"Jade, why are you doing this again? I keep telling you, it''s not good for your back. What if you throw it out again?" M dashed down the garden path into the flower beds, reaching for the trowel in Jade''s hand.


    "I''m not that fragile," Jade muttered, brushing her off. "If I don''t keep moving, that''s when my back will really give in... And who''s this?" She cut herself off mid- sentence, nodding toward Forrest, who was trailing behind M.


    "Jade, this is Forrest the one I told you about. He''s brilliant-helped me so much with my research since college," M exined. "Forrest, this is my great-aunt."


    "Nice to meet you, ma''am." Forrest''s voice was a little tense, but he managed aposed smile.


    "Friendly, aren''t you?" Jade''s tone was less than warm.


    "Jade!" M tugged at her sleeve, worried. She''d brought Forrest home to reassure her aunt, not to have him grilled.


    "Oh, rx.” Ignoring Forrest, Jade looked M up and down, her frown deepening. "So, does the Montgomery family feed you at all? Every time you visit, youe back looking thinner. I''ve told you again and again-what''s so great about that ce? Why bother with them?"


    "Jade..." M softened her voice, giving her aunt''s hand a gentle squeeze.


    "Hmph." With Forrest present, Jade held her tongue, dropped the trowel, and took M by the hand. “You must be hungry. I''ve got everything ready; let''s eat and get you settled in first."


    The dining room table was piled high with food-a generous spread of both Western and homeyfort dishes. The Suthend family didn''t stand on ceremony; M and Miranda sat on either side of Jade, who presided at the head of the table, asionally joining the conversation.


    Forrest kept mostly quiet.


    Quiet, but not idle-he reached across the table to serve M, passing her dishes just out of reach, helping fill her te. The butler standing by to serve found himself with nothing left to do.


    This time, M didn''t protest.


    Even though she felt self-conscious under the watchful eyes of her aunt and friend, she forced herself to ept Forrest''s gestures. She''d brought him here to set her aunt''s mind at ease-this was her bold leap, and embarrassment was a small price to pay.


    Besides, Forrest really did know her well. He served everything she liked, never missing a beat, and as she ate, she realized her te was never empty-not


    once.


    All the while, Jade watched Forrest from the corner of her eye, giving nothing away.


    When lunch was over, Jade arranged for Forrest to have a guest room, then kept M back for a brief chat before dering she needed her nap and dismissing everyone.


    She didn''t mention Forrest at all.


    Back in her bedroom, M flopped onto the bed, still feeling out of sorts. Miranda threw herself down beside her. M sighed. “This is weirdosn''t my aunt supposed to be desperate for me to get married? I finally bring a man home, and she doesn''t ask a single question!"


    She was genuinely stumped. Honestly, even though she''d been married once before, this was her first time bringing someone home to meet the family-and she had no idea what she was doing.


    It was all strangely new.


    Looking back, herst marriage had skipped every normal step.


    Well, that was then...


    "Maybe she just wants to observe a bit more?" Miranda rolled over to study her, then added, “But seriously, he seems nice, but have you really decided he''s the one?"


    "I..." M hesitated, her voice small. "I don''t know. But I want to try."


    Miranda gave her a searching look, then a sh of realization crossed her face. "Wait. Are you just bringing someone home to keep your aunt from worrying? Just for show?"


    M went silent.


    "Oh, M..." Miranda patted her back. "Marriage isn''t something to joke about. Wasn''t yourst experience enough? And what if your aunt finds out?"


    "I don''t know what else to do." M''s voice was weary. She told Miranda about her aunt''s phone call the day before, frustration clear in her tone. She was never good at handling rtionships, but she couldn''t bear to upset her aunt. Still, the idea of picking someone at random from a matchmaking dinner was out of the question.


    At least she knew Forrest.


    And, truthfully, she owed him-in more ways than one.


    Miranda understood. After a moment, she sighed and asked quietly, "But do you


    like him? I mean, really like him—as in, the way you''re supposed to in a rtionship?"


    M hesitated, uncertainty clouding her face.


    After a long pause, she answered, "I don''t know."


    She really didn''t-or maybe she''d just forgotten how to love someone. She could


    be incredibly good to someone, but deep down she knew-she''d almost forgotten what it felt like to fall in love.


    But...


    She thought for a moment, then added, "But when I''m with him, I don''t feel tired. It''s easy. Comfortable."


    Miranda let out a long breath. "Well, that''s a start."


    Seeing Miranda''s worried face, M managed a smile. "Don''t worry. My aunt just wants me to stop running from things. She''s not really in a hurryshe just wants me to try. As for love, I''m not going to force it. I''ll just let things happen as they will. Life is long, after all."