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“You know he’s never brought a woht?” This came from one of Lance’s cousins’ wives, Sara Beth

“He seems to be head over heels about you,” another said “Told us you tork together and recently became an item”

“We want the full scoop,” one of his dad’s sisters added

“Um, well, sounds like you already know the full scoop,” McKenzie began slowly She didn’t want to give Lance’s fa idea “We have been friends since I returned to Coopersville after finishing my residency”

“So you’re froinally? Your family is still there?”

“My ”

His ht know him What’s his name?”

She hoped they didn’t know hihly successful lawyer, but personally? Her father was amess If Lance’s mother knew him, it probably meant he’d hit on her Not the impression McKenzie wanted Lance’s mother to have of her

Avoiding the question, she said instead, “I don’t have any brothers or sisters but, like Lance, I do have a few cousins” Nice enough people but they rarely all got together Really, the only time McKenzie saw them hen one of them was sick and was seen at the clinic “My parents divorced when I was four and I never quite got past that”

She only added the last part so Lance’s family would hopefully move on past the subject of her parents Definitely not because she wanted to talk about her parents’ divorce She never talked about that At least, not the nitty-gritty details that had led up to her world falling apart

“Poor thing,” Lance’s e”

“Amen,” another of Lance’s aunts said “Lance’s Uncle Gerry is asoline and fire, always explosive”

The conversation continued while they cleaned up the re from one subject to another but never back to McKenzie’s parents She liked Lance’s noisy, warm family

“Well, we’re just so happy you’re here, McKenzie It’s about time that boy found someone to pull him out of the past”

McKenzie glanced toward the aunt who’d spoken up Her confusion must have shown because the wo to decide how much more to say