Page 35 of Promise Me, Katie (Bennett Sisters #1)

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” she said, holding Mrs. Brandon’s hand.

“Sarah, I must say that I find your son to be an absolute delight. The Chief and I had Matthew by our home for dinner, and he was nothing less than a perfect gentleman. We were both very impressed with him. And I know my husband continues to be, now that Matthew’s a member of our police department. ”

Praise for Matthew seemed to soften Sarah, and she thanked Katherine’s mother for extending such kind hospitality to their son.

“This was a big move for our Matthew. He’s never lived this far from home, and then with the accident—” Sarah glanced at Katherine as if she regretted bringing up Julia. “Well, anyway, we drove over to check on him and help out with our granddaughter.”

Then Mr. Brandon smiled at Katherine as she held Libby.

“Suffice it to say, we were happy to find out Matthew wasn’t alone,” he added. “If we’d known Katie was helping with Libby and keeping Matthew company, we wouldn’t have worried about him.”

Ginny glanced at Katherine, fighting hard to hide her astonishment. Her expression seemed to say I’ll be getting all the details from you later, young lady.

For now, Ginny turned to the Brandons with a pleasant grin and boasted, “Yes, well, we raised our girls to treat friends like family. And family always helps family.”

With her mother laying on the charm pretty thick, Katherine wondered if there was a way to escape to the sanctuary of her kitchen and leave them there talking.

But before she could think of a good enough excuse to disappear, the front door of the diner opened, and Matthew walked in with Justin trailing close behind.

“Mom? Dad?”

Immediately, relief washed over Katherine when she saw Matthew. His timing couldn’t have been better. He was like a knight in shining armor riding in to save the day. Smiling, she admired her handsome hero in his uniform, then, for a second, remembered what he looked like without it.

“Katherine…” her mother whispered, snapping her out of her daydream as Matthew stepped forward to take Libby.

“Da-da!” Libby said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You okay?” Matthew asked Katherine under his breath.

“Yes, but I think my mother is on the verge of doing backflips,” Katherine whispered, aware that Ginny was watching them.

“Officer Macomb!” Beth Ann called out, stepping forward to play even more interference for Katherine. “It’s almost time for lunch. How about an ice-cold Coke and a BLT?”

Seeing the Bennetts and Brandons together, Justin let Beth Ann usher him to his favorite booth. “Sir… ma’am…” he said with the tilt of his head, smiling politely as he passed by.

After everyone greeted one another, Matthew turned to his parents. “So, what are you doing here?”

“Your dad and I thought we’d stop by this adorable little diner for an early lunch,” Sarah explained. “And we happened to run into Katie and her mother.”

“ Happened to, Mom?” Matthew teased. “Then I guess it’s pretty fortunate you just happened to come to Katie’s diner.”

“Yes, it was,” Sarah agreed, turning to Ginny. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gotten the chance to meet her mother. Which has been wonderful.”

“Yes, it’s been wonderful meeting you, too,” Ginny agreed. “But I’m sorry, I must be off. I have so many things to do today.”

“You can’t stay for lunch?” Katherine asked, her composure crumbling at the thought of being left to fend for herself.

“I’m afraid not, darling,” she said, giving Katherine a quick hug. “But I’m pleased to see that everything is alright.”

Matthew’s parents looked confused.

“It seems the citizens of Windsong thought something was wrong when Katherine closed the diner early yesterday,” Ginny explained as Mr. and Mrs. Brandon nodded, even though it was obvious they still didn’t understand.

“So, imagine my surprise and relief to find out there was nothing worry about, and that she was only helping a friend with his adorable baby girl.”

As Ginny smiled at Libby, Sarah’s brows lifted in curiosity while Matt only smiled his approval at Katherine and his son.

“Mom, before you go, can you at least talk for a second?”

“I’m sorry, darling, but I really can’t right now. I’ll call you later.” Then Ginny added that Matthew should bring Libby and his parents by for dinner. “I’m sure I can throw a little something together.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bennett,” Matthew said. “We’ll try.”

Once she was gone, Katherine felt the weight of being alone with Matthew’s parents without her mother’s protective charm and friendly small talk.

“Mama,” Libby called out, leaning away from Matthew so that Katherine would hold her.

At first, Matthew hesitated handing Libby over. But since Katherine only smiled and held out her hands, his shoulders relaxed, and even his mother’s expression softened at seeing her son’s happy face.

“I’m sorry, where are my manners,” Katherine said, shifting Libby to one hip. “Let’s get you settled in for lunch.”

“That’s a great idea,” Matthew agreed. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pretty hungry.”

When Matt and Sarah agreed, joining Justin in the big corner booth, Katherine felt her nerves starting to ease as Beth Ann appeared with menus for everyone.

“Justin, I got Zach to put your order on hold so everyone else has time to look at the menu. In the meantime, I’ll bring out some fries and dipping sauces for you to snack on while you wait.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Justin said.

“No problem.” Beth Ann grinned. “And you folks take your time with those menus. Everything you see is excellent. Katherine’s taught Zach everything he knows, so anything from the kitchen is a sure bet.”

“Thank you… Beth Ann,” Sarah said after leaning forward to read her name tag. “We’ve already had some of Katie’s scratch-made pancakes, and they were excellent. So fluffy and delicious.”

Beth Ann looked surprised but played it off until she was far enough away from Matthew’s parents.

“So… pancakes for Mom and Dad,” she whispered as she passed Katherine and Matthew, headed to the kitchen for the fries she’d promised.

Without anyone else noticing, they shared a glance and a grin before Matthew took Libby and went in search of a high chair.

“Back corner!” Katherine called out before turning to go into the kitchen and speak to her friend.

She was determined to put an end to the teasing, but Beth Ann was already headed back toward the table with a basket of fries and a selection of Katherine’s super-secret dipping sauces.

The self-satisfied smirk on her face said it all.

“Did I happen to mention I was planning on giving you a raise?” Katherine commented as Beth Ann walked by.

“Cool. Can’t wait to spend it!”

When Beth Ann reached the booth, her smile was somehow bigger. “Katherine’s just the best boss ever,” she gushed to the Brandons, then explained the flavor profiles of the different dipping sauces.

Having returned with the high chair, Matthew left Libby in his mother’s care and caught up with Katherine just before she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked. “I’m sorry. I had no idea they’d be here. I just wanted to see you, so I told Justin I’d buy him lunch if we could come here instead of grabbing a pizza or going through Bunny’s drive-thru.”

Katherine smiled, knowing the only thing Justin Macomb liked more than food was free food.

“It’s okay. They just caught me off guard,” she said, looking down at her all-black work clothes. “This wasn’t exactly how I thought I’d be meeting them.”

“Don’t worry about it. You look beautiful.”

As Beth Ann came their way with her order pad in hand, she added, “I tell her the same thing, but do you think she ever listens to me?”

“Beth Ann—”

“Fine… I’m sorry to interrupt.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you ordering lunch too, Matthew?”

As Matthew started to reply, Beth Ann was already scribbling on her order pad.

“I know. BLT, extra T.”

“Impressive memory.”

When Beth Ann curtsied before slipping back into the kitchen, Katherine shook her head in embarrassment, but Matthew only laughed. “Don’t let it get to you.”

“I’m trying but she’s such a nutcase.”

“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.