His Other Woman: A Renny and Rachel Christmas Romance Read Online Free Page B

Renny exchanged a look, part worry, part knowing. Ruth also looked a bit tired. It had to be a huge weight to have all these people descending on the household at a time when her husband was clearly ill.
    I also found out that Ruth had just started using the walker and hated it. She didn’t think she really needed it but after double knee surgery her doctor had insisted.
    The dinner was some kind of chicken thing, delicious, but I could barely get a mouthful down. Something about being around Ruth made me incredibly nervous. I knew she was the one I had to impress. Jonathan had been easy; love a man’s alpacas and you are in. Renny had finally told me Ruth didn’t get along with Claire because Claire insisted on having her own opinions. They’d had a huge blow-out over what color couch Claire wanted in her living room. In her own living room. Apparently Ruth believes only earth tone colors are appropriate and the bright red sofa Claire picked was tantamount to trailer décor. Wow. Renny didn’t have to tell me to keep my mouth shut after that, I couldn’t have expressed myself if I tried. For the first time in my life I wanted to be a good, little girl, just there to support her man. I knew these people were everything to him and I was not about to make it a showdown between them and me, mostly because I knew I would lose big time.
    As soon as dessert was served Ruth pushed it aside and opened a file folder next to her plate.
    “Oh God,” Garrett moaned.
    She passed a typed, precise itinerary for the next day to each of us.  As I looked at mine Renny leaned over and whispered, “Now you see where I get my spontaneous nature.”
    I guffawed causing Ruth to look at me. “The boys like to make fun of me but when there’s this many people to account for you have to be organized. For some reason none of the men in this family have learned that lesson.”
    “That’s what we have Jed for,” Said Renny.
    “I thought Jed was your driver?”
    “He’s our road manager as well,” Renny answered.
    “He’s their babysitter,” Ruth joined in, with a smile.
    “And your spy,” Garrett added.
    “He has to make a living somehow since you never remember to pay him, poor dear boy,” she said, actually laughing a bit.
    I liked this side of Ruth, loving, open and with a sense of humor. I got a sense of what she must be like in happier times. She was intense, smart, a wiseass and clearly loved her boys. She reminded me a little bit of myself. Okay, a lot of myself.  Freud would have been delighted.
    I looked over at Renny and then at Garrett.  Ruth may drive them crazy, always insisting they be better men but then she had done a damn good job with them. Even Garrett was polite when he had to be and for all his womanizing I could see he respected the women in his family. That was the obviously Ruth’s doing.
    We all read through the day’s activities, asking Ruth questions about what was expected of us. Apparently, nothing was expected of me, although the rest of the family had jobs throughout the day, including Claire. There was an outdoor gathering starting around noon. People could swim or play games on the massive lawns. It was Ren’s job to set up the croquet field and the lawn bowling. Garrett was in charge of stocking the ice chests and coolers around the yard and stocking them with an assortment of family friendly drinks. Reade and Claire got the inside of the house, helping keep the buffet stocked and acting as welcome committee.
    There was a huge musical sing-along planned for the late afternoon. It sounded epic and I looked forward to my very own Taylor Brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, etc. concert.
    If nothing else, it would give me the chance to gaze at Renny adoringly without anyone noticing. I had to admit that gazing at Renny, watching him move, gesture with his lithe hands, see his eyes crinkle and his dimples dimple was still one of my greatest past times. I was in love. Like a school kid. In