Page 80 of Edge of Steele
“It’s okay,” Avery said. “She’s making spaghetti, one of my favorites. Your grandad said it was the best spaghetti in all of the world, so I want to have it.” She took Gran’s hand. “Besides. She made her own bread. Can you imagine? Making your own bread. It must be really good.”
“Avery does like bread,” Finn said.
Ryleigh’s gran looked down at Avery. “Ryleigh can bake bread too.”
Avery’s gaze flashed to Ryleigh. “You can?”
“Yes. Gran taught me.”
Avery switched her focus to Gran. “Can you teach me too?”
“Of course. You’re about the same age as when I taught Ryleigh, her sisters, and cousins.”
Avery shot Ryleigh a wide-eyed look. “You have cousins too?”
“Three of them. All girls.”
Avery frowned. “Man. You’ve got it all. A mom and dad, grandparents, and cousins.”
“I am most blessed,” Ryleigh said, trying to sound convincing while her wayward grandparents stood on Finn’s porch where they really didn’t belong.
“For now, why don’t we start with teaching you how to make my spaghetti,” her gran said. “Then tomorrow, maybe we can tackle the bread. If not, then on my next visit to see the Maddox family.”
“You’re staying the night?” The words flew from Ryleigh’s mouth before she could control them. “But where?”
“The Maddox family kindly offered us a room.”
“I know Russ and Ryan are bunking there too, so you could stay here if needed,” Finn offered.
Ryleigh wanted to swat him, but she shoved her hands in her pockets and held her breath as she waited for her gran to answer.
“Thank you for the kind offer, but we’re looking forward to catching up with the Maddox family. We’ll be glad to join you for church in the morning though.” She clasped Avery’s hand and marched inside.
Ryleigh wanted to argue. To ask her grandparents to go home before they figured out she had feelings for Finn and really settled in to their favorite pastime. Matchmaking. Which had intensified as she was the only granddaughter without a match. But she loved them with everything she was made of. She would never want to hurt them when they believed they were doing what was best for her.
It was just like the way God dealt with her—doing what was best for her even though she didn’t see it. Or like it. So many things in her life that seemed like disasters or trials, and she could see God’s hand in them. See how He had used the situation to grow her into the person she was today. If she’d never suffered, she wouldn’t have the compassion she felt for Avery. Or even the compassion she needed to show Finn after the career he loved had come to an abrupt end.
So she would go with the flow. Let her gran make the meal and hope that things didn’t get too uncomfortable during dinner.
Finn picked up a box of groceries.
Her grandad took the cooler next to it and then looked at Finn. “You fish, son?”
Ryleigh groaned.
“What?” Her grandad looked at her, a broad smile on his face. “Can’t a fella ask a question?”
“Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long to ask him. Seems like it might be a record.” She laughed.
“Hey,” he said. “It’s been like five minutes since we met. I’m sure I’ve waited to ask someone far later than that.” He chuckled and went toward the door but turned and looked at Finn. “Well, do you? Fish that is.”
“I do indeed.” Finn smiled. “I love to go fishing.”
“Well, praise be.” Her grandad’s eyes sparkled, and she knew Finn had just won his heart. “Finally, one of the men in my granddaughters’ lives who likes to fish. We’ll have to go out sometime. But now, my sweetie needs this cooler.”
He entered the house.
Finn looked at her.
