Judy Christenberry - The Texan's Reluctant Bride

“Why do you think she’s setting you up?”

“Think about it, Jim. She’s the one who sent me to Isabel Landon.”

“Oh.”

“Exactly.” He nodded. “Has she been trying to matchmake for you?”

Jim shrugged his shoulders. “I do seem to run into a lot of women…who coincidentally know Mom.”

“And you didn’t warn me?” Pete asked.

“Are you kidding? I wasn’t going to say anything that might make you change your mind about coming home.” Jim gave his brother a level look.

“Nothing was going to stop me from coming home now. I should’ve done it several years ago. But if the medicine I have to take is spending time with Tommie Tyler, I’ll just have to suffer through it.”

The Triple T’s, as the Tyler triplets called themselves, met for dinner at Teresa’s place. She’d promised to cook since school was out and she had plenty of free time.

Though the triplets were mirror images of each other, all with blond hair and big blue eyes, their interests were different, as well as their sense of style.

“So how was everyone’s day?” she asked as the three of them sat down at the table.

“Great!” Tabitha said with enthusiasm. She was such a high-energy person that it even filtered into her voice, which was high-pitched and peppy. “I’ve just about finished working out the first routine for the video. It’s going to be great.”

Tabitha was in the process of making an exercise and fitness video for teens. “You’re definitely going ahead with it?” Tommie asked.

“Yes. I’ve gotten letters from fifteen school districts interested in seeing the video when I’m finished. I think it’s going to do really well.”

“That’s great, Tabitha,” Teresa said, an encouraging smile on her face.

“It is,” Tommie agreed, “as long as you’re prepared for the opposite happening, too. You won’t be hurt if some of them turn you down?”

“No, Tommie, I won’t. I’ve been teaching these kids for four years. Do you think I convince every one of them to keep up an exercise program?” Tabitha asked with a sigh.

“She’s just being the big sister, as always,” Teresa said.

“Yeah,” Tabitha agreed. “She gets a lot of mileage out of those two minutes.”

Tommie came to her own defense. “I just worry that you might be disappointed.”

“Where were you when Roger dumped me?”

Tommie put her arms around her sister. “Sweetie, I told you he was no good.”

Tabitha rolled her eyes. “I know, I know.”

Teresa joined the hug. “But you survived, and you always will. After all, you have us,” Teresa reminded her. “Come on, eat your dinner before it gets cold. It’s a new recipe.”

Tommie took a bite and praised her youngest sister’s cooking. “This chicken is the best, Teresa. You’re such a good cook.”

“Thank you,” Teresa said with a mock bow. “You haven’t said how your day went,” she reminded Tommie.

“I think I met The One.”

That simple remark got her sisters’ attention.

“Who?” Tabitha demanded at the same time as Teresa asked, “Really?”

“Yes, I think so. He’s…oh, he’s wonderfully handsome.”

“But that’s not what’s important,” Teresa reminded her sister.

Tommie lifted her chin and added, “He’s also bright, ambitious and kind.”

“Who is he?” Tabitha asked.

“Do you remember I told you Isabel was giving me this corporation move? Well, he’s the president.”

“How old is he?” Teresa asked, looking worried.

“He didn’t say, but he didn’t look much older than thirty. He’s taking me to breakfast in the morning.”

“But isn’t that the company from Boston? I don’t think you should marry a Yankee,” Tabitha said.

“Roger was from Texas, wasn’t he? Geographic locations don’t mean that much. Besides, Pete was born and raised here. And his mother and brother still live here.”

“Ah! He has a brother. Only one?” Tabitha asked.

“That’s all he mentioned, and he didn’t tell me his brother’s age, either.”

“Tell us about him,” Teresa urged.

Tommie put down her fork, a dreamy look on her face. “He’s tall, and he has laughing hazel eyes. He’s a take-charge kind of guy, but not rigid.”

“How much time did you spend with him?” Teresa asked.

“Five minutes.”

“And you got all of that in five minutes?” Tabitha asked.

“I’m a good judge of character,” Tommie assured her sister. “Remember Roger?”

“I’m sick and tired of hearing about Roger. He’s long gone and I’m not crying any tears.”

“Not now,” Tommie said with sarcasm, because hers had been the shoulder her sister had cried on.

“Just make sure you’re not crying over this new guy!” Tabitha retorted.

“Not going to happen. I’m not about to let some guy ruin my life. I’ve got plans.”

“Oh, dear,” Teresa muttered.

“What do you mean by that?” Tommie instantly demanded.

“I think she’s saying, ‘Pride goeth before a fall,’” Tabitha said calmly.

“No, I—” Teresa began, but Tommie didn’t let her finish.

“I’m not proud. Just self-assured.”

“Did anyone talk to Mom today?” Teresa asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

“I did,” Tabitha said. “She said she was a little upset because she’d expected you to come see her since school was out.”

“What about you, Tab? School was out for you, too,” Tommie pointed out.

“Yes, but I was busy making my video. She understood that. She thinks I’m going to be wildly successful.” Tabitha lifted her chin in a challenge to her big sister.

“I don’t doubt it, Tabitha,” Tommie said gently.

“Me neither,” added the other triplet.

Tears pooled in Tabitha’s blue eyes, the same blue as her sisters’ eyes. She reached for their hands. “You two are the best sisters in the world.”

Tommie picked up Pete Schofield at nine o’clock, as he’d requested, and they drove to La Madeleine, a French bakery that served breakfast.

“I wouldn’t have picked you for a French-bakery type,” Tommie told him after they got their food and were seated.

He grinned. “It’s hard to find something that wouldn’t be improved with a croissant.”

“That’s true.”

“So, do you know my mother?”

Tommie sat back in her chair, surprise on her face. “What? How would I know your mother?”

“She’s lived in Fort Worth all her life. I just thought you might know her.”

“Sorry. I didn’t grow up in this part of town.” It was too upscale from what she’d had as a child. “You may not have noticed, but Fort Worth is a big city now.”

Pete watched her, but she showed no signs of lying. He changed the subject. “How did you get started in real estate?”

Tommie shrugged her shoulders. “My mother insisted I get a teaching certificate so I’d always have a job, but it didn’t take long after I graduated to figure out that teaching wasn’t for me.”

“Why?”

“I was trying to teach English to thirty students at a time, five times a day. They didn’t want to be there and they let me know it.”

“It doesn’t sound like enjoyable work.”

“It wasn’t. But since I loved houses, I decided to try selling them. I got my license at night and found a job with Isabel’s company as soon as school was out. And I’ve been there ever since.”

“Have you lined up some places for me to look at today?”

“Yes, I have. I made the assumption that you would prefer a condominium rather than a house since you aren’t married and don’t have children. There are some very—”

“You’re wrong,” he said calmly.