Chapter 486
“Norris, what happened with your interview at the airport today p>
Owen was working his way through dinner, but his curiosity was working overtime too.
Everyone at the table seemed eager to hear the latest scoop.
“Yeah, Norris, we all watched it. That girl said you went to college together. You seriously don’t remember her?” Karla teased, a little grin playing on her lips.
Caleb and Ophelia were watching Norris closely, each looking way too interested for his comfort. Out of the three siblings, Owen was the only one who had ever actually dated someone. The twins, Norris and Phil, were hopeless when it came to love. Norris only cared about his research, and Phil was all business, all the time.
Honestly, Phil should’ve had girls lined up for him he spent all day surrounded by beautiful people and big deals—yet nothing seemed to faze him. The two brothers were like walls, almost thirty and still single, and no one could quite figure out who to blame for that.
Norris shrugged. “I don’t remember her at all.” As soon as he said it, everyone looked a little disappointed. Even Padgett ducked his head, clearly hoping for something juicier. Norris almost laughed. “If I had a girlfriend, trust me, you’d be the first to know p>
He quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, don’t just focus on me. Claire’s at that competition in Altair, and guess what, Dane supposedly has a business trip there at the same time p>
He raised an eyebrow, just waiting for the reaction. “He called it a coincidence, but that’s just too much, isn’t it p>
The older generation exchanged glances, everyone reading into Dane’s conveniently timed work trip. Phil and Owen immediately perked up.
“He actually went? Why does he show up everywhere?” Owen grumbled. The idea of Claire growing up made him uncomfortable. In his mind, she was supposed to stay little for at least another decade, but Dane… Dane was circling her like a hawk eyeing a bunny. It was way too obvious what he wanted.
“Wait, Dane’s doing business in Altair?” Phil’s brows drew together. “Does his family even have any connections out there? How come I haven’t heard about it p>
Phil had done a full background check on Dane’s family the second he found out about the engagement, so he was sure he knew everything there was to know about them Uness Dane had something hidden going on in Altair, it just didn’t add
up.
“Not everything is your business,” Padgett said quietly, and Phil stopped talking right away.
They’d always thought Padgett
didn’t like Dane, but apparently he thought pretty highly of his future grandson-in-law. It made sense, The Churchill and Green families had been close for generations, and Padgett admired Dane for handling so much responsibility when their family was running low on men. He’d even mentioned once how tough Dane must have it, having to prop up the family on his own from such a young age.
Now that Padgett had spoken up, nobody dared say anything bad about Dane.
Ophelia spoke up just then. “Honestly, I think it’s nice. Whatever his reason for being in Altair, at least Dane truly cares about Claire p>
Karla nodded right away. “I agree p>
It felt like a miracle—the older family members were actually complimenting Dane. Norris suddenly regretted ever bringing it up.
“Claire is still just a kid,” Norris muttered, looking at his mom and Karla for support.
Ophelia shot him a look. “Well,
sometimes it’s safer to settle things
early. At least Claire won’t end up
like some people and turn thirty
without anyone interested
Both twins felt like they’d just been hit straight in the chest. Only their own mother could roast them like that.
Claire couldn’t help laughing, almost dropping her rice bowl in the process.
Her brothers glared at her, feeling totally betrayed. All this fuss and she was still making fun of them? What was family for, anyway?
Dinner at the Churchill house was always eventful. After eating, Karla pulled Claire aside, gushing about how magical her scar cream was.