Page 28 of High Country Escape

“So I’ve heard,” Roxanne said. She avoided looking at Dalton, her lips pressed firmly together, as if holding back laughter.

“She also told us you two met when you rescued her after a car wreck,” his mother continued. “So romantic.”

“I was part of the search and rescue team,” he said. “Bethany was there, too.”

“But you were first on the scene,” Diane said.

“Actually, we met at the Fall Festival in town,” Roxanne said. “May, from the Java Moose, introduced us.”

“My version is a better story,” Diane said.

Carter slipped in next to their mother. “When is dinner ready?” he asked. “I’m starving.”

“It’s ready now,” she said. “Help me get everyone to the table.”

He cupped his hands to his mouth. “Dinner’s ready!” he shouted, stopping all conversation.

“I promise, I raised him better than this,” Diane said, as the family headed for the long dining table at the far end of the living area. “Roxanne, you sit here next to me.” His mother indicated the chair to her left at one end of the table. “Dalton can sit across from you.” Bethany and her fiancé, Ian Seabrook, sat next to Dalton, while Aaron and Willa took the chairs beside Roxanne. Carter and Mira flanked his father at the other end of the table.

When everyone was seated, George said grace, then Diane began passing dishes. There were two glass casseroles of lasagna, a tub of salad, another huge bowl of green beans and three baskets of garlic bread. “Is this dinner for a special occasion?” Roxanne asked.

“Only that we’re all together,” Diane said. “I like to get everyone together for a meal at least once a week, if possible.” She speared a bite of salad and chewed, then continued. “Bethany and Ian were planning to stop by, so I called Willa and she said she and Aaron would come. I knew Carter can’t say no to my lasagna, and he would bring Mira. Then it was just a matter of persuading Dalton to come.” She smiled. “And it was the perfect opportunity to meet you.”

“How did you know about Roxanne?” Dalton asked.

Her expression was the perfect imitation of Mona Lisa. “I make it a point to keep up with my children.”

Laughter from across the table surprised him. “I’m sorry,” Roxanne said. “But the expression on your face...”

“Where is your family, Roxanne?” Diane asked.

Her expression sobered. “My parents were killed in an auto accident when I was seven.”

“Oh no. Did you go to live with relatives?” Diane asked.

“There were no close relatives,” she said. “I went into the foster care system. I was in a group home for a while, but I eventually ended up with a lovely couple. I lived with them until I went away to college.”

“That must have been difficult for you,” his mother said.

“Everyone has difficult things in their life,” Roxanne said. “But we can’t let those things define us.”

Dalton had to look away, afraid she would mistake his admiration for pity. She had been through so much, yet come through it all with such grace—or at least it seemed that way to him.

“Mom, you outdid yourself with dinner.” Aaron, seated on Roxanne’s other side, said. Dalton remembered that he, too, knew Roxanne’s history. Was he deliberately trying to get their mom on to another topic?

Roxanne turned to Bethany. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Where are you getting married?”

“At Eagle Lodge, in the mountains above town,” Bethany said. “It has the most beautiful views and I think we’re timing it for the best fall color.”

“No one is going to be looking at the scenery when you walk down the aisle,” Diane said. She leaned toward Roxanne. “She has the most beautiful dress. And her bridesmaids are all wearing a gorgeous russet silk—all the colors are fall inspired, and the flowers are maroon and dark blue. It’s going to be stunning.”

“It sounds beautiful,” Roxanne said.

“It’s exciting,” Bethany said. “But really, I’m most excited to be married to Ian.” The couple locked eyes, and Dalton could have sworn at least half the women in the room sighed. Hewas pretty sure Roxanne wasn’t one of them, but she did look a little misty-eyed. What was it about weddings that always got to women? He didn’t have anything against them, but he didn’t see why the wedding was so important. What happened after the wedding—living life together as a couple “’til death do we part”—seemed to matter to him more than a brief ceremony.

Finally, dinner was done and everyone pushed back from the table. “Let me help you clear up,” Roxanne said.

“The men will take care of that,” Diane said. She put her hand on Roxanne’s arm. “I love to cook, but if I’m going to do all that work, someone else has to clean.”