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Matthew couldn’t believe it. He expected he would need to work harder at defending his relationship with Katie, especially with his mom.

“Alright then,” Justin interrupted, returning from the men’s room. “We better be hittin’ the road before the Chief has to track us down. Can we walk you folks out?”

Justin didn’t realize he was interrupting, but Matthew was grateful for it. He needed to process what had just happened and let his parents’ approval sink in. Though he had finally confessed to them that his marriage to Julia was headed for a divorce after her accident, he hadn’t told them all the reasons why. But maybe they already knew his marriage hadn’t been right for a long time. Why else would they embrace his relationship with Katie so quickly?

When Katherine returned to say goodbye and walk them out, she handed Mr. Brandon a bag filled with an assortment of pie and cake slices in clear plastic to-go boxes.

“What’s this?” Matt asked, peering inside before opening the bag wide enough for Sarah to see.

“Just a little something for later.”

“Oh my, look at all those yummy treats.” Sarah beamed. “Now you’re speaking Matt’s love language.”

As Matt chuckled, Sarah carried Libby over to the passenger side of their car and handed her to Matthew.

“Thank you, Katie.” Matt smiled, shaking her hand. “You have a really nice place here. I only wish you would’ve let me pay the check.”

“Not a chance.” She smiled back, then gestured to the bag. “I hope you find a favorite in there.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“Of course, he will.” Sarah smiled as she reappeared, pulling Katherine into a hug that nearly knocked the wind out of her. “It was so nice to meet you, Katie. And thank you for taking such good care of our son and granddaughter.”

Hugging Sarah back, Katherine didn’t know what to say. From all the long, skeptical looks Sarah Brandon had given her, she got the impression Matthew’s mother would’ve taken much longer than this to come around.

Then Mrs. Brandon pulled away just enough to look her in the eye. “Seeing our son happy means the world to us.”

Katherine’s eyes grew misty. “It does to me, too.”

Sarah nodded, smiling. “We can see that.”

When Matthew finished with Libby, he came over to where his parents stood with Katie, surprised to find her and his mother on the verge of tears.

“Mom… what’s going on?”

“It’s okay, son.” His dad clapped him on the shoulder. “We were just thanking this wonderful young woman for everything she’s done.”

Matthew turned to study Katherine’s expression.

“Stop worrying,” she assured him with a teary smile. “It’s okay.”

“Come on, buddy, we gotta roll!” Justin called out, honking the horn of the cruiser before Matthew called back to say that he was coming.

But Katherine could tell by the look on his face that he didn’t know what to do. “Everything’s fine. I promise.”

“See you later then?”

“You know where to find me.”

Then Matthew told his parents he’d be home directly after his shift to take Libby off their hands.

“We’ll see you later,” his mom said. “And be safe.”

After Matt and Sarah said their final goodbyes and drove off, heading toward a few of the historical landmarks that Justin recommended, Katherine went back inside to find Beth Ann waiting for her by the door.

“That wasinteresting.”

“What makes you say that?” Katherine asked, even though her grin gave her away.