Your clothes, too?”
“Right through the bathroom ceiling, spread out like a river, and into my closet.” She shook her head. Nothing but a stack of soggy destroyed clothes and ruined shoes piled on the closet floor were left for her to return to. Her list for must-haves grew every time she thought of what she’d lost. Her whole business wardrobe. Kaput!
“Pick out what you need here. Don’t worry. I’ve got some clout, if you know what I mean.” Francie chuckled.
Marcus gave Peg a quick hug, too. “Food’s on me. Clothes on the King sisters. It’s the least we can do for all you’ve done for us.”
Tears smarted her eyes. “You’d do that for me? Sassafras and smelling salts, I’m a puddle.”
Out of nowhere, Austin appeared by her side. “I’ve got this, guys. You look like you’re going somewhere.”
It was only then that Peg realized they were all dolled up. “Holy Toledo! Your date! The theater. Go,” she waved her hands. “Your first official date in forever. Don’t let us stop you. Shoo!”
Francie kissed her on the cheek. “Take care, Peg. Pick out some clothes. Rest here tonight and we’ll see you in the morning.”
“Huh? Morning? But it’s Sunday. Store’s closed.”
“You forgot?” Marcus tsked her. “You do have a lot on your mind if you forgot Griffin’s soldier buddies coming into the store tomorrow. Shopping spree for the guys in the Wounded Warrior program?”
“Ball tomorrow night,” Francie prodded.
Peg smacked herself on the forehead. “Ah, shut me up and call me crazy. I did forget.” With trying to find a date, her family showing up early—a week early—and the leak in her ceiling, no wonder she’d forgotten. That’s not to say, holy hotness didn’t have a lot to do with making her lose her mind, slowly but surely.
***
Dinner wasn’t as much as a trial as Austin thought it might be. Underneath it all, the Newburys loved Peg and wanted only the best for her. Of course, it was their best, not hers, but still they cared for her.
“Now, dear, you’ve done quite a job here, or so Marcus told us. But really, it’s high time you plan for your future,” her father said.
“Pop, I got it, okay. I can do it all.” She scrunched her eye up and winked at Austin as she passed him his plate.
He held back a chuckle. She was so adorable.
“The King family needs me. I’m the bomb. I run a tight ship. Well, most days, I do. But we’ve worked hard these last coupla years to bring this store back and beyond. I’m not ditching them now.”
“But...” Her mother snuck a peek at Austin and then turned back to her. “Peg, he’s not going to wait forever for you…”
The unspoken words were hanging in the air. Snatch him up before he changes his mind.
“Your mother’s right, Peg,” her father agreed.
Clearing his throat, Austin said, “Professor Newbury, Mrs. Newbury.” He nodded to her parents and then to the brother and his wife. “I’m in no hurry.” That much was true. “Peg’s worth waiting for.” Where had that come from?
All five of them looked at him as if his nose had grown a foot long. Peg rolled her eyes.
“Don’t lay it on so thick,” she said under her breath and between clenched teeth. “Pop, Ma, I got this.”
Someone snorted. Her brother. “Come on, sis. You getting married? When have you ever been more serious about a guy than your work?” He shook his head. “Never.”
Peg plopped down in her seat. She rested her elbows on the table and held her face in her hands while she glimpsed at Austin.
Help was written all over her features. Austin swallowed hard.
“Geez, Louise. You guys don’t have much faith in me, do you?” She pushed away from the table and stood up, gathering the empty containers. “So, I love my work.” She shrugged. “So, I’m not all gung ho on tying the knot and dropping out a baby.” She shrugged again. “Big deal.”
Silence blanketed and then chaos reigned. Her parents, brother, and his wife all spoke at once.
“You’ll end up alone—”
“For all that is sacred and pure, Peg—” Her mother jumped up and rushed around the table, grabbing her daughter’s hands in hers.
“Why wouldn’t you want a baby?” her sister-in-law cried, rubbing her extended belly and unborn child.
“How could you do that to Mom and Dad?”