All in the Timing Read online

  Eli waited, and held hands with Theresa and Frank when Theresa gave thanks over the food. Together, they ate in companionable comfort.

  ****

  They were settled in the living room after dinner. Eli looked over at Frank with a bit of a frown and asked, “Where is your mom anyway? I thought she was just going to go to the bathroom and wash her hands?”

  “Nope, had to dig these out of the boxes,” Theresa said. She was grinning when she walked over to the sofa, a stack of books in her hands. When Theresa settled down next to her, Eli could see they were photo albums. The groan from Frank told her which ones they were, too.

  Eli snickered and put her bottle of water down. She watched as Mrs. Carver flipped open the first photo album and listened to the stories that she told about Frank and his nudist ways.

  “Here he is racing through the garden. Which happened to be the same day the ladies were over. We were discussing the merits of various locations for our Spring Fling. Frank Sr. snapped this, and then this one.” Theresa showed her a photo where five ladies all were staring wide-eyed, Theresa with a hand over her eyes, and two-year-old Frank Jr.’s naked backside as he stood with his arms and legs wide in a proud stance. “The little bugger grinned at us after his ta-da, and then raced off laughing at the top of his little lungs.”

  “Oh God, that’s awesome.” Eli giggled and looked at Frank. “He still gets that look on his face from time to time, too.” She bumped her shoulder to Frank’s and added, “And sometimes, he still takes that very stance.” Just before they’d come tonight, in fact. After he had gotten rid of the condom, he had taken that stance in the bathroom before coming to get into bed with her again.

  “It was definitely his thing,” Theresa said. The older woman showed Elizabeth an array of other photos, all starring Frank, though there were a few with a very young Brant, and eventually, Travis. “This is one of the last ones he let me take,” Theresa said. Sliding it out of the protection of the book, she passed it over. “It’s the day Helena was born. Frank Sr. brought the boys to the hospital to meet their baby sister. Poor Travis was traumatized. She threw up on him when he went to say hello. He wouldn’t go near her for over three years without a tarp for protection.” The picture had the three boys, Frank in the center holding Helena in his arms, and all of them but Travis smiling at the camera. Travis had his arms crossed over his little chest and was glaring at the baby.

  Eli touched the image with reverent care and smiled. “So happy. Even with Travis glaring, there is happiness.” She loved the fact that, even in the bad times, they all seemed to be happy and so strong. Especially Mrs. Carver. “You have raised such an amazing family.”

  “It’s a miracle really,” she said. “It’s amazing what having seven screaming little adults under the same roof will do to a woman’s sanity. Between the stunts, the pranks, and the rivalry.” Theresa rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. “The fact they all survived to adulthood and turned into reasonable facsimiles of human beings is the real miracle here.”

  “And you with your modesty and sanity intact,” Frank commented. Which earned him a look of death from his mother. Not that he seemed to notice. He just gave Eli a squeeze, and kissed her cheek. “We should get going, love. You need to get some sleep tonight if you’re going to go into work tomorrow before being taken off for your fitting.”

  “Oh, yes, what time am I collecting her again, dear?” Theresa asked.

  “The appointment’s at six, Mama. If you collect her at five-thirty, you’ll make it with plenty of time. Then come by her place afterwards and we’ll feed you. I’ll even cook for the purpose of ensuring to my future bride you weren’t lying to her.”

  “I would love that,” Eli said honestly, and felt tears pricking her eyes. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I had always dreamed that my mom would be with me when I picked out my dress to get married in.” Granted, her parents would have had heart attacks had they known she had been fornicating with Frank before marriage. “So thank you for being willing to come with me, Mama.”

  “Of course, baby.” Theresa set the books aside, and then she wrapped her arms around Eli. “I’m happy to do it, even if it’s not for the wedding I helped plan out. I know this is what you both want, and that’s good enough for me. You will be a gorgeous bride no matter how you slice it, and Frank will be stumbling all over himself. That you can bet on by the time I’m done with you.”

  “Thank you. It is exactly what we want,” Eli assured Theresa.

  “Pssht.” Theresa waved a hand. “I’m working with perfection, so there’s really not a hell of a lot for me to do. We could stick you in a potato sack, and you’d still be the prettiest bride seen in these parts for much too long. Now, would you two like some of the apple crumble pie, or are you antsy to get out of here?”

  Eli blushed and she laughed. “You are too funny. And I would dearly love apple crumble pie, please.” She looked at Frank and asked, “We have time for pie, right?” She happened to love pie, anything sweet actually.

  “There’s always time for pie,” he said.

  “Especially in this house,” Theresa told her with a grin. “Now, I know Frank hates ice cream, but did you want some with it? Since it will be coming out from under the warmer, it should start to melt it right quick, how I prefer having my ice cream and pie together.”

  “Yes, please. Oh that sounds perfect.” She looked to Frank and winked at him. “He might not like ice cream and pie, but I do. A lot. Especially if you have vanilla.”

  “Homemade vanilla bean ice cream,” Theresa said. She set the books aside and pushed to her feet. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Oh, and Frank doesn’t like ice cream at all. Boy never has. No clue why, but it’s always been that way with him.”

  It wasn’t until Theresa left the room that Eli turned around and looked at Frank. “Why don’t you like ice cream? Not that there is anything at all wrong with it. I’m just a bit curious is all.”

  He gave a shrug and tightened his hold on her. “Dunno. I’ve tried it a few times, but I don’t like it. I’ve never really thought about the whys of it. It’s a fact of life. Besides, there are lots of other things out there beyond ice cream to eat, so I’ve never worried one way or another.”

  “That’s perfectly fine, love. I just didn’t know if there was something that had happened to cause you to not like it or what was going on is all. I love ice cream, so I will eat it for you, okay?”

  He gave a laugh. “I had a feeling you’d offer to sacrifice yourself for the cause. But no, there’s never been a specific reason. The others didn’t seem to mind either, meant they got slightly bigger helpings since they could split up what I’d have gotten among themselves.”

  “Oh I bet. Especially having as many siblings as you. That made you a super popular person because they got more, right? Although I bet at your birthday it pissed them off because you didn’t have ice cream with your cake.”

  “There was always ice cream,” he told her. “Even on my birthday, which Mama finally stopped celebrating when I was ten. I hated being the center of attention, so I begged her to stop it. Never was the standard oldest sibling, not how I’m wired. Unless one of the others is in trouble, then I tend to go back to the standards.”

  “Oh lord, then our wedding is going to drive you nuts, isn’t it?” Which was why she wanted a small wedding. She hated being the center of attention as well. “We are quite the pair, aren’t we? Neither of us like to be the center of attention and both of us are more than happy to simply blend into the shadows.” No wonder she loved him as much as she did. They were the same.

  “It will be fine,” he said. “It really won’t be all that bad since it’s a one day thing. I really want to have you all to myself, but that’s hardly fair. Especially on such a momentous occasion. I have this odd urge to show you off. I know, strange, right? But it’s true.”

  “That’s very strange, but you know what? I like it. I have this urge to show you of
f as well. To show everyone that you are mine and they darn tootin’ better leave you alone or they will answer to me.”

  Frank blinked at her, and then his lips curled a little. “You have a possessive streak. I rather like it. I also approve of it one hundred percent since I happen to feel the same way about you.”

  “I have a possessive streak a mile wide when it comes to you. It’s been so hard for me not to walk up to you and claim you as mine. I know how odd that is, but there it is.” They hadn’t even been a thing before now, but she had always wanted to claim him as hers.

  “You should have said something, Eli,” he said quietly. Pressing a kiss to her neck, he nipped at her skin lightly. “We could have been making love, having sex, getting our freak on even a lot sooner. I know my cock would have appreciated the gesture. Poor thing’s taken a beating over the years from all the fantasies I’ve had centered around you.”

  “I didn’t tell you because you didn’t even act as if you knew that I was alive. When we talked, you acted more like you couldn’t wait to be rid of me than anything. I’m sure I would have appreciated feeling your hands on me, teaching me and loving me, instead of my fingers and a vibrator.”

  She felt the jolt that rocked his body. “Baby,” he breathed out. Shifting, he turned her face toward him with a gentle finger on her chin, guiding her around. “I never meant to make you feel that way. I’m sorry if you did. Fuck am I ever sorry, but it was never because I didn’t want you. Damn it I wish I could tell you what was, what is going on, but I can’t. I need you to know, though, that it was never once you.”

  She touched her fingers to his lips and shook her head. “Hey, I didn’t say that to cause you issue. I really didn’t. I just wanted you to know where I was on things. No more concerns about the past. Only today and all our tomorrows. If you are ever able to tell me about your past, I’m good with it. If you can’t, I’m good with it. Your job doesn’t define you. You define you.” He was compassionate, giving, loving, and everything she had ever dreamed of having in a mate. She was never going to let him go.

  He nipped at her fingers, and then leaned in to kiss her lightly. “Later, when we get home tonight, I want you to show me how you brought yourself to orgasm with your fingers. I want to watch you stroke yourself. I want to see you come by your own hand.”

  She didn’t get to answer him since his mother swept back into the room with a tray of dishes. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Theresa asked.

  “Not at all, Mama,” Frank told her.

  Frank answering first gave Eli a moment to collect herself. “No, not at all.” She was proud that she was able to speak without too much of a pant in her words, without them coming out too breathy and showing just how out of it and needy she was feeling.

  Theresa handed off their dishes before taking one for herself and settling in across from them in an armchair. “Well, I know what it’s like to be young and in love, so don’t feel the need to stick around after dessert. Now, eat up, you two, before poor Elizabeth expires from whatever you’ve been telling her, Frank.”

  “That obvious?” Eli asked with a grin, taking a bite of the crumble and sighing. “Oh goodness, this is so good.” She then dug in and began to truly enjoy the ice cream and pie.

  “Only to someone with a pair of eyes,” Theresa said. She threw Eli a wink, and then dug into her own dessert.

  Frank, on the other hand, appeared to be more interested in watching Eli while she ate her dessert than in his own dish in his lap. He seemed very focused on her mouth.

  Eli found herself blushing, at least she assumed she was blushing because of how hot her cheeks felt. Finally, she turned to look at Frank and grinned. “What?” she asked, and put her hand on his knee. “Talk to me. You are staring at me. Do I have something on my face?”

  He shook his head. “No,” he said. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I find I do like watching you, though not always at the most opportune times since it usually ends up with a bunch of interestingly naughty thoughts running through my mind. Finish up, love. Then we can head home so you can get a full night’s sleep.”

  Eli looked at his mom and then him. She nodded. “Right, okay.” Goodness gravy, she couldn’t believe he had said that in front of his mom! But, she couldn’t find that she hated it, so there was that.

  “Oh don’t mind me,” Theresa said. “If that’s the worse he says in front of me, he’ll still be lowest on the totem pole of worst things to say in front of one’s mother. You should hear some of the things Joshua’s spouted off in my presence. Or worse yet, Brant.” Theresa shook her head and let out a groan. “I swear to God, I raised them all better.”

  “Oh lord, I don’t think that I want to know,” Eli confessed when she turned to look back at Theresa Carver. “They are happy, though, your boys. That is why it doesn’t matter that much to you, isn’t it? Because you know that they are happy and in love.”

  “That definitely helps temper the need to smack them all upside their heads, yes. Though, every now and again, I have to practically physically restrain myself against the urge.”

  Frank gave a snort, and Eli would have sworn he was laughing given the slight jostling she was getting. But a look at his face said she had to be wrong. Maybe.

  “Right, well now you can turn your focus to Martin as well as your girls. Play matchmaker to get them moving on into their happily-ever-afters?” Because she couldn’t wait for that, to be honest. She was looking forward to watching the remaining three Carver kids find their forevers, just as she found hers with Frank.

  “Tried that once,” she admitted. “Didn’t go so well. Apparently, I’m not that good at it. More of a motivator than anything else. So far, my babies have done impressively well finding the women who will stand by them through everything that might come and will love them as they deserve to be loved.”

  “Right, okay, well then…” She blushed at the praise she wasn’t accustomed to. “I’m glad that you think that I’m good enough for Frank. And the other boys do have amazing wives. You have been very lucky.” Especially since the women all loved Theresa Carver like a mother.

  “Of course you’re good enough for my son. He chose you, and you chose him. Out of every person on earth, the two of you found each other. You were fated to be together, as fanciful as that may sound, but it’s something I believe strongly in. Now, finish up your desserts so you can get home and go to sleep.” The way his mother said “sleep” said she didn’t believe for one second that’s what they’d be doing.

  Eli snorted. Oh God, that was too funny. At least his mother knew just what was up, so that was a plus. She finished her desert and put the dish on the table, leaning back on the sofa and waiting for Frank to finish. She was happy to just be there with them, listening to Frank and Theresa chatting.

  Once he’d finished, they said their goodbyes. Theresa hugged them one at a time, and then stood in the doorway to wave at them as they drove off the ranch. “So, you survived dinner with Mama. How you feeling over there?” Frank asked her once they were on the road back to town.

  “I’m feeling good. I adore your mom. I always have, though,” she admitted. “I personally think that she’s a force of nature, but I’m okay with that.” Because his mom was on their side, and that meant so much more to Eli than she could tell him. “I just hope that I survive tomorrow.”

  “You’ll be fine. Mama has her moments where she seems to steamroll over everyone around her, but it’s really not all bad. You just need to remember that you have to cut her off, distract her, or change the topic before she builds up to full steam ahead.” He looked over at her, reaching out to take her hand in hers, and squeezed. “You’ll be fine.”

  “Just promise me that you will save me should the need arise?” She didn’t think it would come to that, but it was good to have options should she need them.

  “I will come to save you if you put out the nine-one-one. I seriously doubt you’ll need it, though.”

 
“So you said something about us going home and getting naked?”

  He shot her another look, this one with a bit of a grin. “We are definitely heading straight home, getting naked, and then I’m going to do many naughty things to you.”

  “Good. I can’t wait.” She grinned. “Because the sooner I have you naked with me, the better I will feel.” She loved how he teased her and got her body humming and ready without much trouble at all.

  “I feel the same way, sweetheart. I like having you naked, in my arms, and all nice and soft. Makes a man very happy to know his woman feels the same way. Especially when that woman is you.”

  “That’s a very good thing.”

  He gave her a wink. Hitting the edge of town, he had to slow their pace. Not exactly something her body was happy about, but there really wasn’t another option.

  “I see that they are still watching out for anyone that might be just a bit on the speedy side,” she said when they passed the parked sheriff’s car that was waiting behind a billboard for someone to speed by on the long, flat stretch of road.

  “With the number of folks coming to town, both moving here and visiting, they’ve been doing pretty well for themselves. It’s a prime spot given there’s no warning sign that the speed limit’s about the change. Ever since Monty flattened it fifteen years ago, the sheriff’s not bothered to replace it.”

  “Oh I can imagine.” People tended to forget that the speed limit was only 55 through this long stretch of road, mostly because it was long and flat. It was easy to speed.

  “The other favorite spot they have is one of the back roads leading in. All the locals know about it, but the newbies and tourists get nailed often. Someone needs to get that man out of office, especially given the fact that he’s under the mayor’s thumb.”

  “Oh yeah, no kidding there.” She sighed and shook her head. “Hopefully soon, the mayor will be gone. I am hopeful that I will be able to get him out of office when elections come.” She was running against him because she was determined to have him out of there and finally put Massey back to where it should be. She might hate being the center of attention, and was as shy as they came, but she also knew what was right and what was wrong. While she would rather anyone else do this, she knew she was the best person for the job.