Page 55 of The Coffee Bar on Camellia Court

Junostoodathercloset, considering her options. Casual but not sloppy. Comfortable but not frumpy. "Calm down," she muttered. "This is Alex Frampton we're seeing, not the Queen of England."Andhis parents, she reminded herself. It had been a long time since she'd seen Mr. and Mrs. Frampton; not since high school.

She finally settled on a sleeveless turquoise top that showed off her fit arms and a pair of cropped baggy jeans that would allow her to move easily. Alex hadn't mentioned they'd be swimming, so she didn't bother putting on a suit, although the evening was toasty enough that a swim would feel good. She hoped there was some kind of shade on the dock, and that the water was high enough to dangle her feet in. It had been a long time since she'd been at the Frampton's place, and she had no idea what to expect. She slid her feet into a pair of sandals that gave her sore feet good arch support, then twisted her braids into a loose updo, securing it with a decorative clip, and applied a touch of tinted lip balm.

The clock read 5:50 PM. In ten minutes, Alex would arrive to pick her up, and Juno was surprised at how giddy she felt. Her stomach fluttered with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness that reminded her of being sixteen again, and this wasn't even a date. In fact, this little outing was all about Lena, not the two of them.

But it didn't matter. Alex was inviting her into his life, and she was accepting. Things were changing, and she didn't mind in the least.

Her phone chimed with a text from Alex:Pulling up now.

She grabbed a light cardigan on her way out in case the evening turned cool. It was the middle of summer, and the sun would be in the sky for a couple more hours, but sometimes the lakeshore breezes could be downright chilly.

She found Alex waiting at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the railing with an easy smile that made her heart skip.

"Hey," he said, looking up at her. "Sorry I'm early. Lena's excitement is contagious."

Juno glanced at The Beast and saw it was empty. "She stayed behind?" She pulled her door closed behind her, then checked it to be sure it locked. Then she turned and headed down the stairs toward Alex.

"Yep. Couldn't drag her away." As she drew near, he ran a hand through his hair, looking a little nervous, which actually helped her feel more at ease. "She and my mom hit it off immediately. They're baking cookies and making lists of grandmother-granddaughter activities. I've been completely replaced."

Juno laughed. “Already? It's only been one day."

"I know, right? Apparently, I'm just the chauffeur now." His eyes swept over her, and his smile softened. "You look beautiful."

The compliment warmed her cheeks. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."

Alex wore shorts and a short-sleeved, olive green button-down that he'd left untucked, and he'd trimmed his stubble. He looked healthy and rested, despite the chaos of the past few days.

He offered his arm. "Shall we?"

The simple gesture felt both old-fashioned and intimate. Juno slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, acutely aware of the solid warmth of him beside her. As they circled the truck to the passenger door, she noticed that he was hobbling a little more than usual. “How’s the ankle?”

Alex let out a snort. "Just overdid it trying to keep up with old Ralphy and my eight-year-old daughter."

"Well, you'd better prop that thing up when we get back to your folks' place. You're going to be hurting tomorrow," she warned. "Where are you working?" The Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast was done, and Alex hadn't mentioned J&J's next jobsite. She couldn't wait until they got started on her place; they were scheduled to begin the first week in November.

He held the door for her as she got in, then moved around the hood to his side, his eyes never leaving her face, that grin making her stomach flip-flop. When he’d settled into his seat, he picked up with her question. “I’m taking at least tomorrow off, maybe the next few days. My dad made some calls, and I’m meeting with a family law guy tomorrow.”

“Oh, wow. That’s great, Alex.” She shifted in her seat as the truck roared to life, studying his profile as he pulled The Beast out of the alley and onto the main road. “So tell me about Lena meeting your parents."

Alex beamed. "They fell in love with her instantly. Mom's already planning sleepovers and baking sessions, and Dad's talking about building her a treehouse. It's like..." He paused, searching for words. "It's like she filled a space none of us knew was still empty."

The raw emotion in his voice touched something deep inside Juno. "I'm so happy for you, Alex. For all of you."

“She’s sleeping in Jason’s room tonight,” he said quietly. “With Ralphy.”

“And are you sleeping over, too?” Juno teased, hoping to bring things back to more comfortable footing.

“I am.” He shot her a sideways grin. “Mom is planning a Belgian waffle and bacon cook-off in the morning. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Get this: Lena has never made a cookie in her life. Until this afternoon, with my mom.”

“My goodness,” Juno exclaimed. “So much has happened in the last two days. But you haven’t told me how you ended up with Lena. Last I knew you were waiting for Melissa to get home last night.”

Alex gave her a brief rundown of what had happened the night before, and as Juno listened, she got a new perspective on the situation he’d found himself in. Melissa didn’t sound like an evil person, but she certainly didn’t sound very motherly, either. “She leaves her alone on a regular basis?”

“Usually not completely alone. Only when the nanny has her days off and Melissa makes plans that she doesn’t want to change.” He spoke with heavy sarcasm, and Juno nodded slowly.

“I’m glad you’re getting an attorney involved, Alex. I have a feeling that things aren’t going to get any better as she gets older. An eight-year-old shouldn’t have to take care of herself. It’s fine that she knowshowto do things like pack her own suitcase and use a keypad, but it shouldn't be expected of her. She’s not old enough to have to fend for herself.” Juno knew good and well how scary it was to wake up alone in the dark, especially after falling asleep with a full house. It was the most unsettling thing for a child, and Juno couldn’t imagine the sparkly Lena having to grow up so fast. “I’m proud of you.”

"Thanks. That means a lot to me." He glanced her way briefly, then back at the road in front of him. “It's been a whirlwind, but a good one, you know? Weird to think that just three days ago, I was sitting in my truck outside your place, wishing I could tell you about her."

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