Hannah nodded warily, a slight smile working its way onto her face. “He needs us to look out for him.”
“But I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you took a more, shall we say, subtle approach.”
“Maybe I’ll think about it.”
Kendall figured it was as much of a concession as she was likely to get.
“Where’s Rick?” Hannah asked.
Obviously her sister had a thing for the middle Chandler, something Kendall could well understand. “Showering I think. He’ll be down in a few minutes. Hannah, about the principal . . .”
“I swear it was an accident.” Hannah held up her hands in her own defense. “I was getting one guy back for squirting my shirt and he was quick enough to duck first. It’s not my fault Dr. Nowicki is short enough to be a target.”
At Hannah’s age, it seemed nothing was ever her fault.
“Well, look who’s here!”
Kendall turned to see Raina and the town doctor walk up to their table, saving Hannah from a be-more-careful-next-time lecture. “Hi, Raina, Dr. Fallon.”
“Eric,” he said. “No formality here.”
Kendall smiled. “Eric. I’d like to introduce you to my sister Hannah,” Kendall said, along with a silent prayer for Hannah’s polite behavior. “Hannah, this is Rick’s mother and Dr. Eric Fallon.” She added the Rick connection for extra luck in gaining her sister’s goodwill.
“Nice to meet you.” Hannah graced the older couple with a genuine smile.
Raina walked over and shook Hannah’s hand. “Same here. You’re a beauty, young lady.”
To Kendall’s surprise, Hannah blushed.
“I need to talk to you, Kendall, and since your sister is here, I can use her help too.” Raina glanced at Eric. “Give me five minutes would you?”
“Anything for you. But you need to sit down and rest.”
Raina shot him a glare, narrowing her gaze. She obviously disliked being told what to do.
“Your heart,” Eric reminded her, tapping his chest. The older woman flushed and nodded, but Kendall focused on Eric. Was it her imagination or was there a sarcastic bent to his voice? She shook her head. Not possible.
“Raina, Eric, please join us.” Kendall gestured to empty chairs.
After the older couple seated themselves, Raina launched right into her request. “I’ve planned a surprise party for Rick’s birthday. Or should I say I’m delegating plans for a surprise party, since my daily activities are limited.”
“It’s Rick’s birthday?” Kendall asked. “When?” He’d never mentioned a thing. And she wondered why she was insulted he’d kept something so basic from her.
“Well, duh,” Hannah chimed in. “Tomorrow. That Lisa woman—”
“Ms. Burton,” Kendall corrected.
“That Ms. Burton woman said she had the p-u-u-rfect gift in mind.” Hannah shuddered in complete and utter revulsion.
Kendall sighed. Some women never gave up.
“Can you imagine what she wants to do to him?” Hannah asked, horrified. “Kendall, you have to keep her away from Rick.”
“Oh, I do so enjoy young people.” Raina laughed. “Hannah’s right. We need to keep Lisa away. I realize I might have encouraged her—before you came to town, you understand,” she said to Kendall. “But I never knew she was so persistent. You’d think once a woman had been turned down, she have more pride than to keep at it. I know I would.”
“I thought men asked women out in the olden days,” Hannah chimed in.
“Oh, Lord. Hannah—”
Eric’s booming laugh cut off anything Kendall might have added. “You’re right, young lady. In the olden days, most women were more demure and passive and let a man do the bidding. But then as now, some women were more brazen and had a mind of their own.” His smile grew wider as his gaze drifted to Raina, the caring and affection between them obvious.
An unfamiliar knot twisted tight in Kendall’s chest. “So Mrs. Chandler’s got her own mind?” Hannah perched her chin in her hand and focused on Eric.
“I think we should get back to Rick’s birthday discussion before he shows up,” Kendall said. Before Hannah got completely irreverent.
“Good idea. But don’t worry.” Raina leaned closer to Hannah. “You and I can finish this discussion another time.” She patted Hannah’s hand. And Hannah didn’t pull away.
Would wonders never cease, Kendall thought. The key to her sister’s heart seemed to revolve around the Chandlers.
“At any rate, I’m going to ask Rick to bring the two of you to dinner tomorrow night. Izzy and Norman said they’d do the catering and cleaning, so that’s set. I don’t have to lift a finger. You two will bring the guest of honor and I’ve already made phone calls, the only thing I can do to arrange Rick’s various surprises.”
“What surprises?” Kendall and Hannah asked at the same time.
“I want to do a version of This Is Your Life. Let Rick’s childhood memories come to him.” She clapped her hands. “It’s going to be such fun.”
“What’s going to be such fun?” Rick arrived and in typical cop fashion didn’t miss the conversation or the opportunity to interrogate.
“Well, your birthday dinner, of course.” Raina didn’t miss a beat.
“Your mother invited me and Kendall to dinner tomorrow. Isn’t that cool?” Hannah asked Rick.
From the flicker of aggravation and something more in his eyes, Kendall had the sense “cool” was the last thing Rick thought this birthday celebration would be. And poor man, he thought it would just be family. Wait until he realized what his mother had in store.
Recovering quickly, he walked over to Hannah’s chair. “It’s Da Bomb,” he said and ruffled her still purple hair with his hand.
Kendall wondered what she’d have to do to get her sister to rinse out the dye and go au naturel again. But when Hannah giggled over Rick’s attempt at teenage slang, Kendall realized there was something more important in life than how her sister chose to look. And that was how she felt inside. When Rick was around, Hannah’s laughter was easy and carefree, like the happy kid she ought to be. Kendall’s heart felt like it blossomed inside her chest.
“You’re such a Poindexter.” Hannah rolled
