A frown darkened her face. “Okay, okay, but on the inside I’m still mad.”
“Not my problem,” Cassie said, giving herself one last look before she turned away from the mirror. Her hair had grown out enough that she could cut it back to what it’d been like before Teresa had entered the styling contest. The purple highlights were gone and she was almost back to her normal bob. She hoped Steve would notice.
No, she didn’t. It didn’t matter if he noticed or not. She hadn’t had it cut for his benefit. At least that was what she kept telling herself. They were friends. He hadn’t so much as held her hand, which was perfectly fine by her. With the two of them working on the Habitat house, anything personal could get messy. He was smart enough to recognize that and so was she.
“I’m ready,” Amiee announced impatiently. “What’s taking you so long?”
“We’re on our way.” Cassie locked up the apartment and mother and daughter walked together toward her car.
“Do you think Steve will ask us out to dinner after the ceremony?” Amiee asked with what could be interpreted only as hope. The kid thought far too much about her stomach.
“I can guarantee you he won’t.”
“Mom,” Amiee cried. “What have you done?”
“What have I done?” she repeated.
Amiee looked aghast. “Don’t tell me you broke up with Steve?”
Cassie definitely needed to find a means of curtailing her daughter’s imagination. This could get highly embarrassing. “Amiee, the two of us would need to be involved before we could break up. Steve won’t be asking us to dinner because there will be food after the ceremony. Shelly invited us both to stay. I asked if I could bring a dish and she said her extended family was taking care of everything.”
“Is it Mexican food?”
“I don’t know for sure, but probably.” Cassie knew Shelly’s mother was Hispanic.
Seemingly pacified now, Amiee asked, “Was Steve invited?”
“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. And listen, honey, please don’t embarrass Steve or me, okay?”
Ever expressive, Amiee’s head came back as if stunned. “Embarrass you how?”
“By mentioning that Steve brought us dinner and took us to the Lindo or anything else involving the two of us.”
Her daughter looked at her and then slowly shook her head. “If that’s what you want.” She sounded highly put out.
“I do, and I’m thanking you in advance.”
By the time Cassie arrived there was barely a parking spot to be had. Both sides of the street were lined with cars. The entrance to the house had a big red ribbon with a bow, and tables had been set out front that were piled high with a variety of colorful dishes.
Shelly, George, and their children stood on the small porch. They had a daughter around Amiee’s age and a nine-year-old son. The family was dressed in their finest clothes. Cassie knew that Steve had helped Shelly and George move furniture into their new home earlier in the week. Cassie had spent a couple evenings with Shelly, helping unpack boxes.
The night was lovely, although slightly overcast. Family, friends, and the Habitat staff and volunteers milled around. Cassie caught sight of Steve but didn’t make a point of seeking him out.
Amiee, however, felt no such restraint. She rushed to his side and started chattering away as if it’d been weeks since she’d last seen him. Cassie had no option other than to rescue him from her daughter.
“Why is everyone waiting?” Amiee asked Steve, as Cassie approached. “Shouldn’t they cut the ribbon? That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?”
“The priest hasn’t arrived yet.” Steve’s eyes went straight to Cassie’s and he smiled. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi.” His intense look flustered her and she quickly added, “I hope Amiee isn’t bothering you.”
“Not at all,” he assured her.
Cassie felt his gentle gaze sweep over her. “I like your haircut.”
“Thanks.” She flushed slightly and raised her hand to the back of her head before she took her daughter by the shoulder and gently steered her away from Steve.
Father Colchado arrived. He stood with the Young family and delivered a beautiful blessing, praying over the home, asking God to stand guard over this house and this beautiful family. Before the ribbon was cut, George said a few words.
“Shelly and I need to thank a number of people who were instrumental in this project. First we want to thank the local chapter of the Kiwanis Club for making this home possible for our family. Although Shelly and I have been married thirteen years, this is our first home. It gives me such pride to bring my family into this house, knowing that I helped build it with my own two hands. Shelly, too. My wife, I learned, is as good at construction as she is at making homemade tortillas.
“We both owe a debt to Steve Brody. We couldn’t have done it without him. Steve was with Shelly and me every step of the way. He was patient and generous with his time.”
“And I want to give a special thanks to Cassie Carter,” Shelly added shyly.
“Yes, Cassie, too,” George added, “plus all the other volunteers who stepped in and worked alongside of us to give us this home.”
Wearing a huge smile, George looked to his wife, who held the scissors. “You ready?”
Shelly beamed and nodded. “Ready.”
Shelly cut the ribbon and it fell away. Everyone cheered and applauded, and a sense of joy and excitement filled the air as people exchanged hugs. George led the first group in for a tour.
Cassie and Amiee followed the crowd into the house.
“This is what our house will look like when it’s built?” Amiee asked Cassie, staying close to her side and eyeing each room.
“Yes.”
“Mom,” she whispered, in what sounded like awe, “what are we going to do with all this room?”
“Oh, I think we’ll find a way of filling it up.” Cassie hid her amusement. By almost anyone’s standards this was a moderately sized home, but to Amiee it seemed huge.
After the blessing and the tour, Shelly and her family brought out paper plates and plastic forks and set up chairs around the yard. A line quickly formed for the buffet. By the time Cassie and Amiee went through, there weren’t any places left to sit.
Cassie paused and scanned the area and then saw Steve motion to her. “I’ll put the tailgate down on the truck and you and Amiee can sit there,” he suggested.
She hesitated and then realized she was being foolish. “That would be great. Thanks.”
“I don’t know if Mom wants me to tell you this or not, but I think you’re cool,” Amiee said, giving him a huge grin.
“Why, thank you.” The tailgate was high off the ground, and Steve took Amiee by the waist and effortlessly lifted her up. He looked at Cassie and raised his eyebrows.
“I weigh a bit more,” she assured him.
Steve laughed under his breath and said, “I think I can manage.” While Amiee held Cassie’s plate, Steve placed his hands at Cassie’s waist. She automatically set her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her off the ground.
He held her at eye level for just a moment longer than necessary, and in that brief space of time, their gazes locked. She read in him pain and longing and then wondered if what she saw was a reflection of what was in her own eyes. He blinked and it felt as though a shaft of electricity shot through Cassie. She sucked in her breath, convinced Steve felt it, too. When he set her down on the tailgate it was all she could do to breathe normally again.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Amiee asked Steve.
The spell was broken, and frankly, Cassie was grateful. Though if Steve had chosen to kiss her right there in front of all these people, she wouldn’t have objected. In fact, she would have welcomed it. The shock of how badly she wanted his kiss unnerved her almost as much as the fear of making a public spectacle of herself.
“I’ll get a plate now,” Steve said, and he, too, appeared relieved that the moment was over.
The few minutes he was away gave Cassie time to compose herself. If Amiee noticed anything was amiss, she didn’t mention it.