Judy Christenberry - The Texan's Reluctant Bride

“Tonight?” She stared at him, surprised. “I—I need to look for more houses.”

“All work and no play is bad for anyone, Tommie. Why don’t you let me take you to dinner.” Before she could answer, he snapped his fingers. “I just got a great idea. You can ask your sisters and I’ll bring Jim and—and someone else. All six of us will go out to dinner. It’ll be great.”

“I don’t know if my sisters are free. And I don’t think we should mix business and pleasure.”

“Nonsense! Call your sisters now. Are they at work?”

“No. They’re both teachers.”

He could tell she was still resistant. He wasn’t an egotist, but he knew he was fairly good-looking. He’d never had any difficulty getting dates. Not that he’d done much dating in Boston. Starting your own business didn’t leave much time. And after his company was established, it took all his concentration to run. About the only times he’d asked a woman out were to the business and charitable functions he was required to attend. Then the women seemed more than happy to be his date; many hinted they wanted more than one night. So why, then, was Tommie reluctant?

He pressed her. “Call them, Tommie…please?”

After studying him for a minute, she took out her cell phone and dialed a number. “Teresa? It’s Tommie. Mr. Schofield, my client, has offered dinner for the three of us with him, his brother and a friend tonight. Can you make it?”

After she paused for her sister’s answer, she added, “And Tab?”

Another pause. Then, “Okay, I’ll let you know time and place later.”

“They agreed?” Pete asked when she flipped her phone shut.

“Teresa agreed, and she said Tabitha would, too, but she’s making an exercise video for teenagers, so I couldn’t talk to her.”

“Making a video? Is she going to market it?”

“Yes, she hopes to. And she’ll use it in her own classes.”

“I gather she’s a P.E. teacher.”

Tommie nodded.

“And Teresa? What does she teach?”

“Kindergarten. She loves it.”

“That’s terrific. They both sound like they’re doing what makes them happy.” And so was he—going out on a date with Tommie Tyler.

Pete had chosen an expensive restaurant, one Tommie and her sisters had only been to once. Last year, for their mother’s birthday.

Tommie was at Tabitha’s place, waiting for her sister to finish primping after getting home late.

“I’m excited about this evening,” Tabitha said as she came out of the bathroom.

“I hope it’s enjoyable,” Tommie said. She couldn’t keep the qualms from her voice. Though she had no clear reason, she feared the dinner was going to be a disaster. She should’ve held her ground when she told Pete their time together should be for business only.

Teresa studied her sister. “You sound worried. What’s wrong, Tommie? Don’t you like the man? You said you thought he was The One.”

“He’s not,” she replied quickly and succinctly. “I was wrong.”

“Why?” Tabitha asked.

Reluctantly she said, “He’s looking for a nester. You know,” she added when her sisters looked confused. “Someone who loves to make a home, wants to spend her time pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen. That’s not me.”

“Did he say that?”

“Not in so many words, but he’s looking for a big house to fill with lots of kids.”

“So he’s engaged?” Tabitha asked.

“No.”

Teresa said quietly, “Maybe you’re misjudging him.”

“I don’t think so. Besides—” Tommie bit her tongue, not wanting to reveal too much of her feelings.

“Besides what?” Tabitha demanded, sounding impatient with her sister’s worries.

“He’s a twin,” Tommie blurted out.

“Oh,” Tabitha said.

“What’s wrong with that?” Teresa wanted to know.

Just about everything, Tommie said to herself. Combine her propensity for multiple births with Pete’s…She shuddered at the thought. “If I ever decide to have children, I want to have them one at a time,” she said flatly. She crossed the room and hugged both sisters. “You two are great, but don’t you remember how crowded the bathroom was? And how we shared our clothes? None of us knew what was whose or if it would be in the closet when we needed it.”

“I kind of miss those days,” Teresa said with a smile.

Tabitha concurred. “Yeah, we had fun, didn’t we? But poor Mom!”

“Exactly. That’s my point,” Tommie explained. “I’m going to have a career first. And then I’ll have one baby at a time.”

“But sometimes you meet someone who’s perfect. You can’t let him go by without trying to find out what your relationship is,” Teresa said.

“I don’t believe there’s only one man for each woman. If I pass him by, it doesn’t mean I’ll be a spinster all my life.”

“Let’s not have this argument tonight,” Tabitha interjected. “Besides, there’s no time. How does my hair look?”

She wore her hair down to her shoulders, the ends turned under. Teresa had taken her hair out of its customary braid and it flowed halfway down her back, with the sides pulled away in combs. Tommie sometimes regretted cutting her own hair so short, but the chic style suited her. “You look beautiful, Tab. Both of you do.”

“And so do you.” Tabitha giggled. “Imagine us going on a triple date. Why didn’t we ever do this when we were teenagers?”

Tommie knew the answer to that: because it would’ve been a disaster. Just like tonight was going to be. She let the question hang there, unanswered. Instead, she ushered her sisters out the door.

“I told Pete we would meet them at the restaurant.” She hadn’t wanted to give Pete control over when she arrived and left.

All three got in Tommie’s Lexus.

“You know, Tab, when you sell your video, you’ll be able to afford a car like this. Then I’ll be the only one without a nice car,” Teresa said.

“I use my car as an extension of my office, Teresa. That’s why I have to have a nice one,” Tommie said, almost apologetically. She made a lot more money than her sisters and at times it bothered her. Though she was always more than generous. Often she bought three of an item, telling her sisters the bargain was too good to pass up.

As they neared the restaurant, Tommie could feel her nerves start to rattle. By the time she pulled in to the lot, she was ready to turn around and run. But that wasn’t her style. She sat there for a moment, gathering her composure, until the valet approached.

“What’s wrong?” Teresa asked.

“Nothing,” she replied. “Let’s go.” All three got out of the car, and from the valet’s look, she knew they made quite a picture together. After all, they’d been triplets all their lives. They caused a stir everywhere they went.

Which was exactly the problem. She should’ve told Pete.

Pete sat there staring at the door of the restaurant.

His brother interrupted his vigil. “I’ve never seen you like this, Pete. You stuck on this woman?” Jim asked.

“You saw Tommie. What do you think?” Pete returned, smiling at his brother.

“This is the real-estate lady?” the third man asked. He was one of the executives moving to Fort Worth. A single guy, he’d come early to get settled.

“Yeah, Brett. She’s gorgeous, and successful. If her sisters look anything like her—”

Just then, Pete caught sight of Tommie. “There she is.”

All three men turned toward the door.

Brett agreed with Pete’s assessment of the lady named Tommie. Jim was about to agree when a second…and then a third Tommie came into view. The women were identical, tall, slim, blond. Only their hairstyles were different.