Read Online Her Very Own Family by Trish Milburn - Free Book Online Page B

over the counter reading one of Brady’s mom’s recipe cards.
    Nelson glanced at him and rolled his eyes. “Nice to see you dressed up for company.”
    “I’m clean. That’s better than the last time she saw me.”
    When the phone rang, Brady grabbed it to avoid further discussion about Audrey. “Hello.”
    “That’s a nice tone to use to greet your sister,” Sophie said from the other end of the line.
    “Sorry.” No need to bite her head off.
    “What’s up with you?”
    “Nothing.” He leaned against the wall.
    “Mmm-hmm,” she said, obviously not believing him. “So, I hear you two are having dinner with Audrey tonight. And I hear she’s pretty. You should totally go for her.”
    Brady sighed. “Dad put you up to this, didn’t he?”
    “Oh, don’t sound so ganged up on. So what if he did? You know I want you to find the perfect girl. Maybe you’d be less grumpy.”
    “I’m not grumpy.”
    “Yeah, right. You’re a riot of fun and frivolity.”
    Brady pushed away from the wall and stared at the phone as if it were part of the conspiracy, too. “Did you have a real reason for calling?”
    “What, teasing my big brother isn’t reason enough?” When Brady didn’t respond, she went on. “Okay, fine.Tell Dad that the girls are wanting to come visit and to call me when he has a free day.”
    After Brady agreed to relay the message, he hung up.
    His dad sighed as he shook his head and consulted a recipe card. Whether his frustration was caused by the recipe or Brady’s attitude, Brady didn’t know.
    “Melt a stick of butter,” Nelson said.
    “Dad, why don’t we just take Audrey out to dinner? It’d be easier.”
    “Because I want to eat here. I want to eat one of your mother’s best dishes.” Nelson paused for a moment. “Because I want to hear a woman’s voice in this house again.”
    Brady swallowed hard at the pain and need he heard in his father’s voice. Nelson had been doing so well lately that Brady had almost forgotten he was still in mourning. Maybe Audrey had been right. It was hardest for his dad at night, when he had to go home alone and face the house he’d shared with his wife for forty years.
    Brady walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the butter.
    By the time six-thirty rolled around, the two of them had fumbled their way through making chicken-and-rice casserole, green beans, corn-bread muffins and an orange bundt cake. They wouldn’t have their own Food Network show anytime soon, but Brady surveyed the results and figured they were at least edible.
    When he heard the sound of an engine in the driveway, followed by a car door shutting, he deliberately took his time refilling the napkin holder on thetable before heading to the front door. He wouldn’t give his dad the satisfaction of witnessing how anxious he was to see Audrey again. Even if he had to admit he was.
    She knocked before he left the kitchen, and he didn’t hurry on his way to the door. Despite his attempts to be casual, he nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw her. She’d showered, too, and he’d swear he could smell flowers when he opened the door. Maybe that was the sensation a person experienced when his brain was short-circuiting. She wore a pink, sleeveless top and a white pair of those too-short pants.
    “Hello?” Audrey waved her hand in front of his face.
    “Oh, sorry. Mind was somewhere else.” He opened the door wider to let her in.
    “I’ll say. You looked like you’d gone off to a galaxy far, far away and forgot to take your body with you.”
    “Work stuff,” he said as he noticed her toes peeking out of the ends of her white canvas sandals. The toenail polish matched her pink shirt. He’d never thought toes were sexy, but hers were. She was right. His brain had taken off for regions unknown.
    Only when she raised her hands did he realize she held a bowl.
    “I made a salad.”
    He took the bowl from her. “You didn’t have to do that.”
    She followed him inside as he