The Texan's Reluctant Bride. Judy Christenberry
clothes, manicure and coiffed hair. But she’d also demonstrated the priceless things that made life worthwhile. A sense of humor, an active mind and delightful manners.
Pete hoped to delve even further into her personality in the coming days. So far, he’d found nothing to dislike.
He opened the front door to his mother’s house.
“Anyone home?” he called.
“Hey, bro, I heard you were back in town,” Jim said with a grin as he embraced his brother. He’d worked late the night before and hadn’t gotten to see Pete when he’d arrived.
“I’m back to stay this time. How’s everything going?”
“According to Mom, everything’s coming up daisies since her favorite is back home.” Jim rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance.
Pete laughed. “Don’t worry. Now that I’m back, I’ll soon share the guilt for all the wrongs of the world.”
“Damn, I hope so. The burden has been so heavy,” Jim teased, joining his brother in laughter.
Arm in arm, they walked into the family room where their mother sat in an oversize upholstered club chair by the window. She was focused, as always, on her knitting. Luckily for the brothers, she no longer made them things; instead, she sent her handmade articles to shelters for the needy.
Evelyn Schofield looked up. Her hair was now more gray than brown and she’d put on a few pounds, but her eyes were as sharp as ever. “Well, I am honored. My two boys here at once. How did the meeting go with Isabel, Pete?”
“Better than I expected, Mom,” Pete said with a big smile. “She turned me over to Tommie.”
“You’re excited about being turned over to Tommie?” Jim asked, frowning.
“You haven’t met Tommie. Twenty-six, blond hair, big blue eyes, gorgeous. And I’m taking her to breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“Hey, can I come along?” Jim asked eagerly, apparently having caught on to the fact that the Realtor was a woman.
“Not on your life! Find your own girl.”
“Damn, it’s good to have you back,” Jim said, hugging Pete again.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it,” his mother said, smiling at her boys. “Now, who is this Tommie?”
“Her last name is Tyler, but that’s all I know. So far.”
“Oh,” his mother said, suddenly turning her attention to her knitting once again.
“You know her?” Pete asked.
“Why, no, dear, I don’t.” She got to her feet. “I’m going to start dinner. Jim has agreed to suffer my cooking this evening, so just make yourselves comfortable.”
Jim stared after his mother.
“What?” Pete asked, knowing his brother would understand the question.
“Why would Mom lie about knowing Tommie Tyler?”
“Did she?” Pete asked.
“You’ve been gone too long, brother. She definitely knows something about the lady. Maybe she knows her mother.”
Suddenly a horrific thought struck Pete. “You don’t think…” He groaned. “This is all I need, Mom match-making. And I’m not even back twenty-four hours.”
“Why do you think she’s setting you up?”
“Think about it, Jim. She’s the one who sent me to Isabel Landon.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly.” He nodded. “Has she been trying to matchmake for you?”
Jim shrugged his shoulders. “I do seem to run into a lot of women…who coincidentally know Mom.”
“And you didn’t warn me?” Pete asked.
“Are you kidding? I wasn’t going to say anything that might make you change your mind about coming home.” Jim gave his brother a level look.
“Nothing was going to stop me from coming home now. I should’ve done it several years ago. But if the medicine I have to take is spending time with Tommie Tyler, I’ll just have to suffer through it.”
The Triple T’s, as the Tyler triplets called themselves, met for dinner at Teresa’s place. She’d promised to cook since school was out and she had plenty of free time.
Though the triplets were mirror images of each other, all with blond hair and big blue eyes, their interests were different, as well as their sense of style.
“So how was everyone’s day?” she asked as the three of them sat down at the table.
“Great!” Tabitha said with enthusiasm. She was such a high-energy person that it even filtered into her voice, which was high-pitched and peppy. “I’ve just about finished working out the first routine for the video. It’s going to be great.”
Tabitha was in the process of making an exercise and fitness video for teens. “You’re definitely going ahead with it?” Tommie asked.
“Yes. I’ve gotten letters from fifteen school districts interested in seeing the video when I’m finished. I think it’s going to do really well.”
“That’s great, Tabitha,” Teresa said, an encouraging smile on her face.
“It is,” Tommie agreed, “as long as you’re prepared for the opposite happening, too. You won’t be hurt if some of them turn you down?”
“No, Tommie, I won’t. I’ve been teaching these kids for four years. Do you think I convince every one of them to keep up an exercise program?” Tabitha asked with a sigh.
“She’s just being the big sister, as always,” Teresa said.
“Yeah,” Tabitha agreed. “She gets a lot of mileage out of those two minutes.”
Tommie came to her own defense. “I just worry that you might be disappointed.”
“Where were you when Roger dumped me?”
Tommie put her arms around her sister. “Sweetie, I told you he was no good.”
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “I know, I know.”
Teresa joined the hug. “But you survived, and you always will. After all, you have us,” Teresa reminded her. “Come on, eat your dinner before it gets cold. It’s a new recipe.”
Tommie took a bite and praised her youngest sister’s cooking. “This chicken is the best, Teresa. You’re such a good cook.”
“Thank you,” Teresa said with a mock bow. “You haven’t said how your day went,” she reminded Tommie.
“I think I met The One.”
That simple remark got her sisters’ attention.
“Who?” Tabitha demanded at the same time as Teresa asked, “Really?”
“Yes, I think so. He’s…oh, he’s wonderfully handsome.”
“But that’s not what’s important,” Teresa reminded her sister.
Tommie lifted her chin and added, “He’s also bright, ambitious and kind.”
“Who is he?” Tabitha asked.
“Do you remember I told you Isabel was giving me this corporation move? Well, he’s the president.”
“How old is he?” Teresa asked, looking worried.
“He didn’t say, but he didn’t look much older than thirty. He’s taking me to breakfast in the morning.”
“But isn’t that the company from Boston? I don’t