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“Nah… she’s just happy for you. So far, everyone seems pretty happy for us. Don’t you think?”

Katherine thought about Suzie’s encouragement, her father’s approval, her mother’s help with the Brandons, and now Beth Ann trying to ease her anxiety with humor. “Yeah, I guess so. But what about on your side?”

“Oh, it’s all good. You know Libby and Justin already love you.”

“Come on, Matthew, be serious.”

“Okay,” he said, glancing over at the booth. “Obviously, my dad’s cool with it, and my mom will come around. She’s always been a bit more guarded when it comes to her only son. But so far, I can see that she likes you.”

“I don’t know…” Katherine bit her lip. “Before you got here, she gave me a pretty serious stare down. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Maybe this is happening too soon.”

“Keep your eyes on us, Katie,” Matthew said, positioning himself in front of her. “It’s like walking on water. Focus on what’s ahead and let your faith be bigger than your fear.”

Katherine’s gaze shifted to the booth and then back to Matthew.

“I promise my mom will come around. I’m her only child, and Libby’s her only grandchild. She just wants the best for both of us.”

Before she could fret over it anymore, Beth Ann came back through the kitchen door with another basket of fries. “Katherine, do you mind helping Zach? He could really use a hand with that order and the last of the lunch prep.”

Matthew pressed a quick kiss to Katherine’s forehead as Beth Ann walked away. “Now, don’t forget that at the end of the day, this is all about you and me.”

“I won’t,” Katherine said, sending him on his way.

Chapter 20

Katherine stayed busy in the kitchen while Justin, Libby, Matthew, and his parents ate lunch, even though it drove her half crazy wondering what they were talking about. But eventually, she came out to see how they were doing and offered them dessert.

Holding his stomach, Mr. Brandon declined, complimenting Katherine on a wonderful meal.

“That’s a wise decision, Matt,” Justin warned as he got up from the table. “She’ll feed ya ‘til you’re tighter than a tick.”

“Hey, no one forces you to eat all that blackberry pie.”

Then Justin scoffed, shaking his head as he walked away.

“Mrs. Brandon, can I get you anything else?”

“No, Katie, but thank you for asking,” Sarah said in a hushed tone as she rocked her granddaughter in her arms.

“She’s such a sweet little girl,” Katherine said, looking down at Libby as she slept. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell how blessed she is to have such a wonderful father.”

“No, you don’t,” Sarah replied, smiling at her son.

After Katherine gazed appreciatively at Matthew, then excused herself to go back into the kitchen, Sarah turned to her son. “She really loves you, doesn’t she?”

At first, Matthew wanted to avoid the question, but when he noticed his father nodding in agreement, he knew there was no point in denying the obvious.

“We love each other. And you don’t have to worry. She’s nothing like Julia.”

“Don’t you think we can see that?” Sarah snapped. “And you shouldn’t make comparisons, Matthew. It’s not right.”

“Besides the fact, there is no comparison,” his dad added. “Katie’s a real keeper.”

“So, you guys like her?”

“Yes, we do,” Matt said, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulder as Sarah’s eyes grew misty with tears.

“She’s a wonderful young lady.”