“We went camping,” Teddy shouted enthusiastically.
Kennedy stepped back to swat at his jeans. “We’re all a bit dirty.”
Irene pressed a ring-laden hand to her chest. “Ya’ll spent the night in the woods together?”
Grace ground her teeth as Kennedy answered.
“Two nights, actually. In separate tents.”
“Isn’t that nice.” She arched her eyebrows meaningfully at Grace. “I’m surprised Grace didn’t mention she had such plans for the weekend.”
“It came up at the last minute,” she mumbled.
“And prevented you from going to Jackson, I see.”
Kennedy’s eyes rested on Grace. “I hope the fact that you didn’t make it to Jackson isn’t the cause of any…problems.”
The way he said “problems,” she knew he was talking about George. “No. That would’ve happened anyway.”
Before Irene could ask what they were talking about, Teddy jumped into the conversation. “Mrs. Barker! Mrs. Barker, guess what?”
Irene managed to summon a smile for him, even though she was definitely more interested in Kennedy. “What, dear?”
“I can hold my breath under water almost as long as Grace.”
“That’s wonderful. Sounds like you had fun.”
“We had a blast!” He rested his chin briefly on his hands, which were clutching the windowsill. Then his head popped up again. “Hey, Dad! Can Grace go with us to watch the fireworks next week?”
Kennedy cleared his throat. “We’ll see, Teddy.”
Grace shook her head. She was determined to keep a safe distance from Kennedy in the future. “I’m sorry, Teddy,” she said. “I already have other plans.”
“What are you doing?” Irene’s voice was just sharp enough to communicate her opinion—that nothing could be more important than a date with Kennedy.
Grace struggled to come up with something. There wasn’t a lot to do in such a small town on the Fourth of July. Almost everyone headed over to the high school to spread blankets on the football field and watch the fireworks. “I’m…going to be with Madeline,” she said lamely.
“I’m sure Maddy wouldn’t mind getting together the night before or the night after,” Irene said.
Grace looked to Kennedy for help. But he sided with Irene. “Think you could arrange it?” he asked, the sparkle in his eyes telling her he was enjoying this.
“One vote isn’t worth that much of your time,” Grace said pointedly.
He cocked his head at a challenging angle. “Every vote counts.”
Grace sighed. “I’ll call you,” she said.
“Please, Grace?” Teddy hollered, unwilling to be put off.
“You could bring Madeline if you want,” Heath added.
Grace tucked a clump of her tangled hair behind one ear. “I’ll ask her, okay, boys?” she called back.
“I’m sure she’ll say yes,” Irene confided to Kennedy.
“Great. I’ll count on it, then.” The smile Kennedy turned on Grace’s mother was markedly warmer. “I’m glad we had the chance to chat, Irene.”
“So am I,” she said, obviously flattered.
Grace rolled her eyes. “We’ll talk later,” she told Kennedy.
He chuckled as he walked away. But backing out of her drive, he stopped, got out and yanked the Vicki Nibley sign from the grass.
“Mind if I remove this?” he asked.
Grace didn’t bother saying no. She suspected he’d take it anyway. “If it makes you feel better.”
He carried it to the back of his SUV.
“I’m voting for you,” Irene volunteered.
With a final wave and another round of goodbyes from Teddy and Heath, he left, and Irene bestowed a smug smile on Grace. “Why didn’t you tell me Kennedy Archer’s interested in you?”
Grace opened the front door. “Because he’s not.”
“Looks that way to me.”
“We’re just friends.”
“He seems pretty excited about having you join him for the fireworks.”
“Which I can’t do.”
Irene remained on the porch, leaning over the railing to gaze after Kennedy’s SUV. “Why not?”
“He’s gone, Mother. You can come inside now.” Grace held the door, and Irene finally stepped through the opening.
“Why can’t you go out with him?” her mother persisted. “You haven’t married George yet.”
Grace dropped her keys on the small secretary in the living room. “George broke up with me this weekend.”
“I thought ya’ll were already broken up.”
“We were, sort of. But now we’re broken up without hope of reconciliation.”
Her mother’s face brightened. “That’s even better.”
“Thanks for the consolation,” Grace said, leading her into the living room.
“Kennedy Archer is perfect for you. I like George, but—”
“But what?” Grace interrupted. “You’ve only met him once.”
“I could tell that he’s too dowdy for you.”
“Dowdy?”
“And stiff.”
Loyalty made her defensive. “He’s a good man, rock-solid.”
“Maybe, but he’s not nearly as charming as Kennedy.”
“George can be charming. He was just busy the day we came by.”
Her mother perched on the edge of the leather couch. “He’s not very handsome, either,” she murmured.
“Yeah, well…” Grace wanted to spout off the cliché that looks could be deceiving, but her conscience wouldn’t allow it. She was beginning to believe Kennedy was a nice man, too. “What you don’t seem to understand is that I can’t be seen with Kennedy. It’ll start the whole town talking.”
“Let them talk!” her mother cried. “It’s about time the people of Stillwater realized we’re as good as everyone else. Now that you’ve caught Kennedy Archer’s eye—”
“I haven’t caught his eye,” Grace said. “His little boy comes over to see me sometimes. I’m a…a family friend.”
“He needs a wife.” She nearly swooned. “Imagine it, Grace. What if you were to marry Kennedy Archer?”
Grace couldn’t imagine it. She was too different from the kind of wife he needed. “I’m not his type.”