Down Home and Deadly

of my dreams. Our marriage couldn’t be better. Except for one minor detail. His parents hate me. They tell him they like me, but I know they don’t. They’re not rude, but if you could see how stilted they act when I’m with them, you’d know they can’t stand to be around me. I really don’t know what to do.
    More Outlaw Than In-law
    *****
    Dear Outlaw,
    Be patient. Chances are that if you find a common interest and work to get to know his parents better , they’ll like you. And even though I know you can’t see it, some reserve could be normal for them. Sometimes our imaginations wreak havoc in our lives. Be sure paranoia isn’t part of your problem.

Chapter Seven

    Everything is lovely and the goose hangs high .

    When Alex rang the bell, it was morning but still dark outside. I yanked the door open and pulled him inside. “I need your help.”
    “Whoa, water girl. What’s wrong?”
    “Is this shirt okay?”
    He looked at my red Cardinal’s shirt then back up at my face. “Is this a trick question?”
    “No!”
    “Of course, it’s fine.”
    “Just fine?”
    “Perfect. As usual,” he said with a slightly uncertain smile.
    I stared in the foyer mirror at my wild curls. “Why did I leave my hair down? Everybody knows you wear a ponytail to a baseball game.” I swooped my hair up and secured it.
    “Uh-oh,” Alex said.
    I turned to him. “Uh-oh w hat ? ”
    “Uh-oh, I didn’t get the ponytail memo.”
    I smacked his arm. “Very funny.”
    He held up a bag. “But I did bring you something that actually goes with that hairstyle.”
    I opened the bag and pulled out two red caps emblazoned with the team logo. “Thanks.” I froze with it halfway to my hair. “You don’t think it’s too much for us to be matching?”
    He placed his own cap on his head. “Too much?”
    “Too . . . l ike we’re shoving our engagement in your parents’ face?”
    He laughed then stopped when he saw my face. “Honey, let’s sit down and talk about whatever’s got you so frantic.”
    “We can’t sit down. If we’re late, we might miss the beginning of the ball game.” Or worse, cause his parents to miss it. I’d looked on the I nternet after Alex told me about their engagement gift to us. I felt sure they’d had to pay at least a hundred dollars each for four tickets right behind home plate.
    Neuro and Mr. Persi paced around me as if they knew my happy ending was about to explode into a million pieces. I gave them each a pat. “We’ll be back late tonight, guys. Zac will be by a few times to visit. Be good and take care of each other.”
    Alex escorted me onto the porch then put one hand on my back as we walked to the truck. He helped me in and shut the door. I think by now he wasn’t sure I wouldn’t run.
    We didn’t speak until we were leaving Lake View , and he glanced over at me. “Want to tell me what that was all about back there?”
    “What?” I stared out the passenger window at the trees and pastures flying by.
    “The meltdown.”
    “Just because I had a hard time deciding what to wear? That represents a meltdown?” I joked. “Remind me never to take you shopping with me.”
    “Fine,” he said, a slight frown crossing his face. “Obviously, we’re going to spend a four - hour drive pretend ing that nothing’s wrong.”
    I forced my shoulders to relax and blew out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “I’m a little nervous about seeing your parents.”
    “You saw them when they came through town a few weeks ago,” he pointed out in a reasonable tone.
    “Yes, but then I was just your girlfriend , and they were in town about an hour. This is going to be an all - day thing, including going to their house after the game.” I cut my gaze over to him. “And now we’re engaged.”
    He shook his head and tapped his hand on the steering wheel. “Which my parents are thrilled about.”
    I snorted. “Of course that’s what they’re going to tell you.”
    He drove for a minute then sighed. “You want to know the truth? If I married anyone else, they ’d be disappointed.”
    I opened my mouth , and he held up his hand.
    “And no, that’s not why I’m marrying you.”
    I sighed. He knew me too well. But he’d calmed my nerves. For now, anyway.
    *****
    “He’s out of there,” Coach Campbell roared.
    The Cincinnati batter didn’t move out of the box , and Alex’s dad threw out his hands in disgust. “What was that?”
    Demaree patted her husband’s