Page 89 of The Rebel

Seeing the place again brought back memories, making me a little homesick. Well, time to get my fill of family now.

“Mom?” I called but didn’t raise my voice too much. Dad might be sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake him up.

Mom immediately peeked her head out of the kitchen, smiling broadly, but then her eyes widened.

Oh my God.I’d never told her about Anthony. She had no idea I’d show up with him or that he and I were anything more than boss and employee.

“Hi, sweetheart!” She hurried to me, kissing my cheek.

Anthony set the bags down. “Hello, I’m Anthony LeBlanc,” he said, and Mom shook his hand.

She looked at me, then back at Anthony. “Your boss?”

“And her boyfriend,” he declared.

My breath caught in my throat, but then my entire body relaxed. I hadn’t even realized I’d been completely strung up the past few hours.

Mom blinked rapidly, looking back and forth between Anthony and me. But to her credit, she just smiled and said, “What wonderful news. I’m Rosalie. Lovely to meet you, Anthony. Why don’t you two come in?”

“How is Dad?” I asked.

“You’ll see him soon enough, sweetheart.”

“He’s not sleeping, then?”

“No. When he heard his girl was coming to visit, he insisted on staying up.”

“Oh no! He should rest.”

“Oh, he’s well rested. He’s done nothing but sleep and grumble since he came home. He moved into the study downstairs so he could get around more easily with the crutches. I think his ribs are what’s bothering him most. The Tanner boys brought the bed from the guest room down here for him, and that’s been very helpful.”

“How thoughtful of them.” The Tanners were employed by my parents to help around the farm.

The three of us moved toward the study.

“He’ll be happy you came with a boyfriend. If I’d known, I would’ve made more pie.”

“Anthony took care of all the flights and everything,” I told her. “I was so upset, I wasn’t even able to focus.”

Mom had the good sense to look guilty. “I’m sorry, darling. But see, that’s why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to worry.”

I shook my head but didn’t say anything else. We’d talk more later.

The study wasn’t big, but it was large enough to allow a bed next to the desk. My parents had replaced the huge library they’d had when I was a kid with smaller shelves that mostly held paperwork.

Dad was lying down, wearing headphones. The second he saw us, he took them out. He had a cast on his leg, of course, and some sort of sling around his upper body. “My girl, you’re here!”

“Hey, Dad.”

His eyes went comically wide.

“This is her boyfriend, Anthony,” Mom said as Anthony opened his mouth.

“How do you do? Anthony LeBlanc, sir.”

Dad blinked rapidly, clearing his throat. “Hi! What a surprise.”

I felt a tiny bit of satisfaction that I’d surprised my parents. Maybe this would drive home the point that our communication was faulty.