Free Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey Page A

word.”
    She sighed—the deep, meaningful sigh only a mother could really master. “What is it you want me to do?”
    “Cat wants to meet you. Maybe have dinner. I was thinking… hoping you and Uncle Leo could have a barbeque.”
    She was still considering it when Joe walked into the kitchen and stopped. Sean watched him take in his mother’s body language and turn to retreat.
    “Joseph, did you know about this craziness Sean’s involved with?”
    The guy gave him a look promising retribution in the near future and turned back to his mom. “Yes, I did.”
    “And you didn’t tell me?”
    “It wasn’t my place, Ma. And they’re not hurting anybody.”
    “It’s wrong.”
    Joe smiled what was probably supposed to be a placating smile, but his obvious amusement at Sean’s predicament was ruining it. “It’s wrong that Emma wanted her grandmother to enjoy her new life in Florida?”
    “Don’t get wise with me, Joseph. That’s not the issue here.”
    “It is the issue,” Sean said, drawing his aunt’s gaze back to him. “Her grandmother’s peace of mind is exactly the issue.”
    She stared at his face intently for what seemed like forever and he hoped like hell none of his own doubts showed there. “Saturday. Anytime after three and we’ll fire the grills at five.”
    “Thank you, Aunt Mary.”
    “I’ll keep my mouth shut and play along, but if she asks me outright if you two are up to no good, I won’t lie.”
    He couldn’t see why Cat would ask a question like that. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
    “Go before I change my mind.”
    He went, Joe on his heels, and didn’t stop until he was safely in the driveway. “Your mother can be a scary lady sometimes.”
    Joe leaned against the fender. “How the hell did you talk her into it?”
    “I told her I’d have to stay away—claim we had a falling out—if she didn’t.”
    “Ouch. But I hope you realize Ma was the easy part.”
    That was the easy part? He didn’t think so. “What do you mean?”
    “What are you going to do about the five kids who know that not only were you not engaged last week, but that they haven’t been writing letters for Lisa to send to you at Emma’s house for the last year and a half.”
    “Shit.” Every time he thought he had his eye on the ball and could smack it out of the park, it curved on him again. “I didn’t even think of them. Dammit.”
    Joe laughed and slapped him on the back. “We’ll take care of the kids. Don’t worry.”
    “Thanks, man.” He started to climb into his truck, then stopped. “Look, I know this is funny to you guys but don’t forget it’s not a joke to Emma and Cat. If we blow this, her grandmother’s going to be really upset.”
    Joe grinned and slapped the side of the truck. “Come on, cousin. You know we’ve always got your back.”
    “Yeah, that’s where you usually stick the Kick Me sign.” His cousin was still laughing when he backed out of the driveway.
     
    “I never would have guessed something with orange juice and soy sauce in it could taste so good,” Emma said, leaning back in the lawn chair with a sigh. They’d demolished Gram’s honey-ginger grilled salmon in record time and she had no desire to move.
    “I’ll write the recipe down for you.”
    “I’ll just screw it up anyway.”
    Gram laughed. “All you do is mix the ingredients together, pour it in a bag with the salmon and half an hour later, give it to Sean to throw on the grill. He cooked the salmon to perfection tonight.”
    Of course he did. As he’d told her earlier, she had nothing to worry about because the Y chromosome came with an innate ability to master the barbeque grill.
    “The salad was good, too,” Sean said.
    “Thanks,” Emma muttered. “Even I can’t screw up shredding lettuce.”
    The man looked incredibly relaxed for somebody who’d been raked over the coals by his aunt and was now relaxing with two women he barely knew. She, on the other hand, felt like