Can Kimmy help?
The response came within seconds. Kimmy is on it!!
Adrian smiled. His sister-in-law often took Chase’s phone to reply, and Adrian always knew when it was her. Chase never used that many exclamation marks.
Time?
Adrian glanced at Goldie. “Does now work?”
Goldie gave a slow blink and suppressed a yawn behind her hand. “I’ve got nothing better to do. I wouldn’t mind a quick nap before tonight though.”
Travel usually made him tired as well. Part of him felt guilty for not considering that when he’d invited her out with him. He’d given her the chance to bow out, though, and she hadn’t taken it.
“You should have time for that,” he said before tapping his reply to Kimmy.
Now is good. She’s here at the B & B.
He tucked his phone into his pocket. “She’ll be here in a few minutes.”
***
Goldie stared at Adrian in confusion. His sister-in-law would be here in a few minutes? “It took fifteen to get out here,” she said.
“Yeah, the family all live here. There, actually.” Adrian sauntered to the window and pointed at the glass. Two houses were nestled beyond the barn. “My mom and Jordan sleep at the farthest one. The other is Kimmy and Chase’s.”
Goldie couldn’t imagine wanting to live this close to her parents. Even though she’d gotten a job teaching in the same town, she’d opted for an apartment on the opposite end of town and only visited her parents on holidays or when she was guilt-tripped into it.
A car pulled into the wide gravel lot. “There she is,” Adrian said.
Unease stirred Goldie’s stomach. “Wow, that was fast.”
“We’d better head down. Ready?”
Was she? “Sure.”
Jordan was sitting lazily behind the reception desk when Goldie and Adrian approached a few minutes later, talking on his phone this time. He barely glanced up when the third Bear brother entered through the front door, wearing a flannel shirt open over a T-shirt and jeans, and a swooping cowboy hat.
Goldie had to remind herself not to gape at him. What was with this family’s genetics? They hit the jackpot as far as looks went. This brother had similar features, though his face was a tad narrower than Adrian's and Jordan’s, and his nose was different.
“Goldie, this is my brother, Chase.”
Chase tipped two fingers to his Stetson before he removed it and inclined his head in her direction. “Nice to meet you. You’re from Wisconsin?”
Goldie stiffened. How much had Adrian told him?
“Saw your plates,” he said, crooking an elbow in the direction of the door. A slim woman entered behind him, trailed by two young girls no higher than their mom’s waist. “This is Kimmy and our girls, Lacey and Lizzie.” The two little girls giggled and hid behind their mom’s legs. Kimmy was pretty, bronze-skinned, and so smiley Goldie couldn’t help but return it.
Chase turned to Adrian. “I can’t believe you brought a girl home. Does Mom know?”
“She does now.”
“What about—?” Chase cut off at an elbow to the ribs from his wife.
“I’m Kimmy,” she repeated, nudging Chase aside and jutting her hand in Goldie’s direction. “I hear you need a dress.”
“I—if that’s okay.”
Kimmy fluttered her lips. “Are you kidding? Come on, I have several. You can look them over.”
Adrian was captured again in conversation with his brothers. Attention diverted, Goldie tucked a hair behind her ear and followed her out.
“We’re going!” Kimmy called over her shoulder. “I’m leaving the girls.”
Chase waved his agreement. Kimmy led her down the porch. Goldie expected to drive, but Kimmy trekked across the dirt path toward the barn. Birds chirped, and the faint smell of hay and horse manure wafted as they passed.
“Are you from here?” Goldie asked.
“Born and raised,” Kimmy said. “Chase and I were high school sweethearts.”
“Have you heard of Bethany Harold?”
“Harold,” Kimmy repeated pensively. “Harold. It doesn’t sound familiar, but I don’t know everyone in town. It’s a small place, but not that small. Here we are.”
She offered a hand toward the first of two homes settled in beside the other. Goldie followed Kimmy in through a side door that led into the garage. A laundry room greeted them, the floor scattered with tiny shoes and toys.
The interior was similar to what Goldie had come to expect. High-end, luxurious, and cozy. Unlike the main house, it wasn’t as tidy. Toys continued a scattered path across the carpet as they went from one room to another. Dolls and their clothes, stuffed animals, books. It brought a smile to Goldie’s lips.
“My dresses are all in here.” Kimmy guided her along a brief hallway and into what appeared to be the master bedroom. While Goldie wondered about entering such a private, personal space, especially for someone she didn’t know, the same thought apparently didn’t cross Kimmy’s mind.
“That man hasn’t taken me anywhere fancy in a long time. It’s about time he gave me an excuse to buy something new.” She smirked as she opened the door into the largest closet Goldie had ever seen. Organization was clearly something Kimmy was good at, with Chase’s shirts and pants and shoes in precise order on one side, and dresses, shirts, and other clothing on the other.
“What about this one?”
She offered her a coral dress that Goldie wasn’t sure about, brandishing it on its hanger as though she were an employee in a store. It was pretty, but Goldie wasn’t a fan of the mermaid style. She’d never actually worn anything like it, but she imagined the skirt clinging to her legs. Movement couldn’t be as comfortable as it would in something a little more generous.
At Goldie’s lack of enthusiasm, she slipped it back into place with an, “Ooh, I have it. I wore this one a few years ago.” She displayed the dress against her own body, holding the hanger just below her chin. It was ivory satin, with an embroidered bodice and a flowing skirt.
Goldie’s interest mingled with relief. “That one is exquisite,” she said.
“Here,” Kimmy told her, pointing to
